Today, Orlando City SC officially announced their updated first team roster following the end of the 2023 Major League Soccer campaign.
The first comprehensive evidence as to who is staying, potentially remaining and departing Exploria Stadium before 2024, just two players were named in the ‘option declined’ column.
NEWS: #OrlandoCity announces end-of-season statuses following 2023 MLS Season.
Read More ⬇️
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) December 11, 2023
Players not returning in 2024 include Puerto Rico international Wilfredo Rivera and fan favourite Júnior Urso whose options were declined as well as Adam Grinwis who is out of contract.
The loans of both Iván Angulo and Wilder Cartagena have expired with Orlando City SC currently in discussions for their return to Exploria Stadium.
As for Antônio Carlos, his option has been exercised for now but according to a tweet from Tom Bogert last week, the Brazilian is nearing a winter transfer to Fluminense.
Following the announcement, the status of Orlando City SC‘s first team roster was:
Under Contract
César Araújo
Ramiro Enrique
Alex Freeman
Pedro Gallese
Gastón González
Favian Loyola
Shak Mohammed
Martín Ojeda
Javier Otero
Rafael Santos
Rodrigo Schlegel
Mason Stajduhar
Dagur Dan Thórhallsson
Facundo Torres
Thomas Williams
Loan Expired
Out of Contract
Option Exercised
Antônio Carlos
Michael Halliday
Robin Jansson
Jack Lynn
Felipe Martins
Duncan McGuire
Luca Petrasso
Abdi Salim
Kyle Smith
Option Declined
Orlando City UK gathered the best tweets from the Twittersphere following the club announcement.
👏🏽🦁 𝙁𝘼𝙍𝙀𝙒𝙀𝙇𝙇 𝙇𝙄𝙊𝙉𝙎 🦁👏🏽
Thanks for all your contributions for @OrlandoCitySC, @agrinny, @BodoWilfredo & @JrUrso. 👏🏽
We’ll never forget Grinny’s Running of The Wall moment and Urso’s smile, personality, work ethic and epic cellys. 😎#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/2qIjXasKnX
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) December 11, 2023
Thank you, Júnior, for an amazing four years in purple and helping us lift the Open Cup in 2022 🐻 pic.twitter.com/sRDEvsKSrE
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) December 11, 2023
Thank you, Grinny, for the memories you have made with us in Orlando 💜 pic.twitter.com/fbzDAr4Cha
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) December 11, 2023
Thank you, Wilfredo, for your time in purple and your leadership with @OrlandoCityB 💪 pic.twitter.com/yeg7ddI9gK
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) December 11, 2023
Losing Mauri and eventually AC will be rough, but I think the timing is right.
Grinny we will always have the running of the wall.
Urso is always gonna be the bear and is a legend.
Wilfredo wish you nothing but the best and hope you get more playing time soon.#VamosOrlando https://t.co/6YYl5bdHjO
— mike. (@mikeaspillane) December 11, 2023
We declined Junior? He was such a good option off the bench.
— Adzter (@Adzter961) December 11, 2023
Júnior, It doesn’t get easier the second time. Thank you for giving 100% to our crest…always.
You may be a 🐻 but you’ll always be a 🦁!
Forever a Lion! https://t.co/MQomkk3FAB
— RUCKUS (@RuckusOrlando) December 12, 2023
Wilder and angulo better be back
— Rcblue⚒️ (@rcblue5) December 11, 2023
One of my favourite @OrlandoCitySC players from our @MLS era. 🇧🇷⚽️
Thank you for your two stints in purple, @JrUrso. 🐻#ForeverALion 🦁 pic.twitter.com/cw0Mf6vcNy
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) December 11, 2023
Hope we are successful in bringing back Angulo and Cartegena!
— Ryan Marlatt (@ryan_marlatt) December 11, 2023
Grinny (aka the Ginga Ninja), we’ve said it before and unfortunately we need to say it again…Thank you for representing our crest. Best of luck.
🦁 https://t.co/pZEyjj8jqO— RUCKUS (@RuckusOrlando) December 12, 2023
Noooo….I will miss Urso!!! It was so awesome when he came back.
— Kelly Hanson (@KelHan21) December 11, 2023
💜🦁 can’t wait to get started again @OrlandoCitySC we go for more!
— Felipe Martins (@FeliMartins8) December 11, 2023
I never thought we were gonna keep him for more than 6 months.
Love the guy, but we wasn't the same player when he came back.
Thanks everything Junior 😊! https://t.co/HTe79fPCOe
— John Rawlins (@JohnRawlinsOCSC) December 11, 2023
The news is out. It’s always tough to see some folks leave https://t.co/UGw3yjLJ1B
— 🏆 Orlando Lions Den Podcast (@OrlandoLionsDen) December 11, 2023
Worth noting here: #OrlandoCity says loans for Ivan Angulo and Wilder Cartagena have expired but are in discussions with the players for a return.
Also, the team unsurprisingly exercises its 2024 option on Duncan McGuire. https://t.co/p3OnttoCHI
— Mike Gramajo (@byMikeGramajo) December 11, 2023
🚨 BREAKING 🚨@OrlandoCitySC has announced its end of season roster moves.
My understanding is that the club will try to negotiate deals for Angulo and Cartagena, whilst AC's option being exercised allows them to command a fee from Fluminense.
Thoughts #OrlandoCity fans? pic.twitter.com/In8fr0POyq
— The English Lion (@TheEnglishLion1) December 11, 2023
Cliff notes:
🦁 Angulo, Cartagena returns both in discussions
🦁 Urso, Rivera declined, Grinwis OOC
🦁 Pereyra mutual termination
🦁 AC transfer being negotiated
🦁 All others back for 2024 https://t.co/sesBW87YE9— Evan Weston (@EvanLWeston) December 11, 2023
💪🏼💜🦁 Love you all #Vamosorlando pic.twitter.com/TPDXa9GGFv
— Felipe Martins (@FeliMartins8) December 11, 2023
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