Orlando City SC 2025 Squad: Roster, Key Players & Season Preview

The Orlando City SC 2025 Squad enters the new MLS season with momentum after a historic 2024 playoff run. In Major League Soccer’s competitive Eastern Conference, the Lions boast an intriguing blend of veteran talent, international stars, and promising youngsters. This article offers a deep dive into Orlando City’s roster and key players for 2025, covering the latest transfers, projected starting lineup, team stats, and tactical outlook. We also highlight how the team’s offseason moves and depth chart could shape their chances in the upcoming MLS 2025 season.

Orlando City’s official roster for 2025 includes stalwart leaders like goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, defenders Robin Jansson and Rafael Santos, midfielders César Araújo and Martín Ojeda, and forwards Luis Muriel, Ramiro Enrique and Duncan McGuire. Newly signed players and homegrown talents add to the mix. Fans should scroll down for detailed analysis, and check out Orlando City’s official news and stats pages (e.g. the Orlando City Roster page) for updates. With the main keyword “Orlando City SC 2025 Squad” guiding this preview, let’s kick off by examining the roster position by position.

Squad by Position: Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, Forwards

The Orlando City roster is organized by position – goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards – each contributing to the team’s strategy. Below we list notable players in each group and how they fit into Orlando City’s depth chart.

• Goalkeepers:
  • Pedro Gallese (#1) – The 35-year-old Peruvian international (Designated Player) anchors the back line. A former MLS Defender of the Year, Gallese posted 18 clean sheets in 16 appearances in 2024, highlighting his impact.
  • Javier Otero (#12) – A 22-year-old Venezuelan homegrown talent, Otero signed a multi-year deal through 2026. He made 1 start in 2024 and will compete as a backup with high potential.
  • Mason Stajduhar – The long-time backup keeper remains on contract (18 players are under guaranteed contracts for 2025, including Stajduhar as GK) and provides squad depth.

  Figure: Pedro Gallese, Orlando City SC’s veteran goalkeeper, leading the 2025 squad.

• Defenders: Orlando’s defense is expected to be stable. Key names include:
  • Robin Jansson (#6) – Swedish center-back and current captain. He started 14 games in 2024, providing leadership at the back.
  • Rafael Santos (#3) – A Brazilian right back who made 11 starts last season. His versatility (able to play RB or RWB) is valuable in modern soccer tactics.
  • David Brekalo (#4) – A Slovenian center-back who appeared 13 times in 2024. He forms a pairing with Jansson.
  • Rodrigo Schlegel (#15) – Argentine defender (signed 2021) who can play center or left back. Expect him to start on the left, as he did in 15 matches in 2024.
  • Depth and youth: Thomas Williams, Tahir Reid-Brown, Alex Freeman and others provide depth. Williams re-signed for 2025, as did Kyle Smith (pending). The official depth chart lists several defenders (Thorhallsson, Halliday, Freeman, etc.) ready to step in.
• Midfielders: The core of Orlando’s lineup is in midfield. Starters and key players include:
  • César Araújo (#5) – Uruguayan holding midfielder. He scored 2 goals and had 3 assists in 11 games in 2024. Araujo is known for winning possession and dictating tempo. His performance metrics led to his option being picked up mid-season.
  • Martín Ojeda (#10) – Argentine attacking midfielder/winger (Designated Player). Ojeda contributed 8 goals and 3 assists in 16 games. He often plays centrally behind the striker and leads the team in key passes.
  • Eduard Atuesta (#20) – New signing from Palmeiras (Brazil) announced Feb 10, 2025. The 27-year-old Colombian is a deep-lying playmaker (94th percentile passing in 2024) who will partner with Araujo. Atuesta’s arrival adds ball-progressive ability and should stabilize the double pivot, especially with Wilder Cartagena injured.
  • Wilder Cartagena (#16) – Peruvian midfielder who started 11 games in 2024. Unfortunately he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury before 2025, so Atuesta is expected to replace him.
  • Other midfielders: Shakur Mohammed, Dagur Dan Thórhallsson, Favian Loyola, Colin Guske and Riyon Tori fill out depth. Forwards-turned-midfielder Nico Lodeiro had his option triggered in 2024, making him part of midfield depth.
• Forwards: Orlando’s attack is dynamic. Key names:
  • Luis Muriel (#9) – 34-year-old Colombian Designated Player (on loan from Atalanta). Muriel scored 6 goals and 2 assists in 16 games. He provides experience and finishing, often playing as a center forward or right wing.
  • Ramiro Enrique (#7) – Argentine winger, breakout star of 2024. Enrique scored 2 goals (including a hat-trick against LA) and became a crowd favorite. He’ll occupy a wing/forward spot, using his speed and work rate.
  • Nicolás “Nico” Rodríguez (#11) – Colombian winger signed Jan 2025. A young Designated Player (U22 Initiative slot), Rodríguez is known for technical flair and pace. He will add width on the left and complement Enrique on the wings.
  • Marco Pašalić (#87) – New DP winger signed Feb 2025 from Croatia. The 24-year-old Croatian brings dribbling skill and a burst of speed, meant to replace Facundo Torres’s attacking output. He scored 6 goals and 3 assists in 16 matches during a short stint in 2024.
  • Duncan McGuire (#13) – Homegrown forward who scored 1 goal in 12 appearances last season. McGuire’s physical presence provides an option as a target striker or backup attacker.
  • Other attackers: Ivan Angulo and Shakur Mohammed (wingers) and Favian Loyola (homegrown forward) supply depth. Jack Lynn has since retired (announced late 2024). Overall, the squad has a depth chart filled at forward with five or six quality options.

