Orlando City SC are in the midst of significant transformations as Major League Soccer’s 2024 off-season continues to unfold. With roster changes and strategic decisions shaping the future of the club, it’s an exciting and pivotal time for Lions fans.
This past week has been nothing short of eventful, with a flurry of news that has kept supporters eagerly anticipating what’s next. In this weekly roundup, we’re recapping the key headlines and stories that defined the week of December 9-13.
Heine Gikling Bruseth to San Diego FC
On Wednesday, Orlando City SC lost 20-year-old midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth in the 2024 MLS Expansion Draft.
Selecting five players overall, 2025 MLS new boys San Diego FC picked Norway Under-21 international Bruseth for their inaugural season roster.
Alongside Bruseth, San Diego FC also selected Hamady Diop, Jasper Löffelsend, Hosei Kijima, and Thiago Andrade.
Orlando City SC will now receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money as compensation for Bruseth’s departure.
With Felipe Martins, Jeorgio Kocevski, and now Heine Gikling Bruseth all departing Inter&Co Stadium this winter, City are extremely short in central midfield and will need to strengthen this position.
Ultimately, Bruseth never made a single appearance for Orlando City SC.
Despite being named as an unused substitute seven times under Oscar Pareja, he didn’t see the field once following his mid-season transfer from Kristiansund on August 20.
A very strange signing, we hardly knew you, ‘Headband Heine’!
We have selected midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth from @OrlandoCitySC in the Expansion Draft. pic.twitter.com/TSqFEjhghL
— San Diego FC (@sandiegofc) December 12, 2024
New 2025 Orlando City SC home jersey leaked!
Also on Wednesday, City supporters caught their first glimpse of the new 2025 Orlando City SC home jersey.
Leaked by none other than the Iron Lion Firm’s @LoganTMiller, FootyHeadlines.com published their own blog about the leak which certainly looks legit to us.
The latest Adidas design features reduced gold accents and an all-over hurricane-inspired pattern, including a hurricane jock tag on the lower left hem of the jersey.
Previous Orlando City SC jersey designs have celebrated themes like the Florida sunshine and The Wall.
Now, it seems Adidas is drawing inspiration from Florida’s turbulent relationship with tropical cyclones.
As a passionate football shirt enthusiast, I immediately noticed the addition of the new white ‘Adidas Authentic Licensed Product’ patch on the lower right hem of the jersey.
This patch replaces the previous triangular Adidas authenticity mark used on authentic MLS jerseys from 2023 to 2024.
Despite this update however, MLS ‘authentic’ jerseys disappointingly continue to feature Adidas’ AEROREADY technology rather than the brand’s premium and more expensive HEAT.RDY technology.
Set for a February 2025 release (date TBC), the 2024 Orlando City SC home jersey will be worn for the next two seasons, alongside The Legacy Kit that will take the field again in 2025.
Oh, baby! Hurricane kit?!
I’m digging it big time. pic.twitter.com/a30ncGarV8
— L❄️gan Miller (@LoganTMiller) December 11, 2024
Facundo Torres to Cruz Azul, not Palmeiras?
Back on Monday, Tom Bogert tweeted that Orlando City SC and Palmeiras had reached an agreement for the transfer of Uruguay international Facundo Torres.
By Thursday however, renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Cruz Azul had submitted an official bid for Torres, which Orlando City SC and Torres are expected to accept.
Talk about a hijacking!
With City supporters now resigned to losing El Cuervo this off-season, it appears his next destination will be Cruz Azul in Liga MX.
A dramatic twist indeed!
Meanwhile, Ligue 1 giants Lyon were also linked with Facundo Torres this past week, further highlighting the player’s appeal.
Given his immense talent, it’s no surprise that Torres has attracted multiple suitors.
Now, Facu looks set to continue his career across the Gulf of Mexico in Mexico City, the capital of a football-passionate nation.
We know that Cruz Azul are a massive club in Mexico, but Palmeiras are significantly bigger, making this move seem like a sideways step in Facu’s career.
After all, Cruz Azul only edged out the Lions on penalties in the 2024 Leagues Cup Round of 32 back in August.
Ultimately, securing the highest transfer fee is what matters for Orlando City SC.
And receiving a record-breaking outbound transfer fee will enable us to reinvest this into our 2025 roster building plans.
🚨🚂 Cruz Azul submitted official bid for Facundo Torres and it’s expected to be accepted by Orlando.
Facundo has also accepted the move to the Mexican side as next step for his career. pic.twitter.com/CZ1sscLyfU
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 12, 2024
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