Lions

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Eduard Atuesta

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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. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Marco Pašalić

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47 days after the club record $14 million sale of Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Orlando City SC have today announced the signing of 24-year-old Croatian international Marco Pašalić, adding some much-needed quality to our right wing position.

Joining the Lions as a Designated Player (our sixteenth in club history), Pašalić arrives from HNK Rijeka for a fee reportedly worth €5 million plus add-ons. Having signed a three-year contract through 2027, with a club option in 2028, Pašalić becomes our fourth 2024/25 off-season arrival after Colin Guske, Nicolás Rodríguez, and Carlos Mercado. Continue reading →

César Araújo set to stay at Orlando City SC for the 2025 season

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In a major boost for Orlando City SC ahead of the 2025 season, North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted early this morning that midfielder César Araújo is set to remain with the Lions for the upcoming year. Despite strong interest from Uruguayan giants Nacional, who attempted to secure Araújo’s signature this winter, sources indicate that the 22-year-old will stay at Inter&Co Stadium for the 2025 campaign.

Araújo’s current contract with Orlando City SC expires on December 31, 2025, with no club options available, putting the club in a delicate position. Had a transfer to Nacional or Belgrano gone through, the Lions would’ve secured a fee for the once-capped Uruguay international, rather than potentially losing him for free in 12 months.

However, with Orlando City SC holding strong ambitions to take the next step and win MLS Cup in 2025, it seems that, reportedly against Araújo’s wishes, the club has taken a firm stance and rejected the idea of him leaving this winter. As all City supporters know, with Facundo Torres already gone this winter, losing César Araújo as well would’ve been a disastrous blow to the squad. Continue reading →

Who is Orlando City SC transfer target Marco Pašalić?

/ Taylor Williams / 1 Comment

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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 →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC signing Nicolás Rodríguez

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28 days after the club record $14 million sale of Facundo Torres to Palmeiras, Orlando City SC have today announced the signing of 20-year-old Colombian forward Nicolás Rodríguez, adding some crucial depth to our right wing position.

Joining the Lions as an U22 Initiative player, Rodríguez arrives from Fortaleza CEIF for a fee reportedly worth $1 million. Having signed a contract through 2027, with a club option in 2028, the young Colombian becomes our second 2024/25 off-season arrival after Colin Guske. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Real Salt Lake acquiring Mason Stajduhar from Orlando City SC

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Out of the blue, Orlando City SC traded longtime Lion Mason Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake yesterday in exchange for $50,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM), a second round draft pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, and up to $150,000 in GAM based on performance metrics. With Carlos Mercado and now Mason Stajduhar having departed, only Pedro Gallese and the inexperienced Javier Otero remain, with the club likely to add another backup goalkeeper behind Gallese.

The longest-tenured player in club history, Stajduhar overcame a battle with Ewing sarcoma – inspiring us all when returning to the field in 2018. A bone cancer survivor and 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champion, Stajduhar set an Orlando City SC single-match club record with 11 saves against Chicago Fire in June 2024. He also made history as the first goalkeeper to record an assist for the Lions at Toronto FC on 2023 MLS Decision Day. Continue reading →

Club América reject Orlando City SC bid for Alejandro Zendejas

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In a disappointing setback for Orlando City SC, Tom Bogert reported last night that Club América have rejected a bid from the Lions for USMNT winger Alejandro Zendejas.

According to sources speaking to GiveMeSport, this stalled negotiation comes as Club América face uncertainty over the future of their head coach André Jardine. With Jardine heavily linked to Brazilian club Botafogo, the Mexican champions are prioritising their own stability before entertaining transfer moves. Continue reading →

Who are Orlando City SC’s four 2025 MLS SuperDraft picks?

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Whetting the appetite for a brand new Major League Soccer season, the 2025 MLS SuperDraft took place earlier tonight with Orlando City SC making four picks overall.

After Oscar Pareja’s Lions selected Joran Gerbet (pictured), Titus Sandy Jr., Collins Oduro, and Takahiro Fujita, Orlando City UK found out a little more about each individual college talent acquired in the draft. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Palmeiras signing Facundo Torres from Orlando City SC

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After the heartbreak of our 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs exit on November 30, Orlando City SC fans face more sadness today, with Facundo Torres completing his $12 million + $2 million transfer to Brazilian giants Palmeiras.

In truth, City supporters have had nearly two whole weeks to digest Facu’s departure, especially after Palmeiras agreed terms with Facundo Torres on December 9 before Cruz Azul appeared set to hijack the move. But in the end, Verdão have got their man.

This transfer not only sets a new club record outbound fee for Orlando City SC, surpassing the $9.5 million West Bromwich Albion paid for Daryl Dike. It also sees City bid farewell to probably the greatest Lion of all-time! Continue reading →

Orlando City SC’s complete 2025 MLS schedule revealed

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(Credit: Orlando City SC)

Orlando City SC supporters have today learned when each of their thirty-four 2025 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 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Continue reading →