Orlando City
Orlando City Signs Ivan Angulo through 2025 on Permanent Transfer
The speedy Colombian lands in Orlando with a permanent transfer and a deal through at least the 2025 season.

Orlando City SC completed another bit of important club business today with the announcemen that the Lions have added Colombian winger Ivan Angulo on a permanent transfer from Brazil Serie A club Palmeiras. Angulo’s new contract runs through 2025 with a club option for 2026.
“Iván has been so impactful for us these last few years, not only with his creativity in the attacking phase of play but also with his defensive pressure from the wing,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s ingrained himself into the group since the moment he arrived and has been invaluable for us and we’re excited to have him here as part of our foundation for next season.”
The 24-year-old native of Tumaco, Colombia was originally acquired on loan from Palmeiras on July 25, 2022, signing a 12-month deal with an option to extend it for six months. After a successful half season for the Lions, in which Angulo became an integral part of the club’s press and counterattack and helped Orlando City win the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, the club exercised the option to keep him in Orlando through the end of the 2023 season. Now his services have been secured just as he’s entering the prime of his career.
During Angulo’s first six months with Orlando City in 2022 he made nine appearances during the Major League Soccer regular season, with five of those coming as a starter, and logged 551 minutes. He took 14 shots, putting five on target but did not score a goal. He passed with 86.3% accuracy on 153 attempts, finishing with three assists. On the defensive side of things, he made seven tackles and recorded five interceptions and one clearance. Angulo was fouled four times, committed four fouls of his own, and received one yellow card in 2022.
He made an appearance in Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup championship match as a starter, logging 83 minutes on the field, taking one shot, passing with 71.4% accuracy, and recording two interceptions. Angulo also got a start with Orlando City B in MLS NEXT Pro against Rochester New York FC, playing 82 minutes. In that game, he scored a goal, had four shots, and passed with 65.2% accuracy.
Angulo played in every game in all competitions in 2023. This includes an appearance in all 34 regular-season games (29 starts) in which he recorded 2,499 minutes. The Colombian put 15 of his 45 shots on target (33.3%) and scored five goals. He completed 642 of his 776 pass attempts (82.7%), which included 19 key passes and eight assists. Defensively, Angulo had 29 tackles, 12 clearances, 17 interceptions, and three blocks. He drew 30 fouls, committed 20 fouls, and was booked five times.
He started all three playoff games, playing 238 minutes. He put four of his 10 shots on target (40%), scoring one goal. While he didn’t record any assists, Angulo completed 89 of his 97 pass attempts (91.8%), including five key passes. The attacking player contributed three tackles and one interception defensively, drew one foul, and committed two fouls but wasn’t booked.
Angulo started both Concacaf Champions League games against Tigres UANL, recording 137 minutes. He only took two shots, putting one on target (50%), and didn’t score any goals. He completed 12 of his 19 pass attempts (63.2%) without any key passes or assists. He drew seven fouls, committed two, and wasn’t issued any cards.
In the first year of the redesigned Leagues Cup, Angulo started all three games for 250 minutes of action. Three of his five shots were on target (60%), but he didn’t score. He completed 68 of his 81 passes (84%) without any key passes or assists. He drew three fouls and committed five fouls with one booking.
A regular starter in the other competitions, Angulo came off the bench in the team’s lone U.S. Open Cup game against Charlotte FC, playing the final 29 minutes. He took three shots without putting any on target and completed 16 of his 17 pass attempts (94.1%) without any assists. He also didn’t commit or draw any fouls.
Angulo was a major part of Orlando City’s success in 2023, scoring his first goal for the Lions when he struck for the game-winning goal against the Philadelphia Union on March 25. That win snapped Philadelphia’s 24-game home unbeaten streak (19-0-5).
What It Means for Orlando City
Angulo is a player who brings speed and defensive pressure to the Orlando City lineup. It would have been difficult to replace his combination of quickness, top-end speed, and tenacity, and ultimately Muzzi found a way to secure his services, avoiding the need to find such a replacement.
