Orlando City standout Alvarez gets MLS opportunity

ORLANDO, Fla.,None — Orlando City Soccer Club today announced the sale of midfielder Yordany Alvarez to Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake.  Salt Lake exercised their option to purchase Alvarez’s contract following his loan spell at the end of the 2011 season.  As per MLS policy, financial terms were not disclosed.

Alvarez has been with the organization for three years, originally playing for the Austin Aztex in 2009 and 2010. He was originally scouted by Adrian Heath in a tryout in Southern California, in late 2008. His permanent move to Major League Soccer caps an incredible 2011 for the former Cuban international.  Alvarez was the midfield general for Adrian Heath’s USL PRO championship-winning Lions, earning league MVP honors in the process.  On the personal side, Alvarez, a Cuban refugee who defected in 2008, received his green card late in 2011.

In total, Alvarez appeared in 21 regular season games for City in 2011.  He was also instrumental in Orlando’s US Open Cup run, scoring the game-tying goal in the third round against FC Dallas of MLS.

“Yordany is a quality individual as well as a great midfield player, it has been our pleasure to have him with us for the past three years” said Orlando City President, Phil Rawlins. “His game has developed considerably under Adrian’s coaching and I am sure he will be an outstanding performer for Real Salt Lake.”

WFTV