In another youth-trending move, Orlando City SC has acquired defender Danilo Acosta on loan from Real Salt Lake for the 2019 season, the club announced on Dec. 28. The Lions sent $75,000 in general-allocation money to the Utah side, as the option to make the transfer permanent will be available at the end of the 2019 season.
“Danilo is a young, talented player who brings national-team experience to our roster,” new Lions Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi said, per the release. “He has the qualities and character we are looking for in a left back, and [we] are excited to bring him on board and start working with him for the preseason.”
Acosta has spent the first three years of his Major League Soccer career with RSL, having logged 2,307 minutes, 26 starts and four assists over the last two seasons. The 21-year-old graduated from the RSL-Arizona Academy and was signed as a homegrown player in December 2015.
Before playing in MLS, Acosta spent the 2016 season with Real Monarchs SLC of the United Soccer League, playing 1,135 minutes and 19 matches.
Though born in Honduras, Acosta represents the United States at the international level. He has made 16 appearances for the United States U-20 men’s national team, helping the U.S. win the 2017 CONCACAF U-20s Championship. In the final, he scored the game-winning penalty to lift the Americans over Honduras.
Acosta also played for the United States’ U-20 side in the 2017 U-20 World Cup in South Korea.
In addition to Acosta, Muzzi and a revitalized front office have also recently added another 21-year-old: Ecuadorian midfielder Jhegson Sebastián Méndez.
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