The Mane Land staff gave Angulo a composite rating of 6.5 out of 10 his first half season in Orlando and he earned the same score for 2023, although it’s safe to say that he played better this past season. Some of his decision making in the final third and his quality with his shot or final pass have been lacking, but he definitely increased his production in his first full season with Orlando City. Even one more small step forward in his development would be sufficient to place him among the best wing players the Lions have had since jumping to MLS.
It’s obvious that Oscar Pareja loves what Angulo brings to his squad, as the Colombian was able to stay in the starting lineup, keeping Designated Player Martin Ojeda on the substitutes’ bench. This is a positive move for the Lions to maintain continuity in the attack entering 2024. It will be interesting to see if Angulo’s productivity in 2023 can be duplicated or even improved upon now that he’s here on a permanent transfer. He was a player who has struggled to find goals in the past, so if he can contribute between six and 10 annually, it’ll give a huge boost to Orlando City’s offense. Meanwhile, he’ll continue to be able to continue forcing turnovers in the attacking half and tracking back with his speed to help break up opposing teams’ counterattacks.
The club has now secured the permanent transfers of both Angulo and Wilder Cartagena. The priorities now for this off-season will be landing a central attacking midfielder to replace Mauricio Pereyra — something reportedly close to happening with the potential arrival of Nico Lodeiro — a center back to replace Antonio Carlos, and an additional striker.
Orlando City
Orlando City, Nico Lodeiro Mutually Agree to Terminate Contract
The club is off the hook for an $800,000 salary and the Uruguayan midfielder is free to pursue other opportunities.

Veteran midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro’s days as a Lion are over. Orlando City announced that the club and player have mutually agreed to terminate Lodeiro’s contract, allowing him to become a free agent. Per the club, Orlando City has utilized one of its two buyouts for 2025 in this transaction.
Tom Bogert reported Monday that a deal was in the works for Lodeiro to join the Houston Dynamo, and this move paves the way for that to happen. As he was going to be out of contract after the season anyway, the Lions had limited options to sell the midfielder and in the end opted to free up room under the cap, allowing the player to move on to a situation where he could get more minutes.
“This was certainly a difficult decision as Nico has been a great addition to the team since joining us at the beginning of last season,” Orlando City Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “Ultimately, we feel this is the best move for both the team and Nico at this time. Nico has integrated in such a seamless way that it feels like he’s been part of our club for much longer than just one season. On top of being a tremendous player and teammate, Nico is a fantastic human being. Our doors will always be open to Nico, and we hope he can one day rejoin us and be an integral part of the Club’s future.”
Orlando City signed Lodeiro as a free agent on Jan. 4, 2024, after his stellar eight-year run with the Seattle Sounders. The hope was that he would step in and elevate a position that had been occupied by previous captain Mauricio Pereyra. Lodeiro managed 16 starts and played in all 34 regular-season matches for the Lions in 2024, but he was displaced in the starting lineup by Martin Ojeda. That relegated Lodeiro to coming off the bench in the second half in most of his appearances from August onward. His final start in the regular season came July 20, 2024, vs. New York City FC, and his last start in any competition was July 26 in Leagues Cup play against CF Montreal.
The 35-year-old leaves Orlando after 34 regular-season appearances (16 starts). He logged 1,697 minutes in the regular season, scoring one goal and contributing 11 assists, which matched his third-highest total in MLS. He attempted 36 shots and put 10 of them on target. Lodeiro completed 87.5% of his passes, which was his best-ever completion percentage in an MLS season, as he delivered 1,215 of 1,389 accurately. He also recorded 46 key passes, 20 completed long balls, and 20 successful crosses. On defense, he notched 36 tackles, 14 interceptions, eight clearances, and three blocks.
In addition to appearing in every regular-season match, Lodeiro saw the field in each of Orlando’s five postseason games — all as a substitute — and played 58 minutes. He did not record any goal contributions or shots, although he had the assist on a would-be Facundo Torres winner in Game 2 against Charlotte FC which was ultimately ruled offside. He completed 77.4% of his passes and accurately delivered two key passes, two crosses, and two long balls. Defensively, he made three tackles and chipped in with a clearance.
