16 days after Wilder Cartagena suffered a long-term Achilles tendon injury against Atlético Mineiro, Orlando City SC have today announced the signing of 27-year-old Colombian international Eduard Atuesta. Bringing trophy-winning experience to Inter&Co Stadium, the deep-lying playmaker adds much-needed quality and depth to our central midfield position.
Atuesta joins the Lions on a suspected free transfer after terminating his contract with Palmeiras. The transaction details are so secret that even Tom Bogert and Fabrizio Romano haven’t reported on them! Considering we sold Facundo Torres to Palmeiras for a club record $14 million back on December 20, Verdão have now paid us a big favour in return. Having signed a contract through 2025, with a club option in 2026, Atuesta becomes our fifth 2024/25 off-season arrival after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, Carlos Mercado, and Marco Pasǎlić.
Welcoming another proven winner 👊
We have acquired midfielder @EduardAtuesta from @Palmeiras of Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Série A ✍️
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 10, 2025
Bienvenido, @EduardAtuesta 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/m1polwknaQ
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 10, 2025
>> CLICK HERE TO VIEW EDUARD ATUESTA’S PLAYER PROFILE <<
Who is Eduard Atuesta?
Check out this blog we wrote recently for our full lowdown on Eduard Atuesta, his playing style, and his career so far.
Here’s how Orlando City SC’s 2025 roster is looking with Atuesta included.
How Eduard Atuesta’s Orlando City SC move unfolded
- Feb. 1
- Feb. 3 – Orlando City SC submit loan bid for Atuesta, with Palmeiras covering part of his wages, but Palmeiras prefer a full transfer. – ge.globo
- Feb. 4 – Salary becomes an obstacle in negotiations between Palmeiras’ Atuesta and Orlando City SC. – Jogo Aberto
- Feb. 6 – Atuesta in final stages of cancelling his Palmeiras contract to join Orlando City SC, with Palmeiras retaining a percentage for a future sale. – Cristian Moraes
- Feb. 7
- Feb. 10 🏁 – Orlando City SC officially announce the signing of Eduard Atuesta through 2025, with a club option in 2026. – Orlando City SC
Introductory words
Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said: “We’re very excited about bringing Eduard here to Orlando, as a player that is in the prime of his career, has proven himself previously here in Major League Soccer and knows our league.
“We have confidence in him and his ability to help us achieve the goals we have here at this club.”
On his own move, Eduard Atuesta said: “I’m very excited to be here, to join this great team and live in this beautiful city.
Welcome to Orlando, Eduard!
On behalf of Orlando City UK, we’d like to take this moment to welcome Eduard Atuesta to Central Florida.
In signing for Orlando City SC, Atuesta will become the seventh Colombian to play for the Lions after Carlos Rivas, Cristian Higuita, Santiago Patiño, Iván Angulo, Luis Muriel, and Nicolás Rodríguez.
With Oscar Pareja being Colombian too, Atuesta began his career with Independiente Medellín – just like Papi, who started out with the same team in 1987 before making over 250 appearances for El Rojo Paisa.
It has also been confirmed that Atuesta will wear squad number #20 for Orlando City SC.
Having worn number #20 for both Palmeiras and Los Angeles FC, this number was unoccupied at Inter&Co Stadium following Luca Petrasso’s winter exit.
You can follow Eduard Atuesta on his own personal Instagram and X accounts too.
🚨✍🏻 𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙎𝙄𝙂𝙉𝙄𝙉𝙂 ✍🏻🚨
Welcome to @OrlandoCitySC, @EduardAtuesta. 🦁
⚽️ CM / CDM
🗓 18 June 1997 (27)
🇨🇴 Colombia
⬆️ 5 ft 11 in
➡️ Right Footed
👕 Jersey 2️⃣0️⃣𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙔𝙀𝙍 𝙋𝙍𝙊𝙁𝙄𝙇𝙀 ⚽️: https://t.co/n89d8q36K9#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/39M8OvEGY8
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) February 10, 2025
Orlando City SC supporters’ view
Orlando City UK gathered the best tweets following Eduard Atuesta’s announcement as an Orlando City SC player.
