Orlando City
2025 Orlando City Season in Review: Adrian Marin
The Spanish fullback arrived in the summer and saw limited action with the Lions.
Orlando City signed Spanish left back Adrian Marin from Portuguese top-flight side Braga on Aug. 7, filling an area of need. Rafael Santos failed to find his form in his third season with the Lions and Oscar Pareja had shifted center back David Brekalo out wide on the left to help provide stability to the position. At the time of his signing, it was thought that Marin could come in and stabilize the spot with a more traditional left back. However, after Santos shipped out to the Colorado Rapids, Marin never really seized the starting left back spot either, and Brekalo remained the first choice for the position the rest of the season.
Marin showed glimpses of what he could do in his first half-season in Orlando but perhaps needs a little more time to settle into the new league and new culture. It didn’t help that he missed a few games with some minor knocks after his arrival.
Let’s look back on his 2025 campaign after arriving in Orlando midseason.
Statistical Breakdown
Marin made his Orlando City debut and got his first start as a Lion on Aug. 23 at Nashville SC in a 5-1 beatdown loss on the road as Pareja rotated his lineup ahead of Orlando’s trip to Miami in Leagues Cup. The Spaniard was by no means the only reason that lopsided loss happened, but as a member of the back line, playing in his first MLS game, he also didn’t distinguish himself. The 28-year-old went on to appear in five regular-season games, starting four, and playing 326 minutes. He did not score or assist on a goal in the regular season, attempting four shots but putting none of them on frame. Marin completed 83% of his 164 passes including three key passes. He completed none of his three crosses, nine of his 18 long balls (50%), and his lone through ball (100%). Defensively, the Spaniard chipped in two tackles, two blocks, seven interceptions, and 14 clearances — nine (a team high) of which came in the Vancouver game, when the Lions were pinned in their end for nearly the entire match. The fullback committed four fouls, suffered one, and was shown one yellow card.
In Orlando City’s playoff match at Chicago, Marin played 14 minutes off the bench and picked up his first goal contribution as a Lion — an assist on Tyrese Spicer’s shutout-spoiling late goal on a terrific through ball. Feast your eyes on this scrumptious pass, his lone key pass of the postseason.
He did not attempt a shot, but he passed at a 91% rate on 11 attempts, including completing his lone long ball and through ball attempts. He did not attempt a cross in the match. Defensively, he contributed one interception and two clearances. Marin did not commit or suffer a foul in the playoff match and was not booked.
Marin arrived in Orlando too late to be involved in the club’s two U.S. Open Cup games, but he saw action in two Leagues Cup matches, starting one and playing a total of 91 minutes against Inter Miami and the LA Galaxy. He recorded only one touch in his 10 minutes at Inter Miami, so most of his Leagues Cup stats came at the Galaxy. He did not register a goal contribution and missed the target on his only shot attempt. Marin completed 76.3% of his 38 passes in the competition, but he did not register a key pass, went 0-for-3 on his crosses, and completed two of his four long balls (40%). On the defensive end, Marin logged four tackles and three clearances. He committed one foul and drew one on the opposition and was not booked.
Best Game
In his limited game time in 2025, Marin’s best game was Orlando City’s 1-1 home draw against the Columbus Crew on Oct. 4. It was Marin’s first home match since joining the Lions, and he turned in a solid performance. While he could have done better to prevent the Crew’s goal, Marin was instrumental in setting up Marco Pasalic’s equalizer, although he did not get a secondary assist on it, because the Croatian scored on the rebound of a Luis Muriel shot. The Spanish fullback intercepted a pass and bombed forward, dishing it off to Muriel and continuing his run to make himself available in the attack and to provide a distraction to the defense. The goal video below initially picks up the action after Marin’s involvement, but the replay (starting around the 29-second mark) shows the full play and the extent to which the Spaniard impacted it, including his run, his brilliant pass, and the way he occupies the right center back, who can’t react to Pasalic or the rebound as a result of Marin’s continued run.
