Orlando City SC added to its midfield in its first early-season acquisition.
On Thursday, the club announced the acquisition of midfielder Luis Gil. The Lions acquired the right of first refusal to Gil from Real Salt Lake in exchange for $100,000 in targeted-allocation money to be delivered in 2018. The American is on a season-long loan from Liga MX side Querétaro Fútbol Club.
“Luis offers us another attacking threat and will fit in nicely with our squad,” City general manager Niki Budalic said, per the club’s press release.
City will have the option to purchase Gil from Querétaro at the end of the 2017 Major League Soccer season. If the club elects to not keep him, Real Salt Lake will pay Orlando City $50,000 in targeted-allocation money.
Before joining Orlando City, Gil spent his entire MLS career with Real Salt Lake. There, he recorded 89 starts in 134 regular-season matches. Ninety-three of those appearances came under then-RSL head coach and current City head coach Jason Kreis.
Gil has also made an impression at the international level. For the United States men’s national youth teams, Gil has scored 15 goals on 61 caps. He also played on the CONCACAF U-17 Championship and FIFA U-17 World Cup squads in 2009.
Orlando City will next host the New York Red Bulls on Sunday at 4 p.m.
