Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
By FRANCO PANIZO
Slowly but surely, Orlando City is building their MLS roster.
The club continued to shape its squad ahead of its inaugural MLS season by signing El Salvador national team captain Darwin Ceren on a two-year contract. Ceren, a 24-year-old defensive midfielder, will join the Lions for their final season in USL Pro this year before making the jump with the club to MLS in 2015.
“We’re extremely delighted that Darwin is joining us as our third MLS signing,” said Orlando City president Phil Rawlins. “We fought very hard to get him here, as several other MLS clubs were also interested. We believe that he is a great prospect for the future and a special thanks to his agent, Gonzalo Clavijo, for being so helpful in getting this deal finalized.”
The 5-foot-7, 165-pound Ceren has been capped by El Salvador 16 times since 2012 and most recently played for Juventud Independiente, a club in the nation’s first division. Ceren started his career with Juventud back in 2009 and wound up scoring 15 goals in 83 appearances.
“I’ve traveled a lot throughout the past few years and even though I’ve never been to El Salvador, it was definitely worth the journey,” said Orlando City coach Adrian Heath, who watched Ceren play during a trip to El Salvador this past December. “Darwin is at the right age, he’s the captain of his country and an all-around great kid, so I’m very pleased that we were finally able to get this deal finalized.”
Ceren joins Yordany Alvarez and Kevin Molino as Orlando’s first MLS signings.
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What do you think of Orlando City signing Ceren? Surprised no current MLS team landed him? Think he is going to have a monstrous season in USL Pro this year?
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