Another offseason move brings Orlando City SC another midfielder. The Lions’ most recent exchange also sees another one of City’s original players depart.
Orlando City have traded Rafael Ramos to Chicago Fire SC for the homegrown rights to midfielder Cam Lindley, the club announced Thursday. Chicago will also receive $100,000 in targeted-allocation money—$50,000 in 2018 and $50,000 in 2019.
“We are excited to add Cam to our squad,” Lions general manager Niki Budalic said, per the release. “He is a technical midfielder that has stood out in his two seasons at [the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]. His passion, ability and tactical awareness will allow him to fit in very well in our squad. We look forward to Cam joining us in Orlando.”
In his sophomore season, the 20-year-old scored 7 goals, assisting 13 times while starting all 22 of his appearances. He was also named the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Midfielder of the Year and was also a part of the 2017 All-ACC First Team.
In 2016, he tallied 7 assists in 21 appearances—all starts—and was named the 2016 ACC Freshman of the Year.
Lindley was groomed in the Fire’s youth system, winning a national title with the Chicago Fire U-18 Academy team. He also has two seasons of Premier Development League experience, playing for Chicago FC United in 2016 and the Wilmington Hammerheads in 2017.
Internationally, he most recently joined the United States U-20 men’s national team in training camp in July 26.
Lindley joins three other new Orlando City midfielders. The Lions have also signed Paraguayan product Josué Colmán and traded for Sacha Kljestan and Jose Villarreal.
As for Ramos, he played for Orlando City in their United Soccer League Pro days in 2014 and moved with the club to Major League Soccer in 2015. There, he started 24 of his 25 appearances, tallying 2 assists.
The Seia, Portugal, native’s final two seasons were marred by injury.
He tallied 3 assists in 2016 but only managed to start 12 times. In 2017, he spent most of the season nursing preseason hamstring injuries and only started one of his two appearances.
Ramos spent most of 2017 with the club’s United Soccer League affiliate, Orlando City B.
“I want to thank Rafa for all he’s done for our club,” Budalic said. “He’s been an integral piece since the very beginning and was always a top-class professional and teammate. We wish him every success in the future.”
For more on the Lions, as they prepare for the start of preseason camp, follow Victor Tan on Twitter @NDR_VictorTan.
