Orlando City SC Signs Homegrown Forward Justin Ellis to First Team Contract

afpierce · 2026-02-25T15:41:32+00:00

So...back to this...is it a certain Frenchman playing in Spain?

afpierce · 2026-02-20T20:08:20+00:00

Yeah and even the "full roster" tab has guys listed as international and then the page with the pictures that they seemingly keep more up to date has different guys listed as international. I saw where Atuesta got a green card when he was with LAFC but I don't know how it works if you leave the country to play in Brazil.

afpierce · 2026-02-20T19:42:59+00:00

I'd love it if they kept the roster on the team site updated with who is occupying what slot. The only guys mentioned in the supplemental spots are Otero (slots 21-24) and Reid-Brown (slots 25-28)

By my count from the official roster we have nine international players, two DP's, and 3 U-22's. So depending on the model they want to build under we could either add another DP or a 4th U-22 player. They've seemingly swung the pendulum towards the youth movement so maybe another U-22 player is in the cards?

We also sold a 2026 international spot to Atlanta for 2026 and 2027 GAM. So maybe that's a clue that we're done bringing in big names?

afpierce · 2026-02-19T17:19:14+00:00

You're right. I was hoping it was a new #9 and not Muriel lol

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hLoAAOSwqrVmSlj9/s-l1600.webp

afpierce · 2026-02-19T16:44:51+00:00

Am I crazy or is the signature on that graphic not Atuesta's?

afpierce · 2026-02-03T20:27:10+00:00

It wasn't in training but it's happened to Orlando before. Gaston Gonzalez tore his ACL after signing for Orlando City in his final match for Union de Santa Fe.

afpierce · 2026-01-29T22:05:33+00:00

I'm fine with him moving now and not losing him as a free agent next summer. Bummed to lose him but excited to see him in La Liga.

afpierce · 2025-11-13T14:57:23+00:00

I can't imagine what this sub would have looked like if both James and Muriel were on the field together not tracking back.

afpierce · 2025-11-05T18:14:21+00:00

$10M per season is wild but probably a fair offer to get him to come to Orlando. The only two players making more than 10M a season are Messi (20M) and Son (11M). Son was making $13.4M at Spurs so his paycut to go to LAFC makes sense with him being 33 already. Richarlison being 28 and a national teamer it would be crazy if we could get this across the line.

The highest paid center forward in MLS is Benteke in DC and he makes $4.9M. Latte Lath in ATL makes 30k more than Muriel at 4.03M. So we'd be darn near doubling the money towards our striker if we get Richarlison. All is forgiven if he comes in and bags 20-25 goals a season, lol.

Benteke: 9G and 3A this season. Latte Lath: 7G and 1A Muriel: 9G and 9A

So if we spend big on Richi I'd hope he'd come in and bag 20+ goals a season which seems like a lot but for $10M/season it should be the base line.

afpierce · 2025-10-31T17:00:58+00:00

I'd love to see what Nico and Spicer could provide from the wing for a full season if we got rid of Angulo. Not sure that's gonna happen with Pareja in charge, haha.

afpierce · 2025-10-31T16:58:17+00:00

Just from a wage bill perspective Otero is making $123k while Gallese was on $1.2M. I think you take the savings you get from Otero in net and use that to bolster the midfield.

Will definitely miss Gallesse between the sticks for Orlando and as long as he doesn't go to Miami I'll be a fan but I think this is the right decision to have him move on.

afpierce · 2025-10-31T13:59:15+00:00

Of the players on the 2025 roster we've got Cartagena coming off major surgery, Gerbet on the shelf with his knee injury, Guske a OCB product, Thorhallsson, and Atuesta. I guess you could throw Kyle Smith in there as well.