Marin recorded two key passes in the match, had his only shot attempt blocked, won all four of his aerial duels, and passed at a rate of 81.4% on 43 attempts. He also led all Lions with three interceptions, adding a tackle and two clearances on the defensive end. His 1-v-1 defending off the ball on the Crew goal was a blemish, but one of very few on the night.
2025 Final Grade
Because Marin played only a grand total of 431 minutes across all competitions, he fell 19 minutes shy of meeting the minimum requirement for a season grade, so The Mane Land staff gives him an incomplete for his first half-season in purple. The left back could hardly be judged fairly given his lack of time to settle into the team, few regular-season appearances, and a Leagues Cup start that came on a makeshift back line with two starters suspended.
2026 Outlook
Marin is signed through the 2026 season with an option year in 2027, so he’ll be back with the Lions unless there is a transfer or the club buys out his contract. Pareja and his staff will get a full preseason to evaluate Marin and get him comfortable in his role with the team. The Spaniard showed signs of what he can do, narrowly missing the net with a couple of shots and sending some good balls forward for his teammates. He’ll need to improve upon his crossing, as it’s not a good to go 0-for-6, but some of that can be contributed to not fully knowing where his teammates like to more and attack the net.
At $50,000 less than what Santos was making this season, the club can afford to use Marin as a backup if necessary, but it seems likely the move to bring him in was done with an eye on him seizing the starting role. To become an MLS starter, Marin will need to be better in his wide defending, more physical when defending inside the area, and in sync with his teammates when getting forward in the attack.
Previous Season in Review Articles (Date Posted)
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/15/26
Daryl Dike’s potential return, Orlando Pride prepare for Boston, World Cup news, and more.
Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. Oh boy, do we have some news for you today. Between the Orlando Pride match tonight, the World Cup this afternoon, and some potential big signings, we have a lot to get to. We also want to wish a very happy birthday to Orlando City B goalkeeper Tristan Himes. Now, let’s get to the links.
The Return of Dike(?)
Forget “It’s coming home,” rather he’s coming home! Per Tom Bogert, Daryl Dike is set to return to Orlando City after his multi-year stint with West Bromwich Albion. Dike had a rough go of it in England, mainly due to injuries he sustained. I figure he just needs some Florida sunshine and the team at Orlando Health to help find the form that made him a terror to Orlando City’s opponents.
It also seems that the departure of Marco Pasalic is not a done deal. There has not been an official bid as of yet, and if Orlando City’s valuation isn’t met, then he may be staying. If he stays, he bolsters the attack. If not, well that’s what Dike is coming back to do and it would supply the Lions with plenty of coin to bolster the roster.
Orlando Pride Set for Boston Legacy
The Orlando Pride host expansion side Boston Legacy FC at Inter&Co Stadium tonight. The Pride will look to avenge a 2-1 loss earlier this season in Boston. After defeating the Kansas City Current over the weekend, Seb Hines’ squad will want to keep the home winning streak going. This may be Barbra Banda’s last match before heading out for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament later this month, so take the opportunity to head to the match if you are in the Orlando area.
World Cup News
France was unable to keep things going as Spain defeated Les Bleus 2-0 on Bastille Day. La Roja now wait to see whether Argentina or England will be the opponent in the final. As they have done so many times this World Cup, the Spanish did not allow a goal and did enough offensively to advance. Lamine Yamal earned a penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal slotted home to give Spain a lead in the 22nd minute. Pedro Porro added another in the second half and France was unable to muster any magic.
Later today, England and Argentina square off to see which team will play the Spaniards. The amount of history between these teams at World Cups is enough to make most watch the match. I think the bigger question is which team does Gianni Infantino want to win, and will we see the same shenanigans we’ve seen in previous matches featuring these two teams? Don’t worry, England. I’m sure it’ll be fine.
USMNT Reflections
There’s been a bit of space and time for all of us to process the USMNT’s performance at the World Cup and it isn’t all doom and gloom. None other than Carli Lloyd said that despite the way it ended, it was a successful outing for the U.S. Matt Freese is trying to see the positives even though he made a costly mistake that gave up a goal to Belgium. Folarin Balogun said what I was thinking in that a certain phone call about his red card did affect the USMNT’s nerves heading into the match against Belgium. Lastly, the future could be bright thanks to these five USMNT prospects.
