Orlando City has signed defender Rodrigo Schlegel to a new two-year contract running through 2024, the club announced on Wednesday. The deal includes options for 2025 and 2026.

“Rodrigo has continually proven himself an invaluable member of our club, both on the field and off,” said Orlando City General Manager Luiz Muzzi in a club release. “He’s engrained himself into our team from the very beginning of his time with us with an incredible work ethic and dedication to achieving the team’s goals. He’s been a vital part of our culture and project here in Orlando and we’re so happy to have him here for the years to come.”

Schlegel, 25, is coming into his fourth season with Orlando City in 2023 after starting his career at Racing Club Argentina. Since 2020, he has appeared in 72 matches (52 starts) across all competitions for the Lions.

Schlegel was in the last year of his previous contract, signing a then 2-year deal before the 2022 season.

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Schlegel has become a cult hero of his own right in Orlando ever since his heroic performance in goal, stopping a penalty kick in place of a red-carded Pedro Gallese in the Lions’ first-ever playoff match to beat New York City FC back in 2020.

Between now and then, he’s provided Orlando City valuable minutes off the bench as a third-string center back behind Antonio Carlos and Robin Jansson, with plenty of quality starts during stints with either of the starting duo has been hurt or suspended.

Schlegel’s new deal, which could see him in Orlando for up to another four years, gives the club more stability in a back line that has turned into one of the most stable and constant in the league under head coach Oscar Pareja.

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