Football Season Guide

Orlando City SC

In


Eduard Atuesta (mid) Palmeiras / Marco Pasalic (att) Rijeka / Nicolás Rodríguez (att) Fortaleza

Out


Mason Stajduhar (sp) (gk) RSL / Abdi Salim (def) contract terminated / Jeorgio Kocevski (mid) contract terminated / Felipe Martins (sp) (mid) Cascavel / Heine Gikling Bruseth (mid) San Diego / Facundo Torres (k) (att) Palmeiras / Jack Lynn (att) contract terminated / Michael Halliday (sp) (def) Houston Dynamo / Nicolás Lodeiro (sp) (mid) Houston Dynamo

Orlando reached the Conference Final last year where they lost dramatically 0-1 vs New York RB. It was a slow start to 2024 but once form was found the Lions looked impressive. They finished only 4th in the East during the regular season. Yet the 7 wins in the last 9 rounds built momentum that propelled them right to the Conference Final. Facundo Torres had 16 goals and 14 assists last season. He was sold in the winter. Replaced him well. Both Pasalic and Rodriguez play in the same area and will be competing for a starting role. This was the only major departure so Orlando look as if they have improved the roster slightly. The addition of experienced CM Atuesta means that veterans Lodeiro and Muriel almost certainly will be used mainly as impact subs in 2025. Both can cause lots of damage late in games, so having them on the bench makes the Lions really dangerous. Injuries affected the defensive efficiency last term, conceded 50 goals. Hope to have better luck with the health of their back line. If this is the case Orlando should easily extend their streak of making the post-season to 6 consecutive years

Target


The target is to reach the Conference Final again. Will be contenders.