When new clubs join Major League Soccer, the league requests that existing clubs release protected player lists at the end of each campaign and Orlando City SC did just that yesterday.
With the 2020 MLS Expansion Draft taking place later today (December 15th), new boys Austin FC start construction of their inaugural 2021 roster but the Texas franchise will not be able to sign these 18 Lions stars.
The players on Orlando City SC‘s 2020 protected list are Antônio Carlos, Pedro Gallese, Robin Jansson, Jhegson Méndez, João Moutinho, Chris Mueller, Nani, Andrés Perea, Mauricio Pereyra, Ruan, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Júnior Urso.
Automatically protected are Jordan Bender, Daryl Dike, Michael Halliday, David Loera, Benji Michel, and Mason Stajduhar. These players count as either a Homegrown Player or Generation Adidas Player.
That leaves Matheus Aiás, Tesho Akindele, Alexander Alvarado, Joey DeZart, Kamal Miller, Uri Rosell, Brian Rowe and Kyle Smith unprotected.
Both Brian Rowe and Kyle Smith were left unprotected at the end of 2019 too.
Orlando City UK handpicked some of the best tweets following yesterday’s club announcement.
Exactly who I thought https://t.co/EHt4lHEA23
— Moraima (@Moraima_4) December 14, 2020
No surprises. Offline banter has me thinking Kamal is most likely to get drafted. Rowe is older. Tesho probably already at his ceiling. Smith is blue collar player. Alvarado and Aias are generally unknown. Kamal has youth, size, decent pace, a nice long ball, and room to develop.
— Quentin Quarantinole (@32801Nole) December 14, 2020
Its gonna be Uri, Tesho or Aiás. Austin has fullbacks, they have wingers, they have CB's bur they have no central/defensive midfield or strikers.
— SayWhatNah? (@CleonONE) December 15, 2020
When I see the protected list there’s not a single guy I’d leave unprotected so it makes sense for me, although I would not like to lose Smith or Aiás
— MASTEricio Pereyra I Love you (@claupinilla2) December 14, 2020
Kyle, Rowe & Kamal😭😭😭
— Nathan (@usefulrabbit) December 14, 2020
Pretty reasonable list. I hope we dont lose @RealKyleSmith24 tho. He has shown so much improvement and imo become a fan favorite. 💜🦁💜
— Jonathan Rindner (@RindnerJonathan) December 14, 2020
Very happy with the list!
— Patrick Mayer (@HalfLichen83) December 14, 2020
Thinking that Kyle, Kamal or Tesho are the most likely to go.
— Getty (@Almagetty) December 14, 2020
Mostly as expected. Leaving out both new signings was odd I did expect one to be protected.
— muyricosuave (@Muyricosuave) December 14, 2020
Rowe and Smith are guys they could pick. The rest are not very surprising although I thought they would protect Alvarado. They probably figure Austin doesn't want to pay that contract.
— Daniel Cluley 🧢💜🦁💙🌞 (@DanielCluley) December 14, 2020