Make that not one, but two new left backs to arrive at Orlando City SC this off-season with the Lions announcing the signing of Brazilian defender Rafael Santos yesterday.
Signing a two-year contract at Exploria Stadium, Rafael Santos joins City from Cruzeiro and becomes the Lions’ third major winter arrival after Luca Petrasso and Felipe Martins.
Welcome to Orlando 💜
Orlando City SC acquires 24-year-old defender Rafael Santos from Cruzeiro.
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 5, 2023
>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW RAFAEL SANTOS’ PLAYER PROFILE <<
Who is Rafael Santos?
Rafael Santos is a 24-year-old Brazilian left back.
The defender has joined Orlando City SC from Cruzeiro, Brazil’s sixth most successful club.
He hails from Londrina in the north of the state of Paraná, South Region.
Rafael Santos is a technically gifted attack-minded left back by nature.
Left-footed and standing at 5 ft 11 in, he started his professional career with Mirassol in 2017.
Cruzeiro then signed him permanently in January 2019 following an initial loan spell with their U-20 side.
From 2020 onwards, Rafael Santos has spent four separate loan spells away from Cruzeiro.
These came at fellow Brazilian clubs Chapecoense, Inter de Limeira, Ponte Preta, and Coritiba.
Ponte Preta is the club where Ruan spent a loan spell prior to joining Orlando City SC.
Elsewhere, Coritiba is the club that Júnior Urso signed for this winter.
Making 92 appearances across all competitions in his professional career so far, Rafael Santos has tallied five goals and eight assists.
Honours-wise, Rafael Santos won the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B with Chapecoense back in 2019/20.
After João Moutinho joined Spezia in December, Orlando City SC needed quality depth at left back.
The Orlando City SC Front Office have moved decisively to sign Luca Petrasso and now Rafael Santos as replacements this off-season.
EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said: “Rafael is a technically gifted left back, has great touch on the ball, and creates danger in the attacking third with his crossing and set piece abilities.
“He brings experience from the first division in Brazil.
“He is someone we expect to provide competition in that position within our team.”
🚨✍🏻 𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 ✍🏻🚨
Rafael Santos joins @OrlandoCitySC. 🦁
⚽️ LB
🗓 5 February 1998 (24)
🇧🇷 Brazil
⬆️ 5 ft 11 in
🇧🇷 @Cruzeiro ➡️ @OrlandoCitySC 🇺🇸
👕 Jersey TBC#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #VamosOrlando #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/9Pnd6lkaf2— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) January 5, 2023
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