(Photo by Victor Tan / New Day Review)
Orlando City SC’s most recent trade could be its biggest move this offseason. In a three-player trade, the Lions acquired midfielder Sacha Kljestan and sent forward Carlos Rivas and defender Tommy Redding to the New York Red Bulls. City also inherited $150,000 in targeted-allocation money from New York.
“We are thrilled to bring Sacha to Orlando,” Lions general manager Niki Budalic said, per the club’s official press release. “His ability to see the field and make the final pass will be huge assets for us. But more than that, he’s a winner. He’s won everywhere he’s gone, and we look forward to that continuing here.”
Kljestan most recently played three seasons for NYRB, starting 91 of his 97 regular-season appearances. In 8,048 minutes, he has tallied 51 assists and 16 goals, averaging 1.4 shots per game (0.53 on-target shots per game). In 2016 and 2017, he led Major League Soccer in assists with 20 and 16, respectively.
Additionally, Kljestan has also started all nine of his playoff games with New York, tallying two assists and a goal in three postseasons.
Before joining the Red Bulls, Kljestan was with Chivas USA for five seasons from 2006 to 2010, recording 33 assists and 15 goals in 114 matches. His break from MLS included a five-year stint with Belgian first-division side RSC Anderlecht where he scored 25 goals in 180 appearances across all competitions. Kljestan helped the Belgian side win three-consecutive league titles and four Belgian Super Cups.
In addition to his club success, Kljestan has also produced at the international level for the United States. He plaed on the U-20 and U-23 teams and made his senior-team debut on June 2, 2007, recording an assist in a 4-1, U.S. victory over the Chinese men’s national team. Kljestan has scored six goals in 51 senior-team matches and played for the U.S. in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
His success has spanned the test of time, as Kljestan was selected to the MLS Best XI in 2008 and 2016. Kljestan is an playoff-experienced player, seeing time in seven MLS playoffs and recording two goals and four assists in 17 total matches.
In Rivas and Redding, City will see two of their founding players depart. Rivas was one of the club’s first three designated-player signings before the inaugural MLS season in 2015, and Redding, then a 17-year-old, was the club’s first-ever signing. Rivas recorded eight goals and 13 assists, starting 42 of his 78 MLS matches for the Lions; Redding started 31 of his 38 appearances for City.
“I want to thank Carlos and Tommy for all they’ve done for our club,” Budalic said. “I would also like to recognize Tommy for the five years he spent with our organization from [United Soccer League] to MLS and Carlos, as well, for being with us since the inaugural season in 2015.”
For more on the Lions, as they continue their offseason plan, follow Victor Tan on Twitter at @NDR_VictorTan.
[…] Lions already made a significant trade this offseason when City acquired midfielder Sacha Kljestan from the New York Red Bulls. Kljestan […]
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