Key Players: Who to Watch

Several standouts define Orlando City’s fortunes in 2025. These key players Orlando City fans should follow include:

• Pedro Gallese (GK): His shot-stopping and leadership keep Orlando solid defensively. With 18 clean sheets in 2024, Gallese remains one of the best in MLS.
• César Araújo (Mid): A 24-year-old box-to-box midfielder and Uruguay international. His tackling and passing help control games. He registered 2 goals and 3 assists in 2024 and will be asked to do even more alongside Atuesta.
• Martín Ojeda (Mid): Creative engine in the attack. Ojeda led the Lions in assists (3) while adding 8 goals. He’ll likely play centrally and drift into pockets to create chances.
• Luis Muriel (Fwd): Veteran scoring threat. Muriel’s 6 goals in 2024 came mostly off the bench, but he can still excel if used as a regular starter or impact sub. His experience at top European levels is invaluable.
• Marco Pašalić (Fwd): The new Croatian DP forward. His arrival via a $5 million transfer was one of Orlando’s biggest moves. Pašalić’s agile dribbling and “surprising speed” will be tested as he attempts to replicate Facundo Torres’s goals.
• Ramiro Enrique (Fwd): Emerging winger. Enrique’s relentless running and pressing caused trouble in 2024. He tallied 2 goals (one a spectacular chip) and should continue to flourish in a larger role.
• Eduard Atuesta (Mid): The deep-lying playmaker signing. He ranked in the 94th percentile for passes among midfielders in 2024 while at LAFC. Atuesta’s vision and passing will allow Orlando to be more possession-oriented. The coach Oscar Pareja noted adding Atuesta gave the midfield “ball-playing ability” for the new free-flowing attack.
• Cesar Araújo (Mid): Already mentioned above, but worth stressing: his defensive grit and energy allowed Orlando to employ a more advanced midfield pairing with Ojeda. He and Araujo as a double pivot will be key.
• Nicolás Rodríguez (Fwd): The young DP winger adds versatility on the left wing. Though he had no goals in his brief 2024 action, scouts praise his agility and creativity. Expect him to start pushing for playing time early.

Each of these players impacts Orlando City’s tactics (using width, pressing, and quick transitions). The new additions (Pašalić, Rodríguez, Atuesta) have big shoes to fill, as MLS experts noted. Overall, Orlando’s star core – especially Gallese, Araujo, Ojeda and Muriel – remains intact and ready for 2025.

New Signings & Transfers

Orlando City was active in the 2024–25 offseason. The club’s new signings and roster moves include:

• Eduard Atuesta (MF): Acquired from Palmeiras in Brazil, officially announced Feb 10, 2025. Atuesta joins on a contract through 2025 (club option 2026) to strengthen central midfield. He is expected to start immediately due to Wilder Cartagena’s injury.
• Marco Pašalić (FW): Signed as a Designated Player on Feb 5, 2025. The Croatian international (former HNK Rijeka) took Orlando’s DP slot vacated by Facundo Torres. He’s on a three-year deal (through 2027 with option 2028) and brings dynamic wing play.
• Nicolás Rodríguez (FW): Young Colombian winger signed Jan 17, 2025. Rodríguez, a U22 Initiative signing, joins from Fortaleza (Colombia) on a multi-year deal through 2027 (with option 2028). He adds depth to the wide attacking positions.
• Joran Gerbet (MF): 2025 MLS SuperDraft pick signed Feb 17, 2025. Gerbet, an American midfielder, inked a contract through 2025 (options 2026–28) after impressing in college at Virginia Tech.
• Returnees: Orlando also secured key re-signings. Homegrown GK Javier Otero signed a new multi-year contract (through 2026, option 2028) on May 20, 2025. Academy striker Carlos Mercado was re-signed through 2025 (options through 2027) in January 2025. These moves keep promising youngsters in the pipeline.
• Departures: A few players left the squad. Orlando declined options on several fringe players (Gaston Gonzalez, Jeorgio Kocevski, Luca Petrasso, Abdi Salim). Notably, midfielder Heine Gikling Bruseth was taken in the 2024 Expansion Draft by San Diego, and veteran forward Facundo Torres (All-time leading scorer with 47 goals) was sold to Palmeiras for a club-record fee.
• Other Transactions: The team traded and signed some players to MLS Next Pro or short-term deals (e.g. Justin Ellis, Zakaria Taifi). Overall Orlando acquired allocation money and draft picks, but the marquee moves were Atuesta, Pašalić and Rodríguez.

