With just 45 days until our 2020 MLS home opener against Real Salt Lake, the new Orlando City SC squad numbers have been revealed for our latest signings plus some current player changes too.
With Oscar Pareja‘s Lions very active in the transfer market this off-season having brought in seven new first team faces, here’s what numbers our new-look Lions squad will be wearing this year.
NEW SQUAD NUMBERS 🚨 | @OrlandoCitySC in 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣
4️⃣ João Moutinho
1️⃣0️⃣ Mauricio Pereyra
1️⃣1️⃣ Júnior Urso
1️⃣5️⃣ Rodrigo Schlegel
1️⃣8️⃣ Daryl Dike
2️⃣1️⃣ Andrés Perea
2️⃣5️⃣ Antônio Carlos
3️⃣0️⃣ David Loera
3️⃣3️⃣ Jordan Bender
7️⃣7️⃣ Robinho💜🦁💛#OCTwitter #FaceOfCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/5b72J4hVtY
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) January 14, 2020
Goalkeepers
With just two of four goalkeepers retained for 2020, Brian Rowe and Mason Stajduhar retain squad numbers 23 and 31 for the year ahead.
The number 1 is anticipated to be handed to Orlando City SC transfer target Pedro Gallese who is currently awaiting clearance to move to the United States.
2020 MLS SuperDraft pick Austin Aviza is yet to be allocated a first team squad number for the upcoming season.
Defenders
Orlando City SC defenders Ruan, Alex De John, Robin Jansson, Kyle Smith and Kamal Miller are retaining 2019 squad numbers 2, 3, 6, 24 and 27 for the year ahead,
New winter arrivals Rodrigo Schlegel and Antônio Carlos take squad numbers 15 and 25, last worn by Cam Lindley and Danilo Acosta respectively.
Elsewhere, João Moutinho has ditched one of his two fours with the Portuguese left back swapping 44 for 4 as last occupied by longtime Lion Will Johnson.
2020 MLS SuperDraft picks Jonathan Dean and Nick O’Callaghan are yet to be allocated first team squad numbers for the upcoming season.
Midfielders
Orlando City SC midfielders Jhegson Méndez and Uri Rosell retain squad numbers 8 and 20 from the Lions’ 2019 MLS campaign.
New winter arrivals Júnior Urso and Andrés Perea inherit squad numbers 11 and 21, last worn by Pierre da Silva and Scott Sutter respectively.
Homegrown graduates David Loera and Jordan Bender take squad numbers 30 and 33, last worn by Matías Pérez García in 2016 and Mauricio Pereyra in 2019.
As for Pereyra whom much is expected of in 2020, the Uruguayan attacking midfielder has now taken the famed 10 jersey, the most sought-after number in any team and previously worn by Lions legend Kaká.
Inheriting this jersey from Josué Colmán whose Orlando City SC future remains unclear, Mauricio Pereyra‘s jersey swap is a big deal considering he wore 33 in all seven seasons spent at FC Krasnodar in Russia.
There’s also a jersey switch for 2019’s mid-season addition Robinho who trades 95 honouring the year of his birth for 77, another Orlando City SC squad number steeped in history.
It was Lions club legend Jamie Watson who first wore 77 in City’s first ever USL season back in 2011, culminating in a famous Commissioner’s Cup and USL Pro Championship double.
Elsewhere, 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick Joey DeZart is yet to be allocated a first team squad number for the upcoming season.
Forwards
Orlando City SC forwards Chris Mueller, Tesho Akindele, Dom Dwyer, Nani, Benji Michel and Santiago Patiño retain squad numbers 9, 13, 14, 17, 19 and 29 from the Lions’ 2019 MLS season.
The only addition to the frontline so far this off-season is 2020 MLS SuperDraft pick Daryl Dike who takes squad number 18.
This jersey number was last worn Greg Ranjitsingh and was the number Dom Dwyer inherited upon re-signing for the club ahead of taking his favoured number 14.