Nico appeared in all four of OCSC’s Concacaf Champions Cup matches, starting both games against Tigres and coming on as a sub in both legs against Cavalry FC for a total of 270 minutes. He took four shots (one on target), and provided a goal and an assist in the home game against Cavalry. He completed 86% of his passes and provided one key pass and the aforementioned assist. Defensively, he contributed two tackles and one clearance.
He also started one of the Lions’ Leagues Cup matches and came on as a substitute in the other two, for three total appearances, amassing 83 minutes. He did not score on his four shots (one on target), but he provided an assist in the 4-1 win over CF Montreal. He passed with 81.5% accuracy, completed one cross, and provided three key passes.
What It Means for Orlando City
Lodeiro’s departure after just one season in Orlando clears an $800,000 salary from the books, which is too sizable a contract for a player who would have been a bench player when the team had its full complement of starting players. Lodeiro is still a useful player, as evidenced by his double-digit assist totals a year ago, but he has clearly lost some pace and some of his effectiveness in the box. His goal-scoring has dropped off dramatically in recent years, although he is still a threat on set pieces, as shown by his free kick goal late in the CF Montreal preseason match on Feb. 8.
Ultimately, Lodeiro helped the Lions bridge the gap at the No. 10 spot between Pereyra and Ojeda claiming the job. Ojeda continues to show growth in that position and is coming off a one-goal, one-assist performance Friday against Inter Miami in preseason action. His departure will mean there isn’t an ideal backup for Ojeda on the current squad, although that role could be filled by Luis Muriel or Eduard Atuesta if need be.
If Houston completes the signing of Lodeiro, it would put the Uruguayan on a team that isn’t scheduled to face Orlando City this season.
Orlando City
Orlando City Trades Homegrown Right Back Michael Halliday to the Houston Dynamo
Orlando City has acquired a first-round draft pick in 2026 for fullback Michael Halliday.

Orlando City announced today that the club has traded Homegrown right back Michael Halliday to the Houston Dynamo for the club’s natural first-round pick in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft. The move ends the Apopka native’s stay with his hometown club, which started in 2016 when he joined the academy. It’s the second time this year that the club has traded away a long-serving Homegrown player, having sent backup goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar to Real Salt Lake on Jan. 15.
Tom Bogert first broke the news Monday that a deal for Halliday was in the works between Orlando and Houston, and now it has been completed. The club will also retain a sell-on percentage in the event Houston transfers Halliday to another club.
The 22-year-old defender signed as the club’s eighth-ever Homegrown Player on July 15, 2020, coming out of the academy. At the time of his signing, he was the youngest player to sign for the club since Tommy Redding in 2014 at 17 years, five months, and 23 days.
He initially joined the club in 2016, playing for the U-13 side and made his way up the academy ranks, eventually reaching the U-19 team before making his professional debut for OCB on Aug. 1, 2020. He made seven appearances for the Young Lions that year with six starts and 561 minutes, recording an assist. He was an unused substitute three times for the first team in 2020.
Halliday’s first appearance for the first team came on May 29, 2021 in a 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. He bounced between the first and second teams over the next four years, making 12 total appearances for OCB with 11 starts and 966 minutes, recording just the one assist. He made 43 appearances for the MLS side with 18 starts, recording 1,841 minutes with two assists.
The right back recently signed a new contract with the club on Jan. 16, 2024. It was a two-year deal that was to keep him in town through the 2025 season with club options for 2026 and 2027.
However, the Apopka native saw a significant decrease in playing time in 2024. After appearing 21 times with 12 starts in 2023, he only made seven appearances with one start in all competitions last season.
Halliday received his first season grade by The Mane Land in 2023, reaching the threshold with 1,109 minutes of action. After getting a 5.5 out of 10 for the season, he didn’t play enough to receive a grade in 2024.
In addition to his club play, Halliday has found a place with the U.S. Men’s National Team youth setup. He began playing with the U-20 national team in 2022, was a member of the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship team, and played four games at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
What It Means for Orlando City
Halliday was primarily a right back for Oscar Pareja’s side. He started the 2023 season on the right with Luca Petrasso on the left. However, both were soon supplanted. Dagur Dan Thorhallsson took over for Halliday and Rafael Santos took over for Petrasso. The left back also left the club following the 2024 season.
