Orlando City have added veteran striker Luis Muriel to their attacking unit, signing the 32-year-old to a three-yeal through the 2026 MLS campaign.
The move for the Colombia international comes after the Lions were planning to bring in a center-forward to replace Duncan McGuire, who seemed set to join EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers during the final hours of the January transfer window.
However, McGuire's move to Blackburn was on and then off -- twice -- meaning Orlando boss Oscar Pareja (who's also Colombian like Muriel) will now have two top-quality strikers to choose from or play together in 2024. Despite McGuire's move falling through, Orlando still pursued Muriel as McGuire is expected to depart the club in the summer.
Orlando shelled out roughly $1m to acquire Muriel's services, and he joins the Lions as a Designated Player alongside Martin Ojeda and Facundo Torres.
"We are very excited to welcome Luis to Orlando. Whenever he’s on the field, he’s a player that is known to always be a threat to score, will force defenses to account for him at all times, and has the ability to combine with and make his teammates better," executive vice president of soccer operations and general manager Luiz Muzzi said in a release.
"His accolades and statistics over his career thus far speak for themselves. He's someone that we feel will help us take the next step in our pursuit to win trophies, not only this season but in the future as well."
Muriel departed his native Colombia in June of 2010 to sign for Italian side Udinese where his European stint began. He went on to feature for Lecce before joining Sampdoria in January 2015, when he really began to make his name as a top striker in Italy.
Muriel managed 24 goals and 16 assists for Sampdoria before signing for Atalanta in the summer 2019 transfer window, where he went on to be a huge success for the Serie A club. His 68 goals and 28 assists in 184 appearances -- including his stellar 2020/21 season where he bagged 26 goals -- speak for themselves.
Muriel, who also has eight goals in 45 appearances for Colombia, brings both UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League experience to a team that fell in the Eastern Conference semifinals of last year's MLS Cup playoffs to Columbus Crew.
"I am very excited and happy to be here, to live the atmosphere that is this city of the team and with a lot of desire to get started," Muriel added.
"I had various offers when Oscar [Pareja] and Orlando called me. I made this decision when looking at the development of this Club, the players here and the desires of everyone to win titles, all were things that went into my decision. I'm excited to get started."
Orlando and Muriel begin their 2024 season February 21, taking on Cavalry FC in the Concacaf Champions Cup before opening up the MLS campaign against CF Montreal at home on February 24.
