TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Extension
Orlando City SC have signed defender Rodrigo Schlegel to a new contract through the 2024 MLS season with options for 2025 and 2026, the club announced Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Argentine center back first joined Orlando before the 2020 campaign on loan from Racing Club in the Argentine Primera DivisiĆ³n. He signed a permanent deal with the Lions before the following season.
Schlegel has made 72 appearances (52 starts) across all competitions for Orlando, most recently helping them to a club-record 10 shutouts in 2022.
āRodrigo has continually proven himself an invaluable member of our club, both on the field and off,ā Luiz Muzzi, Orlandoās EVP of soccer operations and general manager, said in a release.
āHeās engrained himself into our team from the very beginning of his time with us with an incredible work ethic and dedication to achieving the teamās goals. Heās been a vital part of our culture and project here in Orlando and weāre so happy to have him here for the years to come.ā
Schlegel, alongside AntĆ“nio Carlos and Robin Jansson, is part of Orlandoās central defensive core. Theyāre flanked of an otherwise heavily-changed roster, headlined by the offseason signing of DP winger MartĆn Ojeda.
Orlando have also re-signed starting goalkeeper Pedro Gallese this offseason, further solidifying their defensive unit as they aim to improve on last year's US Open Cup-winning season that ended with a Round One Audi MLS Cup Playoffs loss to CF MontrƩal.
The Lions return to action when hosting perennial Eastern Conference playoff participants New York Red Bulls on Feb. 25 (7:30 pm ET | MLS Season Pass).
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