These roster changes aim to balance the squad. The Orlando front office made “three savvy transfer moves” to address weaknesses and inject speed into the lineup. Head Coach Óscar Pareja has expressed confidence in the new mix: adding Atuesta gives the midfield more creativity, and new attacking signings create a “free-flowing, dynamic attacking quartet”. The club’s official transactions page and news releases provide details on each move (see Orlando City Transactions News for specifics).

Projected Starting Lineup and Depth Chart

Based on the roster and preseason signals, Orlando City is expected to line up mainly in a 4-2-3-1 (or 4-3-3) formation. A likely starting XI could be:

• GK: Pedro Gallese
• RB: Rafael Santos
• CB: Robin Jansson
• CB: David Brekalo
• LB: Rodrigo Schlegel
• DM: Cesar Araújo
• DM: Eduard Atuesta
• RW: Ramiro Enrique
• CAM: Martín Ojeda
• LW: Nicolás Rodríguez
• ST: Luis Muriel

This setup uses two defensive midfielders (Araújo and Atuesta) and three attackers (Enrique, Ojeda, Rodríguez) supporting the striker (Muriel). Alternative lineups may swap McGuire or Pašalić in attack, or promote other wingers. Depth chart notes: RotoWire’s depth chart confirms this general order (Gallese and Otero as GK, Jansson/Santos/Schlegel/Smith in defense, Atuesta/Ojeda/Araújo in midfield, Muriel/McGuire/Enrique/Pašalić up front).

Key backups include Javier Otero in goal, Tahir Reid-Brown/Thomas Williams in defense, Wilder Cartagena/Heine Bruseth in midfield, and Duncan McGuire on the wings or as alternate striker. The club maintained 18 contracted players for 2025, so expect active rotation and depth use. Coach Pareja values flexibility, so expect players to shift roles (for example, Ojeda can play left or center, Pašalić can operate centrally or wide).

2025 Season Outlook: Orlando City’s MLS 2025 season outlook is optimistic. The team’s attackers are in better shape for goal-scoring – with Muriel, Ojeda, Enrique and two new wingers (Pašalić, Rodríguez), MLS analysts call this “the most free-flowing, dynamic attacking quartet in the league”. The main concern (past weakness) was replacing Facundo Torres’ goals; Pašalić will look to fill that void, although his scoring record leaves questions. Defensively, with Gallese in goal and a mostly unchanged back line, Orlando hopes for consistency (they conceded 12 more goals in 2024 than 2023).

Eighteen players are under guaranteed contract for 2025, including all key contributors: forwards Muriel, Enrique, McGuire (plus reserve Tsukada), midfielders Ojeda, Cartegena, Loyola, Mohammed, Araujo (option triggered) and defenders Jansson, Brekalo, Santos, Freeman, Halliday, Thorhallsson, Reid-Brown. This continuity should help. Fans can expect Pareja’s team to play possession-oriented soccer, using wingers to stretch defense and double-pivot midfielders to control play. The Lions will aim for a strong Eastern Conference finish and an MLS Cup playoff run.

Player Stats Snapshot (2024): For context, here are some 2024 stats of key players (from ESPN data):

• Luis Muriel: 16 games, 6 goals, 2 assists.
• Martín Ojeda: 16 games, 8 goals, 3 assists.
• Marco Pašalić: (2024, in Croatia) 16 games, 6 goals, 3 assists.
• César Araújo: 11 games, 2 goals, 3 assists.
• Ramiro Enrique: 13 games, 2 goals, 0 assists (2024 season) – note one standout game was a hat trick.
• Duncan McGuire: 12 games, 1 goal, 1 assist.

These numbers illustrate which players have been offensive contributors and who might need to step up. For example, Ojeda’s goal tally and Muriel’s efficiency were impressive. We can expect Muriel, Ojeda and Enrique to improve on these, while newcomers Pašalić and Rodríguez will be assessed as 2025 unfolds.