This trade might say more about another player than it does about Halliday. The club signed 20-year-old right back Alex Freeman to a Homegrown deal on Feb. 15, 2022. The defender has been playing with OCB for the last couple of years but saw significant minutes this preseason. The club might see more possibilities with the younger right back moving forward. Halliday had seemingly slipped to fourth on the depth chart at right back behind Thorhallsson, Kyle Smith, and Freeman.
After the club traded Stajduhar, Halliday became the longest-tenured Homegrown player at the club. With his departure, that designation now belongs to center back Thomas Williams, who signed a Homegrown contract on June 15, 2021, and a new two-year contract earlier this offseason.
This move gives Halliday an opportunity to compete for more minutes to further his professional development. The full value of the trade for Orlando remains to be seen and will depend on how the club uses the draft pick and whether a future Halliday transfer brings any cash back to OCSC.
Orlando City
Wilder Cartagena Officially Out for the 2025 Season After Surgery
The Peruvian midfielder will miss all of the 2025 season after surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon.

The worst fears about Wilder Cartagena’s injury have come to pass, as the standout central midfielder will miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon. The Peruvian international suffered the injury in Orlando City’s preseason opener against Atletico Mineiro on Jan. 25 and had surgery at the end of last month, per his Twitter account.
Orlando City confirmed today that the injury will keep him out throughout the 2025 campaign and the Lions have placed Cartagena on the Season-Ending Injury list. The procedure was performed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steven Choung at the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Orlando on Jan. 29.
“These are the first days for Wilder on the road of a long recovery process and we’re thankful for our partners at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute and their amazing care,” said Director of Medical & Performance Gonzalo Rodríguez in a club press release. “We plan to fully support Wilder during his recovery process and help him get stronger and we look forward to seeing him back and fully healthy.”
Orlando City initially acquired Cartagena on loan through the 2022 MLS season. After a successful end of the year, the club exercised the option to extend the loan through the 2023 season. He became a key player in the starting lineup for the Lions that season, resulting in the club signing him to a permanent deal on Dec. 14, 2024.
The 30-year-old native of Lima, Peru, is coming off a solid season. He appeared in 27 matches during the regular season (25 starts), playing 2,192 minutes. He did not score a goal but recorded an assist on his 24 total shots, putting eight on target. He completed 89% of his passes with 16 key passes, one successful cross, and 25 completed long balls. On the defensive side, he recorded 76 tackles, 20 interceptions, 42 clearances, and nine blocks. He committed a team-leading 48 fouls, suffered 28, and received seven yellow cards and one red card, which he picked up after the conclusion of the game against Minnesota United.
During the playoffs, Cartagena started all five matches, playing 431 minutes with no goals or assists. He took two shots, putting one on target, and he completed 87.2% of his passes with one key pass. Defensively, he recorded nine tackles, four interceptions, 11 clearances, and one block. He drew eight fouls and committed nine, and he was booked twice, with both being yellow cards.
In his first three seasons in Orlando, Cartagena has one goal and three assists in 59 games (52 starts). More importantly, he has formed one of the more cohesive central midfield partnerships in the league with Cesar Araujo.
What It Means for Orlando City
The Lions not only free up a spot on the senior roster by placing Cartagena on the Season-Ending Injury List, but the club could sign a replacement without taking a double salary cap hit. If Orlando signs a player prior to the roster freeze date (Sept. 12, 2025) and designates that player officially as an injury replacement for Cartagena, then as long as that player does not make more than the Peruvian’s compensation of $520,250 the club will not eat Cartagena’s salary budget charge.
Losing Cartagena is a blow to the team’s defense, as he has become one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in the league. His absence could be mitigated by Eduard Atuesta’s arrival. Atuesta is a better passer and has more attacking talent, so if Atuesta can play near Cartagena’s level on the defensive end, it would be huge for the Lions. However, it is unlikely Atuesta would be as adept at dropping into the back line and becoming a third center back when circumstances warrant it as Cartagena did last season to great effect.
Cartagena’s injury is unfortunate, but hopefully he’ll make a full recovery, which would give the Lions some coverage in case Araujo departs as was rumored throughout the off-season.
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