Orlando, FL – Six minus three equals unknown. Heading into the 2025 campaign, Orlando City SC saw six players depart while three were added to the roster. Nicolas Lodeiro, Felipe Martins, Mason Stajduhar, Facundo Torres, Michael Halliday and Heine-Gilking Bruseth have traded in the purple and gold. Meanwhile, Eduard Atuesta, Nicolas Rodriguez, and Marco Pasalic have been welcomed with open arms to the Den.
Goodbye Facu, Hello Marco
It is never easy losing an all-time goal scorer in Facundo Torres. With that being said, Orlando City SC did receive the largest financial package of any player to hit the open market in team history. The team did not waste any time and signed who they believe will be the replacement for the former #10, Marco Pasalic of Croatia.
Pasalic comes with much experience at the young age of 24. He scored 44 goals and netted 28 assists across more than 200 professional matches. Orlando signed Pasalic to a three-year deal with a club option in 2028. When comparing Torres and Pasalic, Torres tallied 64 goals (+20) in 197 matches played while getting credit for 22 assists (-6). While Torres scored more goals, Pasalic provided better ball movement with the opportunity to get more teammates involved in an offensive assault.
🟣🤝🏻 Marco Pasalić has signed in as new Orlando City player from Rijeka to replace Facundo Torres.
Here’s Pasalic with Orlando technical director Ricardo Moreira. 👕🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/xzq0BhlFNA
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 5, 2025
Colombian Cumbia
Two additional Colombians the Lions brought on were Eduard Atuesta and Nicolas Rodriguez. Atuesta scored four goals and accounted for two assists during 2024/2025 with Palmeiras. Rodriguez, nicknamed “Road-Runner” has scored 12 goals and has been credited with eight assists across 73 matches played. He’ll be a much-needed spark the team needs and will be a valuable asset coming off the bench, and filling in when needed. Rodriguez signed a three-year deal with a club option in 2028.
Young Guns
One final new face to keep an eye on is Joran Gerbet from France. Gerbert was a first-round pick for the Lions in this season’s draft. He’s a former ACC Midfielder of the Year. It is also important to note that in the Halliday and Lodiero trade, the Lions received a first-round pick in the 2026 draft.
Sources: Houston Dynamo are finalizing a deal to sign Nico Lodeiro.
Orlando officially agreed to a mutual contract termination with Lodeiro, freeing him up to sign with Houston. https://t.co/ZSMHj9gAur
— Tom Bogert (@tombogert) February 18, 2025
While six minus three equals unknown, one thing is certain: Orlando City received a lot of young talent that will be locked in for many years to come. With Wilder Cartagena and Yutaro Tsukada sidelined (Cartagena will be out the entire year while Tsukada will be out an undetermined amount of time) this new generation of Lions will have to step up. If Orlando can play anything like they did against Inter Miami in the last pre-season game of the campaign, there is hope on the horizon. Orlando is a few days away from opening weekend. Let’s hope the numbers are in their favor.
More Stories
Herons Fly High In Honduras Defeating Olimpia 5-0
Brief Analysis Of Six Inter Miami Players’ Performances Versus San Miguelito
Five Thoughts About Inter Miami Vs Universitario De Deportes