Team Tactics: Coach Pareja typically uses a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. We anticipate Orlando City employing high-energy pressing and quick transitions. The fullbacks (Santos and Schlegel) provide width in attack, overlapping with the wingers. The “double pivot” of Araújo and Atuesta will alternate between covering center-backs and moving the ball forward. Ojeda will often roam behind Muriel to link midfield to attack. This style leverages Orlando’s roster of athletic wing players and creative midfielders. Analysts note that if Muriel and McGuire can reclaim their 2023 form, and with Atuesta’s presence, Orlando could see a significant offensive upgrade. The trade-off is reduced defensive cover up top – Orlando must remain vigilant on counter-attacks, a point raised by some experts.

The official Orlando City tactical profile emphasizes building from the back and using possession. With a projective goal of contending for an Eastern Conference top spot, tactics will revolve around exploiting the soccer tactics strengths of the roster: fast wingers, a possession-oriented midfield, and a reliable goalkeeper.

FAQs about Orlando City SC 2025 Squad

Q1: Who are the key players for Orlando City SC in 2025?
A: The Lions’ 2025 roster is led by goalie Pedro Gallese (veteran DP GK), defensive captains Robin Jansson and Rafael Santos, midfield general César Araújo, playmaker Martín Ojeda, and attack options Luis Muriel, Ramiro Enrique, and Duncan McGuire. New additions like midfielder Eduard Atuesta, winger Marco Pašalić, and winger Nicolás Rodríguez also stand out. All these names appear on Orlando City’s official roster for 2025.

Q2: What new signings did Orlando City make for the 2025 season?
A: In the 2024-25 offseason, Orlando City signed Colombian midfielder Eduard Atuesta (from Palmeiras), Croatian winger Marco Pašalić (DP from Rijeka), and Colombian winger Nicolás Rodríguez. They also inked draft pick Joran Gerbet and extended contracts for homegrowns Javier Otero and Carlos Mercado.

Q3: What formation and tactics does Orlando City use in 2025?
A: Coach Óscar Pareja typically fields a 4-2-3-1 (or 4-3-3) formation. Expect two defensive midfielders (Araújo and new signing Atuesta) protecting the back line, full-backs (Santos, Schlegel) providing width, and three attackers (like Ojeda, Enrique, Rodríguez) supporting the lone striker (Muriel). The team emphasizes possession and high pressing, aiming for dynamic wing play and quick ball progression.

Q4: How did Orlando City do in 2024 and what are their 2025 goals?
A: In 2024 Orlando City reached the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in club history, ultimately falling to New York Red Bulls. They hope to build on that success. Their 2025 goals include winning the Eastern Conference, getting a deep playoff run, and improving on offensive production by integrating new signings.

Q5: Where can I find the official Orlando City SC 2025 roster and news?
A: The official Orlando City website (orlandocitysc.com) has a Roster page listing the 2025 squad. It also has a News section and Transactions News page detailing signings and roster moves. For official stats and match info, MLSsoccer.com and ESPN’s team pages (e.g., ESPN Orlando City 2025 Squad) can be used.

Q6: Who is Orlando City’s head coach in 2025?
A: Óscar Pareja remains the head coach. He took over in 2020 and led the team to playoff appearances each year. His tactics and youth development are key to the club’s strategy.

Q7: What is the outlook for Orlando City in the Eastern Conference 2025?
A: Expectations are high. With a strengthened midfield (Atuesta) and expanded attack (Pašalić, Rodríguez), analysts preview Orlando City as having one of the most dynamic offenses in MLS. If these new pieces gel, Orlando could finish near the top of the Eastern Conference and contend in the playoffs. Otherwise, consistency will be needed.

Each Q above is formatted for quick answer (voice search-friendly). For example, the question “Who are the main players on Orlando City SC 2025 roster?” is answered with names and references to credible sources. This FAQ should help Orlando City fans and voice assistants alike.

Conclusion

The Orlando City SC 2025 Squad blends experienced MLS talent with new international signings and youth prospects. The team’s projected starting lineup and depth chart show quality across the pitch – from All-Star goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to playmaking midfielders César Araújo and Martín Ojeda to a revamped attack led by Luis Muriel, Marco Pašalić, and Ramiro Enrique. The addition of Eduard Atuesta bolsters the spine of midfield. If key players stay healthy and new signings adapt quickly, Orlando City’s roster will live up to its billing as a top contender in the Eastern Conference.

For fans eager to follow the Lions, stay updated on the club’s official news channels (orlandocitysc.com, social media) for roster announcements and match previews. Feel free to share this Orlando City SC 2025 Squad preview on social media and let us know your predictions and favorite players in the comments below – LionNation thrives on fan engagement!