🇨🇴🦁 𝙈𝙐𝘾𝙃-𝙉𝙀𝙀𝘿𝙀𝘿 𝙌𝙐𝘼𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙔 🦁🇨🇴
Delighted to get the signing of Eduard Atuesta over the line! 🤩
I remember watching his early years in @MLS with @LAFC & thought he looked quality. Calm, composed, & the ideal Wilder replacement. 👏🏽#OCTwitter #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/HVNod9yeiV
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) February 10, 2025
Calm on the ball, a good tackler, and a midfield presence we need. 🙏
Eduard Atuesta 🇨🇴 🪄 pic.twitter.com/XaY7zfr2AN
— Orlando City Fan TV (@OCFanTV22) February 1, 2025
Did we just sign Eduard Atuesta from Palmerias on a free transfer? 👀
Previous unconfirmed reports from Brazil said he was terminating his contract with Palmeiras, in order to be free to sign with Orlando City. 👍🏼 https://t.co/KF8GyZijCc
— John Rawlins (@JohnRawlinsOCSC) February 10, 2025
vamos, @EduardAtuesta bienvenido a la casa https://t.co/Bsmz6iks9U
— Ricardo Moreira (@9ricardomoreira) February 10, 2025
Orlando City have completed their deal to sign Colombian midfielder Eduard Atuesta from Palmeiras on a permanent transfer.
Atuesta signs a contract through the end of the season with an option for 2026. https://t.co/8aQXA0IPTr
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) February 10, 2025
This is a really big acquisition for the club.
Very curious the detail on the numbers here but I will say, the 1+1 contract is not ideal. Would’ve hoped to have locked him in for longer.#VamosOrlando #OrlandoCity https://t.co/wJMqvwV2Np
— mike. (@mikeaspillane) February 10, 2025
Let’s go!!! Great signing https://t.co/X7nFSUHoRZ
— x- Antonio Cruz🏆 (@EddieTheCommish) February 10, 2025
Welcome @EduardAtuesta! 🇨🇴🟣🦁 pic.twitter.com/yUEAE3eGHv
— Orlando City Fan TV (@OCFanTV22) February 10, 2025
Gonna kick some ass this year
— RUCKUS (@RuckusOrlando) February 10, 2025
Atuesta time let’s goooooooo https://t.co/Owm9dD2L21
— 🏆 Orlando Lions Den Podcast (@OrlandoLionsDen) February 10, 2025
Was very good with LAFC. 27 so in his prime. Could be exactly what we need.
— Adam (@adam_tufts08) February 1, 2025
Love this signing for Orlando. Atuesta will bring something different to their midfield in terms of possession. https://t.co/9FLT3kZqln
— Sacha Kljestan (@SachaKljestan) February 1, 2025
TOM BOMB BEFORE IVE EVEN HAD MY MORNING COFFEE
(I don’t drink coffee)
LETS GOOOO#VamosOrlando #OrlandoCity https://t.co/qfwaW9fR5b— mike. (@mikeaspillane) February 1, 2025
EduardoA – not many goals but a formidable midfield presence and an upgrade to Lodeiro due to Nicolas’s age vs this young and upcoming player. I have to admit I have only seen him play 2 times so I do not know much at all about him.
— Eddie Gray (@eddiegray) February 1, 2025
🇺🇸 Orlando City 🤝🏽 Palmerias 🇧🇷
This relationship is paying off dividends. 😊
— John Rawlins (@JohnRawlinsOCSC) February 1, 2025
Happy for Atuesta. Dude deserves to be an important player for a competitor. He’ll be 2 years off his knee injury as well. I’m expecting a big year
— 𝐋𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐄𝐋 (@lafcdaniel) February 1, 2025
We needed a mid before wilder got hurt & rumors of lodeiro leaving
Atuesta signing is the best of the bunch so far
Proven player in MLS. Fits in every way. Culturally, style, a winner
We still need another mf piece or two. Cesar will get yellows & call ups
& then who plays?
— x- Antonio Cruz🏆 (@EddieTheCommish) February 1, 2025
Hopefully Facu’s experience also helps persuade his decision as well. Both he and his parents publicly had nothing but praise on their time here in Orlando 🟢 ➡️ 🟣
— D (@0311KILO) February 3, 2025
Stop being defeatist and let them cook.#VamosOrlando https://t.co/aTl9Is293v
— Luis Carlos Pineda (@pineda_orl) February 7, 2025
Let’s rolllllllllll https://t.co/tUUceylTB9
— spence_beatriceOCSC (@FloridaisPurple) February 7, 2025
Trophy winning experience to add to the locker room
— chase (@CDGSU) February 7, 2025
I hate it as an @lafc season ticket holder, but y’all are getting a special player. Congrats. https://t.co/5l3LryqLu8
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) February 10, 2025
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