More offseason news from Orlando City on Tuesday: the club announced it re-signed Designated Player Mauricio Pereyra to a new one-year contract for the 2021 season.

“We are very excited to have Mauricio continue with us in Orlando for another year,” Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi said in a team release. “He has shown himself to be incredibly creative and a driving force behind our attack. Mauricio is a very important piece on our roster and we look forward to seeing how he continues to elevate his game with the club next season.”

The midfielder’s current contract was expected to end at the end of the year.

Pereyra, who signed with Orlando in the summer of 2019, made 22 appearances (19 starts) for the Lions this season, operating as the lynchpin of Oscar Pareja‘s midfield, contributing two goals and 11 assists.

The 30-year-old was sidelined for several weeks in October due to injury and the Lions struggled to create goals, falling to the bottom of the league in goals scored during his time out — with him on the field, they were among the highest-scoring teams in MLS.

He’s Pareja’s ideal No. 10 and a player that makes everybody around him better.

After re-signing centerback Antonio Carlos earlier in the day, Orlando City has now, in short order, locked down two of their most important starters for 2021 as the offseason hot stove is still in the process of warming up.

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