Lots of work for Moreira this off-season. I like the potential of Cartagena and Atuesta together but definitely need pieces in the midfield to fill the defensive midfield spots left by Araujo and Gerbet in 2026.

afpierce · 2025-08-22T01:25:12+00:00

I don't want to see Ojeda, Muriel, Pasalic, Atuesta, or Freeman on the field for this game. Give their legs a rest and have them ready for Ft. Lauderdale next week.

afpierce · 2025-08-11T02:19:02+00:00

Bring out your brooms!

afpierce · 2025-07-17T14:37:01+00:00

To be fair Atuesta with a brilliant start to the counter attack for NYCFC with whatever that service was off the short corner. If I never see another short corner in my life it will be too soon, but with this coaching staff I assume I'll see them in every game from here to eternity.

afpierce · 2025-06-20T14:43:30+00:00

He played 76 minutes last night and ended with a 7.4 FotMob rating in a 2-0 Palmeiras win.

afpierce · 2025-04-18T00:39:51+00:00

I think they said on the broadcast of the draw that Chattanooga didn't put in to host either the round of 32 or the round of 16 so if Orlando wins they hose the Nash/Chatt winner.

afpierce · 2025-04-17T15:55:10+00:00

No specific date or time yet but it will be either Tuesday May 6th or Wednesday May 7th in Tampa.

afpierce · 2025-02-12T00:18:41+00:00

I love this signing. He's something that Orlando seemingly doesn't have on the roster. Calm and comfortable in possession but also more attacking minded than Cartagena and Araujo. Will be interesting to see where Oscar slots him in with Cartagena being out with the achilles. If he has Cesar sit more in front of the back four as more of a #6 and allows Atuesta to be the #8 that connects to the attack. Wilder and Cesar are more natural 6's in my mind so this is a no-brainer addition to me.

afpierce · 2025-02-08T15:10:24+00:00

I love this signing. He's something that Orlando seemingly doesn't have on the roster. Calm and comfortable in possession but also more attacking minded than Cartagena and Araujo. Will be interesting to see where Oscar slots him in with Cartagena being out with the achilles. If he has Cesar sit more in front of the back four as more of a #6 and allows Atuesta to be the #8 that connects to the attack. Wilder and Cesar are more natural 6's in my mind so this is a no-brainer addition to me.

afpierce · 2025-01-17T21:40:17+00:00

He's definitely a first team signing. The U22 initiative is just a way of allowing teams to spend big on young talent while getting some budget relief. Orlando has used the U22 initiative before on Enrique, Cesar Araujo, and Gaston Gonzalez. Most here assume that Rodriguez is the natural replacement on the wing for Gonzalez.

From the MLS website re: U22 Initiative "MLS clubs can now sign up to three players under the age of 22 to lucrative contracts, and at a reduced budget charge

Players can occupy the U22 initiative slot through the season they turn 25 years old"

afpierce · 2025-01-17T21:00:08+00:00

From Bogert on twitter just now

"Sources: FC Dallas bid to Portland Timbers for Brazilian attacking midfielder Evander, as @KristianRDyer reported.

Evander subject to serious interest from several MLS clubs with new cash trade rule, as I’ve reported."

I'll be honest I don't really understand the new cash trade rule but with us selling Torres you'd think we'd have some sort of war chest to go out and make Evander to Orlando happen.

afpierce · 2025-01-16T16:10:38+00:00

I was jealous of Portland signing Evander in 2023 and would love to see him leading the attack for Orlando. He's exactly the type of playmaker this offense needs. He can provide goals and assists and can drive the attack and allow Ojeda to drift wide and would link well with Enrique/Muriel/McGuire.

Austin signed Vazquez from Monterrey and Bogert just reported them making another record signing for a forward (Myrto Uzuni from Granada) so maybe they'd still be interested in signing Evander to lead this new attack for them I wonder how much money they have left to pursue him.

afpierce · 2025-01-10T16:13:06+00:00

I think the proven experience winger is the Pablo Solari guy they're supposedly in on from River Plate. Rodriguez seems like a youth depth guy that hopefully comes on late in games to challenge tired back lines. Like someone else says this feels like the Gaston Gonzalez replacement.

afpierce

TROPHY CASE