Orlando City announced Monday that the club has signed former Development Academy and Orlando City B midfielder Raul Aguilera Jr. to a homegrown contract.

Being with the academy since 2013, Aguilera is one of the longest tenured academy player to sign a homegrown contract. The contract is a one-year deal with club options for 2022, ’23, and ’24.

“Raul is a great young player that has been with the Club from the very beginning,” said Orlando EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi in a statement. “He learned a lot from his time with a top-flight program at the collegiate level and brought that knowledge to our system and continued to work hard. Raul is a player that is incredibly dedicated to this Club, has shown us his love for this city and proven that he is truly a Lion through and through.”

Following his senior year of high school, Aguilera went to the University of North Carolina from 2017-19 where he made 30 starts in 44 career appearances, scoring two goals and providing six assists.

Before his senior year, however, he decided to take the early jump to the pros and play with Orlando City B of USL League One, where he made eight appearances and seven starts, scoring one goal.

Aguilera becomes the 10th homegrown player in Orlando City’s history, joining the likes of Tommy Redding, Tyler Turner, Harrison Heath, Mason Stajduhar, Benji Michel, David Loera, Jordan Bender, Michael Halliday and Wilfredo Rivera.

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Orlando City roster (as of April 5, 2021):

Goalkeeper (3): Pedro Gallese, Mason Stajduhar (HG), Brandon Austin 

Defenders (7): Kyle Smith, Ruan, João Moutinho, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, Antonio Carlos, Michael Halliday (HG)

Midfielders (9): Oriol Rosell, Jhegson Sebastián Méndez, Andrés Perea, Mauricio Pereyra (DP), David Loera (HG), Jordan Bender (HG), Júnior Urso, Joey DeZart, Raul Aguilera Jr (HG)

Forwards (9): Nani (c, DP), Chris Mueller, Tesho Akindele, Benji Michel (HG), Matheus Aiás, Alexander Alvarado, Alexandre Pato, Silvester van der Water, Wilfredo Rivera (HG)

Key: 

DP – Designated Player 

HG – Homegrown Player 

Out on Loan 

Daryl Dike – Short term loan to Barnsley

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