Orlando City SC added a high-potential player from the 2018 Major League Soccer SuperDraft, trading with Los Angeles FC for defender João Moutinho, the Lions announced Tuesday. In exchange, Orlando City sent defender Mohamed El-Munir to the West Coast.
LAFC selected Moutinho with the first-overall pick in last year’s draft but have opted to move on without the 20-year-old Portuguese. In his rookie campaign, Moutinho started 10 of his 14 appearances, scoring a goal in 872 total minutes.
Moutinho’s first and only goal of the season was a game-winner against the San Jose Earthquakes on June 9. He scored LAFC’s fourth goal of the game in the 97th minute in a full-game performance.
Before joining MLS last season, Moutinho spent a year at the University of Akron. He started all 24 matches for the Zips and was named the 2017 Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and earned 2017 All-MAC First Team honors.
Because Moutinho is a member of the 2018 class of Generation Adidas, he will not count against Orlando City’s salary cap.
El-Munir started 23 of his 26 matches for the Lions, tallying two assists in 2,089 minutes. He joined the Lions for the 2018 season as part of former City Head Coach Jason Kreis’ roster that was hopeful to end City’s playoff drought.
Moutinho joins an Orlando City defense that allowed the most goals (74) in 2018.
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