Orlando City to play entire 2015 inaugural MLS season at renovated Florida Citrus Bowl

Orlando City 14' USL Pro squad (March edition)

Photo: OSJ Staff

By Mike Gramajo

With less than a week away if not days away, Orlando City's final USL Pro squad is looking more solid as the 2014 USL Pro season is bound to dawn.

The OSJ will continue to be on the latest track of new players that will be sporting the purple kit. 

February was a busy month in the transaction market for the Lions, which saw the midfielder Adama Mbengue re-sign with the club, and United States U-18 National Team defender Tyler Turner join OCSC after the Disney Pro Soccer Classic.

March, however, looks like it will be not a busy month full of transactions, but minor ones that can pay heavy dividends for Orlando City. The announcement of the club's first MLS homegrown player, Tommy Redding (Read my SBI recap on Redding), came earlier this week, and the arrival of the Sporting Kansas City loanees will soon be announced.

Below is the latest update on the Lions 2014 roster: 

Report: Orlando City to sign U.S. national team U-18 defender to MLS contract

By Mike Gramajo

Orlando City SC’s fourth Major League Soccer signing maybe coming sooner than expected. 

According to a report from the Orlando Sentinel, the Lions are bound to sign United States national team U-18 defender Tyler Turner to a professional contract, which will include a spot in Orlando’s MLS squad in 2015. 

Orlando City has yet to comment on the report. 

Turner, 18, is currently playing with Orlando as a trialist during the Disney Pro Soccer Classic, and played on Wednesday night’s match vs. the Columbus Crew. 

If Turner does sign with the Lions, he joins midfielders Darwin Ceren, Kevin Molino and Yordany Alvarez as Orlando’s MLS signees for 2015. 

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What do you make of the report? Glad to see Orlando adding a young defender to their squad?

Share your thoughts below. 

Rawlins: We're going to kick Miami butt

Photo: Mark Thor / Orlando City SC

By Mike Gramajo

ORLANDO, Fla. — Let the rivalry begin. 

With a major announcement scheduled in Miami on Wednesday, which many believe will be Miami’s return to Major League Soccer, Orlando City SC President Phil Rawlins plans to welcome MLS’ second Florida club with a butt-kicking. 

“We’re going to kick Miami-butt,” Rawlins told fans that attended the clubs 2014 kit launch. 

David Beckham, who is guaranteed owning an MLS club due to his contract with the league, is expected to lead the Miami-based club into MLS alongside Bolivian billionaire Marcelo Claure. 

Despite already having the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL as their I-4 rivals, Orlando’s rivalry with Miami could result to marquee matchups for the league, when Beckham’s Miami club is expected to join the league in 2016. Port of Miami is the projected location where Miami will build their water-front stadium.