Lion Links 1/5/24

Welcome to the first Friday of 2024! I don’t have many plans beyond reading and sorting out a general budget guide for the year, but it should still be a pretty nice weekend. I also have some new furniture heading my way, which will be nice to finally have after a long wait. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy birthday to Orlando City B defender Nabi Kibunguchy!

Nicolas Lodeiro Signs With Orlando City

Orlando City signed attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to a contract that will keep him in purple through 2024, with an option for 2025 as well. The Uruguayan is a solid signing by Orlando, as he won’t take up a Designated Player spot and knows what it takes to lift trophies in this league. Lodeiro brings plenty of experience and talent to Orlando after eight years with the Seattle Sounders, winning the MLS Cup twice and the Concacaf Champions League in 2022. He will replace Mauricio Pereyra, who parted ways with Orlando following this past season, as the team’s No. 10 and should bring a bit more of an attacking edge to the position. It will also be nice for Orlando’s younger attacking players to learn from the MLS veteran.

Luca Petrasso Linked With Loan to Italy

Orlando City left back Luca Petrasso is reportedly set to head out on loan to join a Serie B club in Italy. While the clubs interested in him weren’t specified, some time studying abroad should only benefit the 23-year-old.

Petrasso joined Orlando in November of 2022 in a trade with Toronto FC that saw up to $400,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) sent the other way. After starting in 21 regular-season games for Toronto in 2022, Petrasso only started in four games for Orlando this past season. While he did start in both of Orlando’s draws against Tigres in the Concacaf Champions League, Rafael Santos won the starting left back job as the season rolled on.

OCSC and Duncan McGuire Reportedly Negotiating New Contract

The Athletic‘s Tom Bogert detailed what he’s heard regarding MLS players so far this transfer window (paywall), and there were some interesting tidbits regarding Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire. The Lions and McGuire are reportedly in talks over a new contract while he receives interest from clubs abroad. Orlando has already rejected two loan bids from Blackburn Rovers, and a third is expected from the English club according to Bogert. I hope the club remains steadfast in keeping McGuire from heading to Europe too soon, not only for him to keep scoring in Orlando, but for him to get rest this off-season before what should be a busy year for club and country.

Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett Join NJ/NY Gotham FC

Gotham FC added two more notable free agents, signing American duo Rose Lavelle and Emily Sonnett to contracts through 2026. They both join the club after playing for OL Reign, which lost to Gotham in the 2023 NWSL Championship. Both players were on the USWNT roster that won the 2019 World Cup, with Lavelle scoring three goals and earning the Bronze Ball award. Lavelle should give a boost to a Gotham side that quietly only scored 25 goals in 22 games last season. Sonnett, who was traded to the Orlando Pride in 2020 but never played due to the pandemic, found a role as a defensive midfielder for the Reign. Gotham has been considerably active during free agency, getting Tierna Davidson’s and Crystal Dunn’s signatures this off-season as well. While the talent these players bring to Gotham is obvious, I’m curious to see if there will be any difficulty fitting all of these players into a team that just won the NWSL Championship.

Colorado Rapids Sign Zack Steffen, Reportedly Eye Djordje Mihailovic

The deal between the Colorado Rapids and Manchester City for American goalkeeper Zack Steffen has officially crossed the finish line, with the New England Revolution also receiving $50,000 in GAM from Colorado for his discovery priority. Steffen returns to MLS on a deal through 2026, with an option for 2027. The Rapids could have used a goalkeeper like Steffen last season, drawing in half of their 34 games and conceding 54 goals.

Colorado is also interested in improving its attack by bringing in American midfielder Djordje Mihailovic from AZ Alkmaar, according to The Athletic (paywall). Mihailovic will reportedly join Colorado as a Designated Player for a club-record transfer fee over $3 million. He’s played less than 300 minutes for AZ this season, and the Portland Timbers, Chicago Fire, FC Cincinnati, LAFC, and New York Red Bulls were also interested in him.

NWSL Revises Competitive Guidelines for 2024

The NWSL announced big changes for the league and it has doubled its salary cap, raising it to $2.75 million. The increase in the salary cap coincides with the announcement that teams have until the final day of 2026 to spend their Allocation Money, as that system is being phased out. As part of that, Allocation Money is now no longer required to pay for trade and transfer fees. A soft cap for spending on transfer fees will be in place as well, with clubs losing cap space if they spend over $500,000. Teams can also now add four players through the Under-18 Entry Mechanism introduced last year.

Free Kicks

• Former Lion Kamal Miller was officially traded from Inter Miami to the Portland Timbers in exchange for up to $775,000 in GAM and an international roster spot.
• The New England Revolution bolstered their back line by signing center back Jonathan Mensah as a free agent. The 33-year-old now reunites with Head Coach Caleb Porter in New England.
• American forward Timothy Weah scored his first goal for Juventus in incredible fashion in his team’s 6-1 win over Salernitana in the Italian Cup’s round of 16.

• Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez has reportedly agreed to return to Chivas, the Liga MX club he began his professional career at in 2006.
• Ivan Hasek was named head coach of the Czech Republic through November 2025, with an option to extend his contract for another year if the team qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.