Front Office

Twitter reacts to… Oscar Pareja’s new Orlando City SC contract through 2028

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After guiding Orlando City SC to the MLS Cup Playoffs for five consecutive seasons, the hugely popular Oscar Pareja signed a new three-year deal yesterday. Penning his last contract extension in December 2023, this new deal keeps our winningest head coach in club history at Inter&Co Stadium until at least the end of 2028.

Over his five-and-a-half years in Central Florida, the 56-year-old Colombian has successfully turned around the Lions’ losing culture in Major League Soccer. His impact was clear last season, when City reached their first-ever Eastern Conference Final. Although we suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to New York Red Bulls, we came within touching distance of our first-ever MLS Cup. That narrow defeat has only fuelled our hunger and determination to go one better this year – and bring the Philip F. Anschutz Trophy home.

So far, the man affectionately known as Papi has built a genuine brotherhood in the City locker room. That bond paid off three years ago when Orlando City SC defeated Sacramento Republic 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium to win the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final – our first major title as an MLS club. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Houston Dynamo acquiring Nicolás Lodeiro and Michael Halliday from Orlando City SC

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Earlier today, Orlando City SC traded Michael Halliday to Houston Dynamo and mutually terminated Nicolás Lodeiro’s contract, clearing the way for him to join Dynamo as well. In news first exclusively revealed by Tom Bogert yesterday, the Lions exercised a buyout option to free Lodeiro’s corresponding salary from their budget space. In the end, Dynamo only paid slightly above league minimum salary. As for Halliday, City traded the 22-year-old to Dynamo in exchange for a natural first round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft.

Orlando City SC’s eighth all-time Homegrown Player, Michael Halliday, moves on after making 36 MLS appearances for the Lions since signing a first team contract in July 2020. Hailing from Apopka, and successfully graduating through both our academy and Orlando City B, Halliday made his senior debut in a 2-1 defeat at New York Red Bulls back on May 29, 2021. With Alex Freeman having surpassed him in the depth chart and Dagur Dan Thórhallsson being our starting right back, Halliday now embarks on a fresh start in Texas.

Meanwhile, Nicolás Lodeiro departs Orlando City SC after just one season in Central Florida. City signed Lodeiro in January 2024 as a Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) player, expecting him to play a key role. However, under Oscar Pareja, the two-time MLS Cup champion found himself used more as a depth option rather than a guaranteed starter. Still having made 34 MLS appearances for the Lions last season, Lodeiro won Orlando City UK’s 2024 ‘Newcomer of the Year’ award. Beating out competition from David Brekalo and Luis Muriel, he now moves on to play in the Western Conference again. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Agustín Soria?

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As we approach our 2025 MLS home opener against Philadelphia Union on February 22, the Orlando City SC Front Office continues to work tirelessly to strengthen the squad. After securing ready-made reinforcements in Marco Pašalić and Eduard Atuesta over the past two weeks, our latest target is reportedly young Uruguayan talent Agustín Soria.

Yesterday, journalist Guille López (@glopezferraro) tweeted that Orlando City SC have formalised an offer for the 20-year-old midfielder from Defensor Sporting, following an initial proposal that was deemed insufficient. With a $6 million release clause, Orlando City SC’s persistence signals their commitment to landing the promising youngster. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Eduard Atuesta?

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As the MLS off-season continues, Orlando City SC are working hard to strengthen the squad ahead of our 2025 campaign. Yesterday, North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted that the Lions “are nearing a deal to sign Colombian midfielder Eduard Atuesta from Palmeiras.”

If Orlando City SC finalise this deal, it will be a significant reinforcement. Eduard Atuesta is a proven MLS talent who knows the league inside out, making him a strong addition to the Lions’ midfield, especially considering Wilder Cartagena’s untimely Achilles tendon injury. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Marco Pašalić?

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As the MLS off-season progresses, Orlando City SC are currently exploring various options to strengthen our roster. Earlier today, North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted that City are “in advanced talks to sign Croatia international winger Marco Pašalić from HNK Rijeka.” Previously knocked back in our pursuit of Club América’s Alejandro Zendejas, Pašalić has now emerged as a viable alternative.

Bogert noted that while “no deal is agreed or done” – with the Lions still monitoring “other targets” – Pašalić “would be a DP winger if it gets done.” Marco Pašalić, 24, has earned five senior international caps with Croatia and was part of Zlatko Dalić’s final 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. Continue reading →

2025 MLS SuperDraft preview: Reviewing Orlando City SC’s 35 draft picks since 2015

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The MLS SuperDraft is the most exciting event in the lives of every young North American college soccer player.

With Rounds 1, 2 and 3 of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft getting underway this Friday (December 20), Orlando City UK took this moment to reflect on how Orlando City SC’s annual picks have fared since our inaugural 2015 season. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Yutaro Tsukada signing a first team contract with Orlando City SC

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In news first broken by Manuel Veth back on August 8, the Lions officially announced today that Orlando City B winger Yutaro Tsukada has signed a first team contract with Orlando City SC through 2025 with club options in 2026 and 2027.

The first ‘new’ signing Orlando City SC have completed during the MLS Secondary Transfer Window, things have been super quiet prior to Tsukada’s first team arrival. But Tsukada will soon be joined by Norway Under-21 international Heine Gikling Bruseth after City agreed a €1.7 million deal for the Kristiansund midfielder. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Nashville SC vs Orlando City SC – 17.07.2024

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Our Gillette Stadium curse is over! Failing to win any of our previous eight MLS games in Foxborough, Orlando City SC have now finally defeated New England Revolution away after securing a 1-3 comeback victory on Saturday night. Our fourth win in five MLS games and the first time we’ve achieved three consecutive victories since September / October 2023, the Lions appear to be coming good when it matters!

After a lacklustre first-half performance at Revs, whatever Oscar Pareja said at half-time had the desired effect! With Orlando City SC coming out re-energised, refocused, and determined to leave Massachusetts with all three points, we laughed in the face of the artificial turf and hit back three times after entering the break 1-0 down.

Staying on the road, City now visit Tennessee for a Wednesday night showdown with Nashville SC at GEODIS Park. The clubs’ first MLS meeting since the Lions dumped Nashville SC out of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, the Music City side will be out for revenge. That said, Nashville SC are on the slide having lost their last four consecutive MLS fixtures, including a 2-1 defeat at D.C. United on Saturday night.

As for Orlando City SC, we’re not only craving a fourth straight victory. We’re now looking for as much momentum as possible as we look to reel in sixth-placed Charlotte FC while solidifying our place in the automatic qualification spots for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Austin FC – 23.03.2024

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After losing 2-0 at fierce rivals Atlanta United, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now return to Central Florida to welcome Austin FC to Inter&Co Stadium for the very first time in MLS.

Down in the dumps right now, the Lions are winless in four MLS games, scoreless in three, and currently second bottom in the Eastern Conference in what has truly been a nightmare start to 2024. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Luis Muriel

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Heavily linked with Orlando City SC since January 31, the Lions have today announced the signing of experienced striker Luis Muriel from Atalanta. Becoming our third Designated Player after Facundo Torres and Martín Ojeda, and our fifteenth ever DP in MLS, the 32-year-old has signed a three-year contract through 2026 at Inter&Co Stadium for a fee believed to be worth around €2 million.

Despite Duncan McGuire returning to Central Florida after his six-month loan to Blackburn Rovers collapsed, the 45-cap Colombian international Muriel will now, in all likelihood, lead the line for City with the Orlando City SC Front Office pulling the trigger on his permanent transfer now rather than waiting for him to become a free agent in June when his current contract was set to expire in Bergamo, Italy. Continue reading →