Orlando City Preseason Notes: Jansson Undergoes Surgery, Lions Sign Nolan Miller

Orlando City announced today that captain Robin Jansson underwent successful surgery to repair a Jones fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. Dr. Steven Choung performed the procedure at the Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Orlando. It is the same foot for which Jansson required surgery in October of 2022.

Although the club gave no timeline for his return beyond “Jansson is expected to return to play later this spring,” the surgery will delay the defender’s start to the 2026 season in a center back group that has shrunk to dangerously thin levels this off-season.

Center backs Rodrigo Schlegel and Thomas Williams departed the club since the end of the 2025 season, as did Kyle Smith, who sometimes deputized as a center back when needed. Meanwhile, another player who has spent time at center back despite not being one, Wilder Cartagena, returned to training this spring. David Brekalo is the club’s only healthy veteran center back, a position that was supposed to get help in the form of Dusan Stojinovic. However, the club’s would-be second Slovenian defender’s deal reportedly fell through when he failed his medical recently.

Orlando City is said to be finalizing an MLS U22 Initiative deal for Brazilian youth international Iago, but that has not yet become official, and it would not be sufficient coverage for a defense that will be trying to shield a new starting goalkeeper this season.

In more positive defensive news, and possibly hastened by Jansson’s delayed return, Orlando City also announced today the signing of defender and 2026 MLS SuperDraft selection Nolan Miller through the 2026 Major League Soccer season, with club options for the 2027 sprint season, 2027-2028 and 2028-2029. The Lions selected Miller with the ninth overall pick out of the University of Michigan.

“We’re excited to welcome Nolan to the first team,” Orlando City General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “He’s shown strong leadership and professionalism at a young age, and those qualities have stood out throughout our preseason preparations. Nolan has embraced the daily demands of the professional environment, and we’ve been encouraged by the potential he’s shown as he continues to grow within our group.”

The 21-year-old from Troy, MI, played four seasons for the Wolverines, making 75 appearances (all starts) and logging 6,497 minutes. He scored seven goals and added two assists during his collegiate career, earning Second Team All-Big Ten honors twice (2023 and 2025). He was also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Third Team (2024) once and made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team in 2022. He was an iron man in college, starting 16 games in 2022, all 18 games in 2023, and all 20 games in both 2024 and 2025.

Prior to attentiing Michigan, Miller was in the Columbus Crew Development Academy, helping his team to the 2018 National Championship. He also played for Vadar U17 MLS Next Academy.

Miller will wear jersey No. 21 this season for Orlando City.