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Duncan McGuire to return to Orlando City SC as Blackburn Rovers loan collapses

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(Credit: Blackburn Rovers)

After an EFL Board meeting today, Duncan McGuire’s six-month loan move to Blackburn Rovers has now officially collapsed due to an ‘administrative error’ by the EFL Championship side. In other words, the move has fallen through because McGuire’s registration paperwork was submitted after England’s January transfer window deadline of 11pm back on Thursday, February 1. On Tuesday, Tom Bogert even went as far to tweet that Rovers only clicked “save” and not “submit paperwork” before the deadline in what is truly a farcical clerical error. Turning 23 on Monday, this has been no way to spend a birthday with McGuire now having to return to Orlando City SC with immediate effect.

This dramatic transfer saga peaked last Wednesday when McGuire took a flight to England, only for Rovers to call Orlando City SC and our striker’s agent to inform us that they were pulling out of a deal. McGuire then remained grounded in England as fellow suitors Sheffield Wednesday re-entered the race, only for Rovers to then remarkably re-enter negotiations themselves, finally announcing Duncan McGuire’s six-month loan arrival on social media at 23:02, minutes after the January transfer window deadline had passed.

Orlando City UK now understands that Blackburn will fly over to the United States over the coming weeks to try to conclude a pre-contract agreement with Orlando City SC, so that Duncan McGuire can officially become a Rovers player in the summer. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s Duncan McGuire joining Blackburn Rovers on loan

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With England’s January transfer window deadline having just closed at 11pm (GMT), Orlando City SC have now announced that Duncan McGuire has joined EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers on a six-month loan. With Tom Bogert confirming that the loan fee is worth $700,000 with a purchase option of around $7 million, plus $2.5 million in add-ons, McGuire’s move across the pond comes after he reportedly rejected a contract extension in Central Florida. This alone is merely half the story however!

A high drama situation that has been unravelling all week, Blackburn looked all set to wrap up the deal yesterday. However, despite McGuire flying to England on Wednesday to seal his transfer to Ewood Park, Rovers then pulled out of a rumoured $4 million deal for the recently capped USMNT striker at the eleventh hour due to ‘financial reasons’. This not only left McGuire – on his transatlantic flight at the time – in limbo but also the Orlando City SC Front Office and City supporters who all faced an unprecedented transfer saga, or should we say soap opera, that has truly had supporters, journalists, and pundits transfixed since last weekend. News of the Blackburn deal collapsing then alerted McGuire’s other suitors Sheffield Wednesday with the striker spotted at Kenwood Park Hotel in Sheffield this morning.

Are you still following? From here, after cheekily attempting to hijack Orlando City SC’s move for David Brekalo, Blackburn remarkably re-entered negotiations for Duncan McGuire, and at 4:15pm this afternoon, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano put everybody out of their misery by tweeting that McGuire was “on his way to Blackburn to sign on loan with an option to buy clause.”

A saga that has had more twists and turns than the VelociCoaster at Universal Islands of Adventure, it’s been one of the craziest weeks in Orlando City SC‘s MLS history. With Duncan McGuire joining Rovers on loan until July, City must now wait to cash in on the 22-year-old with the start of our 2024 campaign looming large. A shock for some and an inevitability for others, City have now been forced back into the transfer market to find a starting centre forward replacement for the recently capped USMNT striker with Colombian international Luis Muriel looking the most likely candidate as we speak. Continue reading →

Orlando City SC reject Sheffield Wednesday offer for Duncan McGuire

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In the early hours of Sunday morning, North American transfer expert Tom Bogert tweeted that Orlando City SC have rejected an offer from EFL Championship side Sheffield Wednesday for recently capped USMNT striker Duncan McGuire.

With Bogert’s tweet stating that “Orlando view the offer not close to their valuation”, the Owls are the latest side looking to prise McGuire away from Inter&Co Stadium after previous reported interest Anderlecht, R.W.D. Molenbeek, Blackburn Rovers, and Stoke City. Continue reading →

Twitter reacts to… Orlando City SC’s Gastón González joining Nacional on loan

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After Monday rumours of Martín Ojeda joining Boca Juniors, another transfer has now been made official with Orlando City SC’s Gastón González joining Uruguayan giants Nacional on a one-year loan with an option to buy.

Quickly reuniting with Mauricio Pereyra who re-joined Nacional back in December, González has failed to hit the ground running at Inter&Co Stadium. Limited to a bit-part role under Oscar Pareja, the 22-year-old has only made seven Major League Soccer starts and tallied just 712 minutes following his May 2022 arrival from Unión de Santa Fe and subsequent spell on the sidelines with a long-term cruciate ligament injury. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Arsenal – 20.07.2022

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There’s a break (if you’d call it that) from Major League Soccer play as Orlando City SC welcome Premier League giants Arsenal to Exploria Stadium for the FC Series Clash of Nations 2022.

Forging part of the Gunners’ 2022/23 pre-season preparations, Mikel Arteta’s side are adored around the world and this glamorous friendly fixture will underline Orlando City SC‘s name on the global soccer map. Continue reading →

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

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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 →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Puerto Rico National Team – 04.11.2017

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As part of an attempt to raise funds and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Orlando City SC host the Puerto Rico National Team in a friendly at Orlando City Stadium this Saturday evening.

Dedicating 100 per cent of the net proceeds to the ‘United for Puerto Rico’ initiative, this ‘Fuerza Puerto Rico Friendly’ also marks Kaká‘s final outing in Orlando City SC purple following his recent exit announcement. Continue reading →

What role will Victor ‘PC’ Giro play for Orlando City SC?

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In the week that Luke Boden confirmed his Orlando City SC exit by thanking Lions fans for six years of support, Jason Kreis‘ Lions signed extra cover at left back yesterday.

Indeed, 22-year-old Brazilian Victor Giro – otherwise known as ‘PC‘ – became Orlando City SC‘s fourth off-season arrival, penning a four-year contract at Orlando City Stadium. Continue reading →

What does Orlando City SC’s partnership with Atlético Paranaense mean?

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There was positive news for Orlando City SC fans to savour on Tuesday as the Lions entered into a new formal partnership with Brazilian Serie A outfit Clube Atlético Paranaense.

Already boasting existing affiliations with Portuguese Primeira Liga giants Benfica as well as Premier League side Stoke City, the latest partnership only extends Orlando City SC‘s influence worldwide. Continue reading →

STATS PREVIEW: Orlando City SC vs Stoke City – 27.07.2016

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There’s something entirely different for Orlando City SC supporters to look forward to this Wednesday evening as the Lions welcome Stoke City to Titan Soccer Complex in a mid-season friendly.

The Premier League outfit became an official affiliate club to Orlando City SC back in May 2016 and as part of the agreement, this glamorous friendly was scheduled among other benefits. Continue reading →