Lion Links: 12/17/24

Happy Tuesday, everyone. I hope you all had a good weekend, and haven’t been putting your Christmas shopping off until the last minute, which is something I’m definitely guilty of. Despite it being the off-season, we have plenty of Orlando soccer news to cover today, so let’s jump right into the links.

Orlando City Signs Homegrown Player

On Monday afternoon, Orlando City announced that the club has signed midfielder Colin Guske to a Homegrown Player contract. Guske is a defensive midfielder who spent the year with Orlando City B this season, playing 2,044 minutes across 24 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro. With Felipe and Jeorgio Kocevski leaving and Heine Gikling Bruseth getting pinched in the MLS Expansion Draft, there’s a need for depth in the midfield. Whether or not that’s what the club is intending for Guske this year remains to be seen, as he’s still only 17 years old. That being said, he was with the senior side for its preseason training camp this year, played well enough to make the MLS NEXT Pro All-Star Game, and has represented the United States at the youth level, so he does have potential. Either way, he becomes the Lions’ 16th Homegrown Player signing.

Orlando City Linked With Midfielder Noah Levis

According to Transfermarkt‘s Manuel Veth, Orlando City has signed young midfielder Noah Levis. The 18-year-old currently plays for Mikkelin Palloilijat in Finland’s second division and would reportedly join OCB to develop. Only time will tell if Levis will become a Lion, but he would give Orlando a young player who could hopefully make an impact with the first team down the line.

Barbra Banda Wins CAF Women’s Player of the Year

Barbra Banda was named 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year. The award caps an outstanding year for her, as she helped the Orlando Pride win the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship, was included in the league’s Best XI, was named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, and also made the FIFPRO World XI. She also scored four goals for Zambia in the Olympics this summer, and she’s the first Zambian player to win this award. Banda was up against NWSL MVP Temwa Chaminga, whose Kansas City Current were beaten by the Pride in the semifinals. Congrats to Banda on a deserved win!

Orlando City B Announces Roster Updates

Orlando City B announced the roster status of its squad following the 2024 season. Contracts have expired for six OCB players, but they could still sign new deals and return to the team next season. Zakaria Taifi, Jhon Solis, and Gustavo Carballo remain under contract, while, as mentioned earlier, Guske has been signed to the first team. As is usually the case, next year’s OCB roster will be largely composed of academy players and guys who have been signed to contracts with the senior side.

MLS Transfer Roundup

There are a few pieces of MLS transfer news that we need to catch up on. First, the Chicago Fire officially signed defender Jack Elliott as a free agent. He’s been handed a deal that runs through 2025 and has an option year for 2026. Up next, D.C. United signed winger Joao Peglow on a deal that runs through 2027 with an option for 2028. The 22-year-old joins from Polish side Radomiak Radom and is a former Brazilian youth international. Finally, the Philadelphia Union have put a contentious subject to rest by re-signing club captain Alejandro Bedoya on a one-year deal.

Free Kicks

• Plenty of American players will be playing midweek games, so make sure you have everything noted down on your calendar.

• Folarin Balogun will miss around four months after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. As a result, he will likely be unavailable for the Concacaf Nations League next year.
• The draw for the UEFA European Women’s Championship is complete and England was drawn into a tough group with France, Wales, and the Netherlands.
• Lamine Yamal will miss up to a month after injuring his right ankle.

That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!