Tom Sweezy - MLS Aces
·7 January 2024
Orlando City SC Sign Former CONCACAF Champions League Winner Nicolas Lodeiro
![Article image:Orlando City SC Sign Former CONCACAF Champions League Winner Nicolas Lodeiro](https://image-service.onefootball.com/transform?w=280&h=210&dpr=2&image=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic1.squarespace.com%2Fstatic%2F584799e0ebbd1a711b5763b0%2F5cb543cee5e5f07a9e50a224%2F6599eb7b69d4541291756635%2F1704586295934%2FNL.jpeg%3Fformat%3D1500w)
Tom Sweezy - MLS Aces
·7 January 2024
Orlando City SC have signed MLS veteran attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro. The free agent attacker has some of the most unique and successful experience within Major League Soccer history. Lodeiro is a 34 year old who has won the CONCACAF Champions League as well as two MLS Cups with Seattle. In 231 career games for the Seattle Sounders Lodeiro has scored 58 goals, assisted on 62 goals, been named a MLS Best XI midfielder, MLS All Star, and a MLS Newcomer of the Year. Lodeiro captained the Seattle Sounders to be the first MLS club to win the modern version of the CONCACAF Champions League. The former Uruguay International member now joins up with one of the best managers in MLS, Oscar Pareja to find continued success in the United States.
Nicolas Lodeiro looks to be the starting attacking midfielder that will be playing behind the attacking three of Ivan Angulo, Duncan McGuire, and Facundo Torres. Including the other attackers on the roster of Martin Ojeda, Ramiro Enrique, and Gaston Gonzalez, Orlando City are primed to have one of the better attacks in all of MLS in 2024. The creative abilities of Lodeiro will only unlock continued goals from McGuire and Torres. During the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs we saw the creativity of Orlando’s attack fall apart. Lodeiro is a clear upgrade from Mauricio Pereyra, and Orlando seems to be upgrading for the 2nd best team (points wise) in all of Major League Soccer last season. The best part of this signing is that Lodeiro will not be on a Designated Player deal. This means that the club has the opportunity to add another DP before the 2024 MLS season kicks off.