Orlando Metropolis have added veteran striker Luis Muriel to their attacking unit, signing the 32-year-old to a three-yeal by means of the 2026 MLS marketing campaign.
The transfer for the Colombia worldwide comes after the Lions have been planning to usher in a center-forward to exchange Duncan McGuire, who appeared set to hitch EFL Championship facet Blackburn Rovers throughout the last hours of the January switch window.
Nevertheless, McGuire’s transfer to Blackburn was on after which off — twice — which means Orlando boss Oscar Pareja (who’s additionally Colombian like Muriel) will now have two top-quality strikers to select from or play collectively in 2024. Regardless of McGuire’s transfer falling by means of, Orlando nonetheless pursued Muriel as McGuire is anticipated to depart the membership in the summertime.
Orlando shelled out roughly $1m to amass Muriel’s companies, and he joins the Lions as a Designated Participant alongside Martin Ojeda and Facundo Torres.
“We’re very excited to welcome Luis to Orlando. Each time he’s on the sphere, he’s a participant that’s recognized to at all times be a risk to attain, will pressure defenses to account for him always, and has the flexibility to mix with and make his teammates higher,” govt vice chairman of soccer operations and common supervisor Luiz Muzzi stated in a launch.
“His accolades and statistics over his profession so far communicate for themselves. He is somebody that we really feel will assist us take the subsequent step in our pursuit to win trophies, not solely this season however sooner or later as nicely.”
🗣️ All the way in which from Santo Tomás, Colombia…
— Orlando Metropolis SC (@OrlandoCitySC) February 15, 2024
Muriel departed his native Colombia in June of 2010 to signal for Italian facet Udinese the place his European stint started. He went on to function for Lecce earlier than becoming a member of Sampdoria in January 2015, when he actually started to make his identify as a high striker in Italy.
Muriel managed 24 objectives and 16 assists for Sampdoria earlier than signing for Atalanta in the summertime 2019 switch window, the place he went on to be an enormous success for the Serie A membership. His 68 objectives and 28 assists in 184 appearances — together with his stellar 2020/21 season the place he bagged 26 objectives — communicate for themselves.
Muriel, who additionally has eight objectives in 45 appearances for Colombia, brings each UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League expertise to a workforce that fell within the Japanese Convention semifinals of final 12 months’s MLS Cup playoffs to Columbus Crew.
“I’m very excited and joyful to be right here, to dwell the environment that’s this metropolis of the workforce and with loads of want to get began,” Muriel added.
“I had numerous provides when Oscar [Pareja] and Orlando referred to as me. I made this choice when trying on the improvement of this Membership, the gamers right here and the wishes of everybody to win titles, all have been issues that went into my choice. I am excited to get began.”
Orlando and Muriel start their 2024 season February 21, taking up Cavalry FC within the Concacaf Champions Cup earlier than opening up the MLS marketing campaign towards CF Montreal at residence on February 24.