Free Kicks
- Atlanta United has signed Chilean defender Paulo Diaz on a free transfer. I didn’t realize a team could improve the defense with signings.
- As I alluded to above, Ismail Elfath will lead an all-U.S. Soccer referee crew for the match between Argentina and England. I’m curious to see how it plays out.
- If you want to watch the Bundesliga, you may need to get another streaming service as the U.S. rights are moving from ESPN to USA Network & Fandango.
- Charlotte FC is ending the practice of charging Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs) in an effort to stem declining attendance and slower ticket sales. I’m glad that was an experiment that failed in MLS even if it is standard in other American professional sports.
- The New England Revolution have signed 18-year-old Peyton Miller to a contract extension through the 2028-2029 season.
- Former Orlando City B defender Nabi Kibunguchy has signed with USL Championship side Indy Eleven. We wish him luck with his new team.
That will do it for today. Check back later for our coverage of the Orlando Pride’s match against Boston Legacy FC. You can follow The Mane Land on Bluesky for updates. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/14/26
Marco Pasalic transfer rumor, Marta up for weekly award, MLS transfer roundup, and more.
Good morning, everyone. I write to you from Texas, specifically Dallas, as I was in Austin to see friends over the weekend and decided to pop up the road to take in the energy of the World Cup semifinal that will be played in the city later today. I won’t be attending the game, since I don’t wish to sell one of my kidneys but am looking forward to mingling with some of the fans who have traveled here for it. We’ve got a lot to talk about this morning, so let’s get into the links.
Marco Pasalic Transfer Rumor
There have been some quiet rumblings for awhile now that Marco Pasalic may leave Orlando City during the summer transfer window. We now have a more concrete report regarding a potential departure, as the streets are saying that the winger is set to sign for newly promoted Hull City, with a price tag of at least €7 million.
If the move does come to pass, it would reunite him with manager Sergej Jakirovic, who he briefly played for during his time at HNK Rijeka. Jakirovic also stated in a recent interview that he wants to sign Pasalic, so this is a rumor that could have some legs.
Marta Up for Weekly Honors
The Orlando Pride picked up an excellent win on Friday by knocking off the Kansas City Current 3-0, and Marta has been rewarded for her efforts in the victory with a nomination for the NWSL Player of the Week. The Brazilian legend bagged the team’s first goal shortly after halftime, when she found herself in space well outside the box and unleashed a low left-footed drive into the bottom corner for her 50th goal as a Pride player. For some reason, she was snubbed in the Goal of the Week voting despite her impressive strike, so make sure you go vote for her for Player of the Week!
MLS Transfer Roundup
With the MLS summer transfer window opening on Monday, we’ve got a slew of moves to get caught up on. We begin with confirmation of an item that we covered in Monday’s Links, as Nathan Ordaz has officially moved to D.C. United in exchange for up to $2.875 million. The New England Revolution have extended Matt Turner’s loan from Lyon, with the new deal lasting through December. It also has an option to extend the loan again until December 2027, after which the Revs have a purchase option. Atlanta United has signed Paraguayan center back Junior Alonso on a free transfer, with his deal running through the 2028-2029 season. Finally, Charlotte FC has announced the signing of forward Allan Saint-Maximin as a Designated Player. He will occupy the DP slot vacated by Wilfried Zaha.
USWNT Announces Fall Friendlies
The United States Women’s National Team has announced that it will play a pair of October friendlies against Spain in a matchup of the reigning World Cup champions against the reigning Olympic champions. The USWNT will face the top-ranked team in the world on Oct. 10 at Audi Field in Washington D.C., and again on Oct. 13 at Subaru Park in Chester, PA. The Oct. 10 match will also have a pregame retirement celebration for USWNT defender Crystal Dunn. This will be just the fourth time that the two teams have faced each other, with the U.S. winning two of the three previous meetings. The two friendlies will be the last games that the USWNT plays before beginning World Cup qualifying.
