Twitter reacts to… Zakaria Taifi signing a first team contract with Orlando City SC

May 17, 2025May 25, 2025 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

After progressing through our development pathway, Academy and Orlando City B product Zakaria Taifi has today signed a first team contract with Orlando City SC.

The 19-year-old defender has penned a deal through 2026, with club options for 2027, 2028, and 2029. Born and raised in Orlando, the American defender of Moroccan heritage is the latest in a long line of players to rise through the ranks at Orlando City SC.

A standout in MLS NEXT Pro, Taifi not only becomes our latest Homegrown Player. He’s also our eighth first team signing this year after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, Carlos Mercado, Marco Pašalić, Eduard Atuesta, Joran Gerbet, and Gustavo Caraballo. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Gustavo Caraballo signing a first team contract with Orlando City SC

March 14, 2025May 19, 2025 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

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After progressing through our development pathway, Academy and Orlando City B product Gustavo Caraballo has today signed a first team contract with Orlando City SC.

The 16-year-old Venezuelan forward has put pen to paper on a deal through 2027, with a club option for 2028. In doing so, he becomes the youngest player in Orlando City SC history to sign a first team contract at just 16 years and 198 days old.

Not only our latest Homegrown Player, Gustavo Caraballo becomes our seventh winter arrival after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, Carlos Mercado, Marco Pašalić, Eduard Atuesta, and Joran Gerbet. Continue reading →

Orlando City UK celebrates our seventh birthday: 2022 round-up

November 14, 2022April 23, 2025 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Wow, what an incredible 2022 we’ve had! Today, we’re celebrating our seventh birthday here at Orlando City UK with our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC established seven years ago.

In our eighth MLS season, 2022 was the year the Lions finally got their hands on their first major silverware. Triumphantly winning the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, our loyal UK supporters keenly supported every step of the way from the United Kingdom. Continue reading →

Orlando City UK celebrates our sixth birthday: 2021 round-up

November 14, 2021April 23, 2025 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Orlando City UK celebrates our sixth birthday

Just where did all the time go? Today, we’re celebrating our sixth birthday here at Orlando City UK with our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC established six years ago.

After last season’s playoff heartbreak, Oscar Pareja has Orlando City SC in the post-season yet again with our loyal UK supporters still passionately supporting from the United Kingdom. Continue reading →

Why I support Orlando City SC… UK fan Ollie Griffiths has his say

June 18, 2021 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

With Orlando City SC now into their seventh Major League Soccer season, the Lions already have an abundance of loyal and passionate supporters spread up and down the United Kingdom.

Becoming an Orlando City UK member in August 2020, Leicester City and Orlando City SC fan Ollie Griffiths is the latest to tell his story about why the Lions were the MLS team for him. Continue reading →

INTERVIEW: Orlando City UK chats to Orlando City SC’s Kay Rawlins

November 24, 2020November 24, 2020 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Having witnessed it all, from the club’s 2010 founding as Austin Aztex to present day, Orlando City UK caught up with the queen of Orlando City SC, Kay Rawlins.

Co-founder and co-owner of the club, plus Orlando City Foundation President, we spoke to Kay about that incredible MLS Cup Playoffs win over New York City FC, about community, plus her answers to a series of miscellaneous Lions questions covering the past 10 years. Continue reading →

Orlando City UK celebrates our fifth birthday: 2020 round-up

November 14, 2020November 1, 2024 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Time flies when you’re having fun, right? Today, we’re celebrating our fifth birthday here at Orlando City UK with our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC established five years ago.

Following five disappointing seasons in MLS, 2020 has refreshingly been all change. Oscar Pareja finally led Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs with our loyal UK supporters still passionately supporting from the United Kingdom. Continue reading →

Orlando City UK celebrates our fourth birthday: 2019 round-up

November 14, 2019November 1, 2024 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Here at Orlando City UK, we’re wondering where the past few years have gone. Today, we’re celebrating our fourth birthday with our Official International Fan Club of Orlando City SC established four years ago.

Despite 2019 being another disappointing campaign for the Lions on the pitch, Orlando City UK thoroughly enjoyed another year of covering and supporting Orlando City SC while growing the club’s presence in the United Kingdom. Continue reading →

INTERVIEW: Orlando City UK chats to Orlando City B’s Randy Mendoza

July 20, 2019July 21, 2019 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

(Credit: @RandyMendoza_3)

When the year 2019 is all said and done, memories of Orlando City SC’s U.S. Open Cup win at Memphis 901 FC may fade, but not for Randy Mendoza.

He may have only been on the field for a matter of minutes after replacing Santiago Patiño but 120 stoppage time seconds will forever be etched in the memory of the 23-year-old Californian. Continue reading →

Vote Orlando City UK ‘Best International Content Creator’ at the 2019 Football Blogging Awards

March 8, 2019March 8, 2019 / Taylor Williams / Leave a comment

Nominations are now open for Orlando City UK to be voted ‘Best International Content Creator‘ at the 2019 Football Blogging Awards.

A finalist in the ‘Best International Football Blog’ category at the 2018 Football Blogging Awards, we want to go one better this year with nomination voting ending at 23:59 on 24th March 2019 with finalists announced on 3rd April.
Continue reading →