Orlando City SC‘s MLS Secondary Transfer Window has really heated up with Jhegson Méndez departing Exploria Stadium for Los Angeles FC today.
City have acquired $300,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money from LAFC for “Sebas” who joined the Lions in 2019 and made 72 MLS appearances.
NEWS: Orlando City SC Sends Midfielder Sebastián Méndez to LAFC For $300,000 in 2022 General Allocation Money.#ForeverALion | #DaleMiAmor
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 19, 2022
Sebastián Méndez is Black & Gold.
📝 #LAFC acquires Ecuadorian midfielder Sebastián Méndez from @OrlandoCitySC.
— LAFC (@LAFC) July 19, 2022
A box-to-box midfielder by trade, Jhegson Méndez‘s first team opportunities have been very limited so far this season.
Of Sebas’ 13 Major League Soccer appearances this year, only five of these have been starts.
Heading into 2022, many Orlando City SC supporters fully expected Jhegson Méndez to partner Júnior Urso in central midfield yet again.
However, 2022 new boy César Araújo has been impressive, playing beyond his years to trump Sebas in Oscar Pareja‘s midfield pecking order.
By comparison, of Araújo’s 20 MLS appearances this year, 19 of these have been starts.
In an important year, Jhegson Méndez is craving more starting opportunities, so the Los Angeles FC move makes sense.
Especially considering Sebas wants to be a part of Gustavo Alfaro’s Ecuador squad for the forthcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Earlier today, Los Angeles FC loaned central midfielder Francisco Ginella to Nacional in Uruguay.
Sebas will now be taking the Uruguayan’s place at Banc of California Stadium alongside Kellyn Acosta, José Cifuentes, and Ilie Sánchez.
Orlando City SC’s Jhegson Méndez by numbers (MLS)
2019 season
- 23 games played
- 20 games started
- 1,814 minutes played
- 0 goals
- 0 assists
- 10 total scoring attempts
- 0 shots on target
- 7 yellow cards
- 0 red cards
2020 season
- 19 games played
- 11 games started
- 1,087 minutes played
- 0 goals
- 0 assists
- 17 total scoring attempts
- 3 shots on target
- 4 yellow cards
- 1 red card
2021 season
- 17 games played
- 15 games started
- 1,193 minutes played
- 1 goal
- 0 assists
- 8 total scoring attempts
- 1 shot on target
- 6 yellow cards
- 0 red cards
2022 season
- 13 games played
- 5 games started
- 412 minutes played
- 0 goals
- 0 assists
- 0 total scoring attempts
- 0 shots on target
- 2 yellow cards
- 0 red cards
The fans’ view
With #OCTwitter currently reacting to Jhegson Méndez‘s announcement as an LAFC player, we gathered the best tweets following his exit.
Thank you for all the memories, Sebas, and best of luck moving forward 💜 #ForeverALion | #DaleMiAmor pic.twitter.com/ZL498EFJLc
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 19, 2022
Won't soon forget this banger from Sebas 🔥 #ForeverALion | #DaleMiAmor pic.twitter.com/a5H8qqVwCU
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) July 19, 2022
Good move for Sebas, playing with some top drawer recruits in Bale, Vela and Chiellini. I think he will fit in there pretty well being able do the “dirty work” and feed the creative players around him. https://t.co/XS4EtYzIjs
— Daniel (@bucketman1982) July 19, 2022
Great move for him
— The Legendary David Valentin (@Florida_man76) July 19, 2022
This makes me sad but it makes sense for him, more so on a WC year.
— Moraima (@Moraima_4) July 19, 2022
Oh damn. Chicho Arango inbound 😂😂😂
— Henderson Pickles (@ShirleyURNotSrs) July 19, 2022
This is great for Sebas, I will be sad to see him go but he wasn’t getting time behind Araujo.
— FL Data Dude (@FLDataDude) July 19, 2022
Can't forget when I was scouting a player in Quito but another young man called my attention on the pitch and we were together part of a 3.5 years journey. Thank you and good luck, Sebas. In Qatar, mostly! https://t.co/ARdkj2reWc
— Ricardo Moreira (@9ricardomoreira) July 19, 2022
Thank you for always playing with heart and grit. Best of luck 💟 https://t.co/LEhuFFN760
— RUCKUS. (@RuckusOrlando) July 20, 2022
Sebas deserves to play. Cesar took his spot but he’s a quality player & was big for us many times. Montreal last year 🚀
OC gets GAM out of a player that was on the end of his deal-and gotten nothing.
Let’s see how this money is used. 350k rn but can be upwards of 700k https://t.co/SwS7XYpSkl
— Orlando Lions Den Podcast (@OrlandoLionsDen) July 19, 2022
And of course, Sebas will have a spot in #OrlandoCity history forever thanks to maybe the highest-leverage goal ever scored by the club, this phenomenal strike that sent the Lions to the playoffs last year. https://t.co/HEnXRVp7ne
— Evan Weston (@EvanLWeston) July 19, 2022
All the best, Sebas!
On behalf of Orlando City UK, we wish Jhegson Méndez well following his time in Central Florida.
Only scoring one MLS goal for the Lions, we’ll never forget that unstoppable golazo from range at CF Montréal on 2021 MLS Decision Day.
😢 𝙁𝘼𝙍𝙀𝙒𝙀𝙇𝙇 𝙎𝙀𝘽𝘼𝙎 😢
Thank you for all your hard work & determination at @OrlandoCitySC, over the years, Sebas. 🦁👏🏽
We’ll never forget your 𝘾𝙀𝙍𝙏𝙄𝙁𝙄𝙀𝘿 𝘽𝘼𝙉𝙂𝙀𝙍 at @cfmontreal on 2021 @MLS Decision Day. ⚽️💥#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #DaleMiAmor #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/JX81QV5HnJ
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) July 19, 2022
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