Orlando City SC made it official on Friday, annoucning the signing of US international and former MLS Best XI honoree Brek Shea from Stoke City of the English Premier League.
Per league and team policy, terms of the transfer were not disclosed.
This will mark the 24-year-old winger's second stint in MLS following the five seasons he spent with FC Dallas from 2008 through 2012. Those years included an appearance in the 2010 MLS Cup and a Best XI season in 2011, when his 11 goals and four assists in league play caught the attention of US national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann.
“Brek is one of the key ‘finishing touches’ to a high-quality, competitive squad that Paul McDonough and Adrian Heath have assembled over the past several weeks and months,” said Orlando City President Phil Rawlins. “His pedigree, success in MLS and on the international stage pair well with the experience, youth and talent already present here in Orlando. We can’t wait for preseason training to start so the Lions can take to the pitch and prepare for our much-anticipated debut.”
Shea makes his return to MLS two years after transferring to Stoke City in January 2013. In England, he struggled to establish himself. Injuries to his foot and knee limited him to only three appearances for the Potters in two years, and he twice went out on loan, making eight appearances for Barnsley and six appearances for Birmingham City, in 2014.
Despite a lack of playing time at the club level, Shea managed to maintain a regular role with the US national team and scored the game-winner vs. Panama in the 2013 Gold Cup final, which finished 1-0.
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“I can’t speak enough about the talent and passion that Brek brings to the squad,” Heath said in a statement. “Having had a chance to watch him train with us over the summer, I was impressed with the caliber of player he is and with his desire to win. I think those qualities fit well with our style of play, our team’s philosophy and the other talented players on our squad. We have a lot work to do to prepare for the start of the season but we have a talented roster with which to start.”
OCSC have built their attack around legendary Brazilian playmaker Kaka, who is expected to play his customary No. 10 role. Shea will likely join him in the attack as a left winger, with recently signed Honduran Bryan Rochez expected to lead the line.
Brek Shea introduced as the newest Orlando City player
