Yesterday, Orlando City SC officially announced their updated first team roster following the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign.
The first comprehensive evidence as to who is staying, potentially remaining and departing Inter&Co Stadium before 2026, four players were named in the ‘option declined’ column.
We have announced the end-of-season statuses for each of our players 📰
Thank you César, Favian, Shak, and Carlos. Forever Lions 💜
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) November 17, 2025
The players not returning in 2026 are Favian Loyola, Carlos Mercado, and Shakur Mohammed.
Surprisingly, Robin Jansson was also named in the ‘option declined’ column, but Orlando City SC are currently in discussions with The Viking about potentially returning in 2026.
Currently out of contract, Kyle Smith is negotiating a new deal, but César Araújo and Pedro Gallese are now free agents following their time in purple.
After the announcement, the status of Orlando City SC’s first team roster is:
Under Contract
David Brekalo
Gustavo Caraballo
Colin Guske
Adrián Marín
Duncan McGuire
Luis Muriel
Javier Otero
Marco Pašalić
Tahir Reid-Brown
Nicolás Rodríguez
Rodrigo Schlegel
Zakaria Taifi
Yutaro Tsukada
Thomas Williams
Signed New Contract
Out of Contract
César Araújo
Pedro Gallese
Kyle Smith*
Option Exercised
Iván Angulo
Eduard Atuesta
Alex Freeman
Joran Gerbet
Martín Ojeda
Tyrese Spicer
Dagur Dan Thórhallsson
Option Declined
Robin Jansson*
Favian Loyola
Carlos Mercado
Shakur Mohammed
* In negotiations
Orlando City UK gathered the best tweets from X following the club announcement.
surprised with Jansson but I’m sure they’ll working something out
The rest seems like it makes sense
Shak wasn’t breaking through so I bet he wanted a fresh start somewhere else https://t.co/ETdbs8rOmf
— x- Eddie Biggio 🏆 (@EddieTheCommish) November 17, 2025
I wouldn’t say that Muriel staying is set in stone. Probably gonna evaluate all options heading into the winter window before we need to settle on a potential buyout
— mike. (@mikeaspillane) November 17, 2025
If Spicer is starting I don’t mind keeping Angulo tbh, but we all know who is starting lmao
— Andrew Works (@andrewworks03) November 17, 2025
Good.
I expect Freeman to get a move. Hopefully for a loan back. Muriel seems like a must leave kinda guy.
Begs the question tho, if that happens, do we stay 3DP/3U22 or switch to the 2DP/4U22/$2m GAM model?
Assume we stay 3/3 with the Richarlison link out there#VamosOrlando https://t.co/ZADmYIe4qK
— mike. (@mikeaspillane) November 17, 2025
Another season of DP midfielder Luis Muriel incoming. 👎🏼 pic.twitter.com/O71PvFbY4d
— John Rawlins (@JohnRawlinsOCSC) November 17, 2025
I like Kyle Smith and all…. But I think it’s time to move on. He was a fine MLS player 3-4 years ago. But the league has gotten better and he… hasn’t. If Kyle Smith is playing heavy minutes in 2026, we are in trouble
— Your Typical NY Floridian (@FromNYtoFL) November 17, 2025
Failing horribly and only getting rid of 1 and a half starters (Araujo's heart has been out of it), maybe 2 and a half if Jansson isn't retained (for me he's one of very few that should've been) is so bad.
— Adzter (@Adzter961) November 17, 2025
Hopefully on wages more in line with his current form
— x- Eddie Biggio 🏆 (@EddieTheCommish) November 17, 2025
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