Orlando City Acquires Fullback Griffin Dorsey from Houston Dynamo

Orlando City has announced the signing of defender Griffin Dorsey from the Houston Dynamo in exchange for at least $1,000,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) spread across two seasons. The Lions will pay $600,000 in 2026 GAM while the remaining $400,000 will be paid in 2027 GAM, with Houston receiving up to an additional $200,000 if certain incentives are met. The Dynamo will also retain a sell-on percentage of any future transfer, although the exact percentage has not been disclosed. The club also announced it has inked the right back to a new deal that runs through the 2027-2028 season and contains an option for the 2028-2029 campaign.

“We’re thrilled to bring Griffin to Orlando,” Orlando City SC General Manager and Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira said in a club press release. “He’s an experienced, proven competitor in this league and fills a key position for us. Griffin’s versatility, consistency, and mentality make him a strong fit for our group, and we expect his presence to elevate our back line immediately.” 

The 26-year-old Evergreen, CO, native started out as a professional with Toronto FC when the Canadian outfit made him the sixth selection out of Indiana University in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. He spent two seasons with the team but was waived at the end of the 2020 campaign, after which he signed with the Dynamo as a free agent. He’s made 190 appearances in all competitions during his pro career, while scoring 16 goals and providing 24 assists. He was a key player for Houston after joining the team and helped the team win the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.

Dorsey also represented the United States at the youth level, as he made appearances with the U-16, U-18, and U-20 teams, and helped the U-20 side win the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Championship.

Dorsey will take on the No.24 jersey number worn by former OCSC right back Kyle Smith.

What It Means for Orlando City

Dorsey fills an immediate and rather urgent need for the Lions, as he becomes the starting right back following the departures of Alex Freeman, Smith, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson from that position group this off-season. Oscar Pareja used both Ivan Angulo and Zakaria Taifi at right back during preseason, but Angulo is a winger who was playing the position due to a lack of other experienced options, while Taifi is promising but has dealt with some hamstring tightness this preseason, and he is probably not quite ready to be the full-time starter.

A fast, athletic defender who enjoys getting forward and contributing to the attack, Dorsey also doesn’t quite replace the departed Freeman, but he does share some of the Homegrown’s attributes. He almost certainly won’t be as much of an aerial threat as the man he’s taking over for, but with two goals and six assists for a Dynamo team that finished 12th in the West last year, it’s good to see that he was still able to significantly contribute on a struggling team.

With the season opener looming on Saturday, Dorsey won’t have much time to come to grips with his new team and how Oscar Pareja wants to play, but he’s got a lot of experience in the league, won’t occupy an international slot, and should instantly bring some extra stability to a back line that looked sorely in need of it during the final preseason game.

In the long term, it’s good news that the team was able to sign him to a new deal, as Dorsey was in the last year of his contract and $1 million in magic GarberBucks would be a steep price for a guy you’re only going to have on the roster for one year. Orlando is now guaranteed to get the 2026 season and 2027 mini-season out of the new signing (barring a transfer) and will be able to reassess things after the end of the 2027-2028 season.