Previewing France vs. Spain
The World Cup semifinals begin today, with France and Spain set to throw down in Dallas. For France, the stars are too many to count, with Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise all taking turns lighting up both the field and the scoreboard for the team that has made back-to-back appearances in the final. As far as Spain goes, all the focus is on Lamine Yamal, as the young winger has been key to Spain’s success despite scoring just one goal. If Nico Williams is able to start on the opposite wing, the French won’t be able to key so heavily on Yamal, and it could open up more space for him in which to operate. The matchup between the youngster and Lucas Digne will be key, as will the ability of either Mikel Oyarzabal or Ferran Torres to be effective up top for Spain.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Daryl Dike is leaving West Bromwich Albion. We know a team that just traded a striker.
- Debinha has signed a contract extension with the Kansas City Current.
- Hydration breaks will reportedly be a key element in future negotiations for soccer media rights.
- Manchester United is reportedly in advanced negotiations to sign midfielder Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
- Pau Cubarsi has pushed back on comments made by Spain’s former prime minister Mariano Rajoy, in which he claimed that France “don’t have any French players.”
That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!
Lion Links
Lion Links: 7/13/26
Pride and OCB win, Maxime Crepeau to compete in MLS All-Star Skills Challenge, Latest MLS transfer roundup, and more.
Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida. I’ve been very busy at work, but I look forward to watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals and final this week. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.
Pride Shut Out Kansas City Current at Home
The Orlando Pride defeated the Kansas City Current 3-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday night, bouncing back from a tough outing at Angel City the previous week. After a scoreless first half, Marta scored the opener from long distance to give Orlando the lead. Hannah Anderson and Barbra Banda added a goal apiece as the Pride have won three out of their last four league matches. Goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse earned a clean sheet in her 100th appearance for the club. Orlando remains eighth in the NWSL table with 20 points. The Pride will be back in action at home Wednesday, taking on Boston Legacy at Inter&Co Stadium.
OCB Wins at FC Cincinnati 2
Orlando City B beat FC Cincinnati 2 by a 2-1 scoreline at NKU Soccer Stadium in Highland Heights, KY on Sunday. Issah Haruna’s goal gave the Young Lions the lead in the first half. In the second half, Cincinnati leveled the match, but Matthew Belgodere scored the winner on the road. That result pulls the Young Lions into third in the MLS NEXT Pro Eastern Conference standings with 33 points, just one point off leaders Chattanooga FC. OCB will be away for another road test Saturday against Chattanooga FC at Finley Stadium.
Orlando City Reportedly Submits Transfer Offer for Alex Moreno
Orlando City has reportedly submitted a transfer offer to sign Girona defender Alex Moreno. No agreement has been reached between the two sides, and conversations remain ongoing, according to reports. Moreno made 31 appearances for Girona last season in La Liga and recorded three assists. The 33-year-old left back remains under contract with Girona through 2027, but the club was relegated from La Liga to La Liga 2 last season. Several European clubs have also expressed interest in signing Moreno, including La Liga sides Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano.
Crepeau to Compete in MLS All-Star Skills Challenge
Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau will compete in the 2026 MLS All-Star Skills Challenge at Truist Field in Charlotte on July 28, the club announced Friday. The competition will feature top players from Major League Soccer and Liga MX competing to test their soccer skills on the pitch. Five skills challenge competitions are featured, including the All-Star Goalie Wars, All-Star Crossbar Challenge, and the MLS vs. Liga MX Relay Challenge. Each competition will crown its own champion this year, switching from the traditional MLS-versus-opponent format used in previous years.
Latest MLS Transfer Roundup
According to Tom Bogert of The Athletic, Sporting Kansas City has emerged as a potential option to sign former Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah.
D.C. United has reportedly acquired forward Nathan Ordaz from LAFC.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Sounders have reportedly traded defender Cody Baker to the New England Revolution.
Free Kicks
- Former Lion Silvester van der Water has signed with Cambodian Premier League side Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC.
- Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez, who plays Dani Rojas in the show, made his professional debut for USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive over the weekend.
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the organization will examine expanding the men’s World Cup from 48 to 64 teams after the 2026 tournament concludes.
- Senegal has fired manager Pape Thiaw following its Round of 32 defeat to Belgium in the World Cup.
That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.
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