TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Despite a tumultuous week in Central Florida, Orlando City SC were able to make an acquisition on Friday. The Lions signed former Colorado Rapids Homegrown center back Shane O'Neill to a three-and-a-half-year contract with club options, pending his International Transfer Certificate (ITC).
The 24-year-old will carry a Homegrown Player tag for Orlando and will be available for selection after the Secondary Transfer Window opens on July 10.
“We are pleased to add Shane to our roster,” Orlando City SC general manager Niki Budalic said. “He is an athletic defender who is competitive and hungry to succeed. Shane’s experience in MLS and Europe in addition to various U.S. national teams will be valuable as we head into the second half of the season.”
O’Neill joins the Lions from Dutch club Excelsior Rotterdam, where he made 11 appearances between the senior and U21 sides in 2017-18. O’Neill scored one goal and made 31 appearances in 2016-17 for Dutch club NAC Breda, which he led to promotion to the Eredivisie.
O’Neill began his professional career in 2012 with the Rapids as a Homegrown prior to moving overseas. He scored one goal and made 57 appearances across all competitions for the Rapids from 2012 to 2015. His last game in Colorado was in June 2015.
The center back made 15 appearances with U.S. youth national teams from 2013 to 2015. O’Neill was most recently called into the US men's national team camp in January 2015.
O'Neill will battle for playing time behind Jonathan Spector, Lamine Sane and Amro Tarek as the Lions prepare to hire a new head coach.
