MLSPA Salary Dump Reveals Orlando City’s 2021 Player Costs

The Major League Soccer Players Association released 2021 player salary information today, giving us our first glimpse at what Orlando City’s newest signings are making this year and shedding light on returning players who signed new contracts since the end of 2019.

Orlando City currently sits 16th among MLS teams in total player salary commitments based on the new numbers. Considering how competitive the Lions have been since the start of the 2020 season, that says a lot about the job Alex Leitao, Luiz Muzzi, Ricardo Moreira, and Oscar Pareja have done in assembling the roster.

The only drawback to the new numbers is that the salary dump is as of April 15, so we don’t have a salary for recently signed draft pick Derek Dodson. There also isn’t any information listed for Wilfredo Rivera. But otherwise, it’s all here for anyone to see and it has a handy sort function.

Nani remains the highest paid Lion, with a guaranteed 2021 salary of $2,486,250. The only other Orlando City player above the $1 million mark in annual guaranteed earnings is midfielder Mauricio Pereyra, at $1,800,000.

The salary information for the newest Lions — those signed between the start of the 2020 season and now — is as follows:

• Raul Aguilera (Homegrown Player) signed this season for a guaranteed $63,547.
• Midseason 2020 signings Matheus Aias and Alexander Alvarado are making a guaranteed $267,500 and $220,000, respectively.
• Loaned goalkeeper Brandon Austin is guaranteed to make $279,477 if he’s here all season.
• Homegrown defender Michael Halliday, who signed his deal in July of 2020, is guaranteed $95,089.
• Defender Rio Hope-Gund is set to make $63,547.
• Forward Alexandre Pato has a guaranteed salary of $272,727 but we know that can go higher if performance bonus metrics are met.
• Winger Silvester van der Water is set to make $325,750 in 2021.

A few Orlando City players have recently signed new deals. Here’s how those shake out:

• The new deal Tesho Akindele signed in 2021, which includes two one-year options, has him making a guaranteed $290,000.
• Antonio Carlos is making a nice salary for himself after his new contract, which he signed in December. He’s set to make $865,000.
• Robin Jansson’s new deal, signed in January, has him making $556,250.
• Kyle Smith signed a new contract in late March, guaranteeing he’ll make $118,660 this year.
• Orlando City permanently signed previously loaned players Rodrigo Schlegel and Andres Perea. Those players are set to make $127,425 and $185,500, respectively.

Below is a complete list of the players we have salary data on.

Orlando City 2021 Salaries (alphabetically by last name)

Raul Aguilera: $63,547.00
Matheus Aias: $267,500.00
Tesho Akindele: $290,000.00
Alexander Alvarado: $220,000.00
Brandon Austin: $279,477.00
Jordan Bender: $63,547.00
Antonio Carlos: $865,000.00
Joey DeZart: $66,724.00
Daryl Dike: $128,750.00
Pedro Gallese: $410,000.00
Michael Halliday: $95,089.00
Rio Hope-Gund: $63,547.00
Robin Jansson: $556,250.00
David Loera: $102,500.00
Benji Michel: $115,553.00
Joao Moutinho: $223,000.00
Chris Mueller: $137,465.00
Sebas Méndez: $586,750.00
Nani: $2,486,250.00
Alexandre Pato: $272,727.00
Andres Perea: $185,500.00
Mauricio Pereyra: $1,800,000.00
Uri Rosell: $475,000.00
Rodrigo Schlegel: $127,425.00
Kyle Smith: $118,660.00
Mason Stajduhar: $85,444.00
Ruan Teixeira: $190,000.00
Junior Urso: $730,000.00
Silvester van der Water: $325,750.00

Orlando City 2021 Salaries (ranked)

It’s important to note, before anyone gets mad online about these numbers, that some of the players on the roster are still on their first MLS deals, so guys like Chris Mueller and Daryl Dike are going to be lower than you’d think they “deserve” to be. Some players may also have accepted lower salary numbers in exchange for more years on their deals. And some position groups naturally have higher salaries than others.

Nani: $2,486,250.00
Mauricio Pereyra: $1,800,000.00
Antonio Carlos: $865,000.00
Junior Urso: $730,000.00
Sebas Méndez: $586,750.00
Robin Jansson: $556,250.00
Uri Rosell: $475,000.00
Pedro Gallese: $410,000.00
Silvester van der Water: $325,750.00
Tesho Akindele: $290,000.00
Brandon Austin: $279,477.00
Alexandre Pato: $272,727.00
Matheus Aias: $267,500.00
Joao Moutinho: $223,000.00
Alexander Alvarado: $220,000.00
Andres Perea: $185,500.00
Chris Mueller: $137,465.00
Daryl Dike: $128,750.00
Rodrigo Schlegel: $127,425.00
Ruan Teixeira: $190,000.00
Kyle Smith: $118,660.00
Benji Michel: $115,553.00
David Loera: $102,500.00
Michael Halliday: $95,089.00
Mason Stajduhar: $85,444.00
Joey DeZart: $66,724.00
Raul Aguilera: $63,547.00
Jordan Bender: $63,547.00
Rio Hope-Gund: $63,547.00