TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS:Roster Update
Orlando City could be in for some big changes in 2020, with their end-of-season roster moves on Thursday leaving just 15 players on their current roster.
The club announced on Thursday that it declined options on goalkeepers Adam Grinwis and Mason Stajduhar, defenders Carlos Ascues, Alex De John, Shane O'Neill and Lamine Sane, and midfielders Cameron Lindley, Dillon Powers, Uri Rosell. Furthermore, midfielders Cristian Higuita – the last member of the Lions' original 2015 roster – Will Johnson, Sacha Kljestan, and Uri Rosell are all out of contract.
In addition to the 10 players already under contract for 2020, the club exercised options on defenders Kamal Miller and Kyle Smith, as well as forwards Tesho Akindele, Chris Mueller and Santiago Patino.
Meanwhile, Orlando announced on Friday that the club has brought back right back Ruan, one of the revelations of 2019 for the Lions after getting him on a one-year loan. The Lions exercised the purchase option on the deal and signed him to a two-year contract with an option for a third.
Orlando have yet to make the playoffs in their five seasons in MLS and most recently finished 11th in the Eastern Conference. The club is currently searching for a new head coach after parting ways with James O'Connor on Oct. 7, with former FC Dallas and current Tijuana head coach Oscar Pareja among those rumored to be in the running for the job.
