Orlando City SC acquire Colombian M Eduard Atuesta

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Orlando City SC acquired midfielder Eduard Atuesta from Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras of Brazil’s Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A on Monday for the 2025 season with a club option for 2026.

After coming up through Independiente Medellin’s academy system, where he was part of the Colombian championship squad in 2015-16, the 27-year-old Colombia native played five seasons with LAFC (2018-21, 2024) and had 11 goals and 21 assists in 124 games (109 starts).

“I’m very excited to be here, to join this great team and live in this beautiful city,” Atuesta said of Orlando. “I can’t wait to step out into the stadium filled with our fans, to win games and to fight for the titles that this city deserves.”

Atuesta helped LAFC win the 2019 Supporters’ Shield and 2024 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

“We’re very excited about bringing Eduard here to Orlando, as a player that is in the prime of his career, has proven himself previously here in Major League Soccer and knows our league,” EVP of soccer operations and general manager Luiz Muzzi said.

“He’s a great midfield talent that has the ability to organize the team throughout the game, but most importantly, he’s a title-winner at each of his previous clubs. We have confidence in him and his ability to help us achieve the goals we have here at this club.”

Atuesta was a member of Palmeiras’ 2022 and 2023 championship teams, along with the 2023 Supercopa do Brasil and the 2022 Recopa Sudamericana.

He has appeared in 259 matches, scoring 15 goals and providing 32 helpers, with over 16,000 minutes played.

Orlando City will open the 2025 MLS regular season at home against the Philadelphia Union on Feb. 22.

–Field Level Media