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STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Flamengo – 27.01.2024

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In a new calendar year, we get to witness our beloved Orlando City SC take the field earlier than ever before with the Lions hosting Brazilian giants Flamengo at our newly renamed Inter&Co Stadium in a friendly match as part of the FC Series 2024.

A friendly announced back on December 7 and originally scheduled to take place at Camping World Stadium, the fixture marks City’s first friendly in preparation for the 2024 season and Flamengo’s final game of their weeklong pre-season tour of Florida. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to Facundo Torres’ new Orlando City SC contract through 2026

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Initially signed on a four-year contract from Peñarol back in January 2022, our Designated Player Facundo Torres has now signed a new contract through 2026 with club options in 2027 and 2028, keeping El Cuervo at Inter&Co Stadium for now and boosting his transfer value simultaneously.

The jewel in the crown of Orlando City SC, Uruguay international Torres is undoubtedly City’s most talented player and the creative fulcrum of our attack. Since arriving in Central Florida, the 23-year-old has impressively scored 27 goals across all competitions for the Lions and registered 14 MLS regular season assists, not to mention playing a pivotal role in helping City win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, scoring a brace in the final against Sacramento Republic back in September 2022. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target David Brekalo?

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Orlando City SC‘s winter transfer business shows no signs of slowing down as they actively hunt a replacement for Antônio Carlos. Today, Norwegian football journalist Stian André de Wahl tweeted that Orlando City SC have submitted a bid of around $2 million to Viking Stavanger for centre back David Brekalo.

In a follow-up tweet by @NorwayFooty, they claim that Viking Stavanger “does not seem interested in accepting the deal” although the 25-year-old Slovenian international centre back “seems to want to leave the club” this winter. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Nicolás Lodeiro

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Orlando City SC have today announced the marquee signing of two-time MLS Cup champion and CONCACAF Champions League winner Nicolás Lodeiro after the attacking midfielder departed Seattle Sounders on December 12.

Signing a contract through 2024 with an option for 2025, Lodeiro won’t occupy a Designated Player slot at Inter&Co Stadium despite his proven calibre. Ultimately, the 34-year-old MLS veteran now fills the void left by fellow Uruguayan number 10 Mauricio Pereyra who spent four-and-a-half years in Central Florida before mutually terminating his City contract and returning to Nacional in December. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Iván Angulo permanently

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On loan at Orlando City SC since July 2022, the Lions today announced the permanent signing of Colombian winger Iván Angulo from Brazilian side Palmeiras – another key piece of winter transfer business that City supporters were keenly anticipating.

Signing a guaranteed contract through 2025, with a club option in 2026, Angulo was a standout contributor last year and registered five goals and eight assists across 2,499 minutes in our 2023 MLS regular season, scoring the crucial goal away at Nashville SC that set up our Eastern Conference Semi-Final with Columbus Crew. Continue reading →

Orlando City SC finalising deal to sign MLS veteran Nicolás Lodeiro

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North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted today that Orlando City SC are finalising a deal to sign two-time MLS Cup winning attacking midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro after he departed Seattle Sounders on December 12.

After Mauricio Pereyra mutually terminated his contract with City on December 6 before re-joining Nacional shortly after, experienced fellow Uruguayan Lodeiro now adequately fills the void left by Pereyra who spent four-and-a-half years at Inter&Co Stadium. Continue reading →

Orlando City SC reject Blackburn Rovers’ loan offer for Duncan McGuire

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North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted yesterday that Orlando City SC have rejected a loan offer from EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers for striker Duncan McGuire.

With Bogert’s tweet stating that “Orlando have no interest in entertaining loan offers”, Blackburn are the latest side looking to prise McGuire away from Inter&Co Stadium after previous reported interest from Belgian Pro League sides Anderlecht and R.W.D. Molenbeek. Continue reading →

Orlando City SC’s complete 2024 MLS schedule revealed

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Orlando City SC supporters have today learned when each of their thirty-four 2024 Major League Soccer regular season fixtures will be played.

With all MLS franchises’ complete regular season schedules released today, away days can be planned, rivalry games can be circled, and Lions supporters can now start mapping out Orlando City SC‘s quest to reach the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading →

Who are Orlando City SC’s four 2024 MLS SuperDraft picks?

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Whetting the appetite for a brand new Major League Soccer season, the 2024 MLS SuperDraft took place yesterday with Orlando City SC making four picks overall.

After Oscar Pareja‘s Lions selected Jeorgio Kocevski, Yutaro Tsukada (pictured), Filip Mirkovic, and Riyon Tori, Orlando City UK found out a little more about each individual college talent acquired in the draft. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2025

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“It’s done” as Frodo Baggins famously said in the Lord of the Rings! After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for four consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja has now signed a new two-year deal, keeping our winningest head coach in club history at Exploria Stadium until at least the end of 2025.

During his four-year tenure in Central Florida, the 55-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer, so much so that City broke their own regular season records this year to finish runners-up to FC Cincinnati in the 2023 Supporters’ Shield despite having the lowest salary spend of all – a hugely impressive feat.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room, one that yielded silverware last year when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at Exploria Stadium – our first major title as an MLS club. Continue reading →