Orlando City Extends Ivan Angulo’s Loan Through End of 2023 MLS Season

Orlando City SC announced today that the club has picked up the option to extend winger Ivan Angulo’s loan for six more months, keeping him in purple through the end of the 2023 MLS season. The 24-year-old from Tumaco, Colombia, was originally signed on loan from Brazilian Série A side Palmeiras for 12 months on July 25, 2022. This decision was baked into that deal with Orlando’s option to extend the loan for six months and the winger has played well enough to more than justify picking up his option. The club announced that the extension was exercised “at a previous date,” which just sounds like an interesting way to say it was done and not announced formally at some point before today.

Angulo has appeared in 27 matches (21 starts) since his arrival last year, debuting for the Lions on Aug. 6 vs. the New England Revolution. He’s compiled 1,945 minutes, scoring three goals and adding six assists, attempting 40 shots (13 on target), and passing at an 84.6% success rate. All three goals and half of his assists as a Lion have come this season. He’s also committed 17 fouls while drawing 21 on the opposition and has picked up five yellow cards.

The Colombian’s speed, ability to take on opponents on the dribble, and defend have made him an automatic selection when healthy for Oscar Pareja. His knock has always been his finishing, but he’s finding a bit more success with that in 2023, establishing a new career high already — in fact, he had a fourth goal overturned due to a foul on Ercan Kara in the buildup in Orlando’s match Wednesday night against the Philadelphia Union.

Prior to joining Orlando City, Angulo produced four goals and five assists at various clubs to which Palmeiras had loaned him. He started all five matches in Colombia’s run at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, scoring one goal and adding three assists. He has also represented his country at the U-23 level.

At the time he was signed, I commented:

To be honest, I’m feeling a little like Luke Skywalker looking at the Millennium Falcon for the first time. This signing seems a bit underwhelming, considering the Lions already have two guys playing left wing that aren’t scoring. Angulo’s career track record doesn’t instill the confidence of Muzzi’s quote above regarding the player’s talent and creativity.

With that said, I would be happy to be proven wrong when Han Solo makes the jump to light speed. This seems like an unambitious move for a team that has only two wins since May 14 — with one of those requiring an own goal in stoppage time to change from a draw to a victory. This also comes from a club that specified before the season that there was room to add a Designated Player and buy down Mauricio Pereyra if needed (and it is) and just days after shipping Sebas Mendez to an LAFC side that also just added Gareth Bale and Giorgio Chiellini. Fans were hoping to see Cristian Arango coming back in that deal but nope…just allocation money.

As I indicated at the time, I am happy to have been proven wrong on this signing. If the 24-year-old can continue improving his shooting accuracy and decision-making in the final third, he could be a vital cog in the Lions’ attack, in addition to being one of the key players in Orlando’s press.

What It Means for Orlando City

Having Angulo for the end of the season is a good thing. He’s provided Pareja with some flexibility in shape with his ability to play on the wing or in a wingback position and he can do that on either side if needed. His ability to take on defenders is a valuable asset, and his speed provides opportunities for the team to score in transition. Angulo sometimes lacks the sharpness you’d like to see in an MLS starter, especially when shooting the ball, but his work rate and ability to press are valuable.

At a base MLS salary of $348,000 and a guaranteed $380,660 in total compensation, Angulo is an affordable starting winger and his value to the team has only increased with the injury issues that Gaston Gonzalez has had. Gonzalez appeared to reaggravate the hamstring injury he was just returning from last night against the Union.

The Lions will no doubt be looking into what a permanent transfer would cost the team beyond the end of this season, but at least he’s in the plans for the rest of the 2023 campaign.