Orlando City B
Orlando City B Player Spotlight: Kyle Callan-McFadden
Upon announcing its USL franchise, Orlando City B, Orlando City wasted no time announcing the first player signings for the developmental team.
Irish-born Kyle Callan-McFadden was the first signing of the club, brought in after his release from Norwich City. Callan-McFadden made the move two weeks before the announcement to get used to the environment he would be playing in in Brevard County.
"I came over two weeks early to get used to the heat and everything," Callan-McFadden said. "It was tough the first couple days and I'm from Ireland and that as well it's a big difference. The lads have been great since I've been in. It's a real welcoming squad. I can't wait to get crackin."
Callan-McFadden signed with Norwich City in July 2011, when he was 16, He was named as the Football Association of Ireland's Under-16 Player of the Year in February 2012. Callan-McFadden won the FA Youth Cup in 2013 against Chelsea, and made his professional debut in a 3-1 win over Crawley Town in the second round of the League Cup. He made 35 appearances in the U21 Premier League, and one appearance in each the reserve league and League Cup.
The 6-foot Callan-McFadden, has also made 16 appearances with the Irish U17 national team, 13 appearances with the U19s and one with the U21s. He grew up a Tottenham Hotspur fan and his favorite player is Michael Dawson.
Born in Donegal, Callan-McFadden is following in the footsteps of some other Irish greats from that town: Shay Given, Seamus Coleman and Shane Duffy, to name a few.
The 20-year-old center back said he was excited to be a part of Orlando City rejoining the USL, but admitted the first couple days of training were difficult.
"The first two days are quite tough. You have to keep encouraging the lads. That's what teammates are for, to help you along the way," Callan-McFadden said.
In practicing with the club’s first team for training, Callan-McFadden got to be reunited with his former teammate and the son of MLS squad head coach Adrian Heath, Harrison Heath. The younger Heath will likely be one of the staples on the USL squad, and is one of the many players who will help the new USL signings in the future make the adjustment.
"Harrison Heath — he played in Norwich with me. Me and him are like brothers if I'm honest," McFadden said. "I can still feel like I can approach a few players and say I'm struggling with this and I need help with that and I feel like they would be happy to help."