TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Orlando City SC have acquired Brazilian forward Matheus Aias from English club Watford on a permanent transfer, the club announced Friday. Aias joins on a two and a half year contract with an option for another season.
Aias, 23, never made a first team appearance for Watford but played plenty on loan, including the last two seasons with La Liga 2 side CD Mirandes where he had 23 goals in 74 appearances. The center forward broke through with Spanish side Granada after moving to Spain from his native Brazil and joined Watford in 2017, though spent almost the entirety of his spell with the club out on loan in Spain.
“We are very excited to add Matheus to our roster. He is an exciting young player that we have been looking at for some time that we think will make an immediate impact amongst our group,” Orlando City EVP of soccer operations Luiz Muzzi said in a club statement. “As a club we continue to work to add difference makers to our team and we think Matheus will fit that mold in the near future and beyond.”
Aias joins Orlando's options at center forward, led by Tesho Akindele with Dom Dwyer ruled out for the season after undergoing knee surgery. The club also have 2019 and 2020 first round SuperDraft selections Daryl Dike and Santiago Patino to choose from for Oscar Pareja's preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
At the MLS is Back Tournament, Akindele led the lines as Orlando stormed to the final. The club resume their 2020 season on Saturday against Inter Miami.
