Orlando City signs
Young Paraguayan attacking midfielder gets 5-year deal
Paraguayan attacking midfielder Josué Colmán, who has made 48 appearances with Cerro Porteño since 2016, scoring four goals. He also has made 16 appearances with Paraguay’s U-17, U-20 and U-23 teams.
Orlando City officially has announced the signing of Paraguayan attacking midfielder Josué Colmán, who will be a young designated player under a fiveyear contract. The deal includes club options.
The contract is pending receipt of his ITC and P-1 Visa. He will count as an international player on the Lions’ roster.
Colmán, who is expected to play a No. 10 role with the Lions, has made 48 appearances with Cerro Porteño since 2016, scoring four goals. He also has made 16 appearances with Paraguay’s U-17, U-20 and U-23 teams.
“We are pleased to welcome such an exciting young prospect to our roster,” Lions general manager Niki Budalic said in a statement released by the club. “Josué has great pace and can create chances for himself and others. His skillset and profile give us confidence he will be a great fit in Orlando and MLS for years to come.”
Colmán’s signing had been reported last week in Paraguay.
He told local radio station ABC Cardinal 730 AM last week, “I’m very happy to be joining Orlando City. It’s a big step for my career.”
Colmán was sentimental
about leaving his home club and thanked fans for their support. He said that he wasn’t saying goodbye and he would see them again in the future.
On Sunday, photographs of Colmán in Orlando City gear and a message indicating his new deal would be official Monday were posted on Twitter.
Colmán, 19, becomes the eighth player from Paraguay to join MLS, with Miguel Almirón most recently thriving during his debut season with Atlanta United.
Orlando City has made extensive offseason moves after the retirement of team captain Kaká and the club’s failure to reach the MLS players.
The Lions acquired Sacha Kljestan and $150,000 in Targeted Allocation Money from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for Carlos Rivas and Tommy Redding.
The Lions also locked in a long-term contract with striker Dom Dwyer.
The club is battling to hold onto striker Cyle Larin, who went through a medical exam amid contract negotiations with Turkish club Besiktas J.K. Orlando City has hired attorney Marcos Motta and will ask FIFA to block any Larin move without compensation.
In the past, MLS players have argued they were unaware of club-option years on their contracts when they sought transfers and FIFA sided with them, allowing the transfers to go through.
To avoid any chance of losing Larin before his contract expired, Orlando City officials said Larin signed an agreement in early 2017 stating he was aware he had two club option years for 2018 and 2019 and they were valid.
If Larin does not end up playing for the Lions this season, the club will continue building around goalkeeper Joe Bendik,
“We are pleased to welcome such an exciting young prospect to our roster.” Lions GM Niki Budalic
defensive midfielder Yoshimar Yotún, newly acquired striker Stéfano Pinho, Colmán, Kljestan and Dwyer.
The Lions also have added left back Mohamed El-Munir, defender RJ Allen and goalkeeper Adam Grinwis during the offseason. Midfielder Dillon Powers, acquired in 2017 from the Colorado Rapids, also inked a new deal with Orlando City.
To make room for the new players, Orlando City declined to extend new contracts to numerous players, including Giles Barnes, Antonio Nocerino, Servando Carrasco and Hadji Barry.
Barnes has signed with Club León, which also recently landed former MLS star Landon Donovan, and Carrasco was picked up by L.A. Galaxy.
The Swope Park Rangers announced Monday they signed Barry, a former UCF standout and 2016 first-round Orlando City draft pick, who led Orlando City B in scoring during the 2017 season. Barry will now compete for the USL affiliate of Sporting Kansas City.
Rafael Ramos is expected to be on the move, with Paul Tenorio reporting the Chicago Fire have agreed in principle to a trade sending Homegrown rights for Cam Lindley, a talented University of North Carolina sophomore midfielder, to Orlando City in exchange for Ramos, who has shown potential to be a strong defender but has been hounded by injuries, and allocation money.
Orlando City officials did not confirm the deal, which Tenorio reported is still pending MLS approval.