PHOTO BY JEREMY REPER VIA ORLANDO CITY SC
UPDATE: Orlando City SC confirmed the trade and issued a statement earlier today.
“Duncan has meant a great deal to this club since the day he arrived in Orlando. His resilience, determination, and willingness to fight through challenges both on and off the field have earned the respect of everyone throughout our organization. He has played a major role in our success over the last several years, and when the opportunity arose, we wanted to ensure it was a move that made sense for both Duncan and the Club. We’re grateful for everything he has given to Orlando City and wish him and his family nothing but success in this next chapter.”
– RICARDO MOREIRA, GENERAL MANAGER AND SPORTING DIRECTOR, ORLANDO CITY SC
According to The Athletic, Orlando City has allegedly agreed to sell forward Duncan McGuire to the Houston Dynamo, ending a three-and-a-half-year run for one of the Lions’ most popular players. We’ve reached out to Orlando City SC for comment and have yet to hear back at the time of this post.
Still, according to The Atlantic, Orlando will receive $1.25 million in general allocation money plus up to $1.15 million in performance-based targeted allocation money, and will retain a sell-on clause. McGuire was held out of Wednesday night’s friendly against the Tampa Bay Rowdies as the deal was being finalized, which was the same night new designated player Antoine Griezmann made his unofficial debut for the Lions and scored.
McGuire, 25, was selected sixth overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft out of Creighton University and immediately became Orlando’s most reliable attacker (and our fastest player), scoring 23 goals in 2,994 MLS minutes across his first two seasons. His trajectory slowed over the last 18 months due to injuries, including shoulder surgery in June 2025. He had signed a contract extension through 2027 with a club option for 2028 in August 2024.
The sale comes as Orlando has reconfigured its attack significantly this summer to prep for Griezmann’s arrival, the Lions’ most high-profile signing in club history, alongside designated players Martin Ojeda and Marco Pašalić, Brazilian attacker Tiago, and homegrown forward Justin Ellis. Orlando sits 12th in the Eastern Conference but is only four points below the playoff line with Griezmann still to make his official debut.
The deal is pending league and federation approval, which is likely why Orlando City SC has yet to make a public statement.
