Compared to Ronaldo in the past - Orlando City sign Luis Muriel

©TM/IMAGO

Although a deal that would see Duncan McGuire join Championship side Blackburn Rovers collapsed in dramatic fashion, Major League Soccer side Orlando City have added another forward on Thursday. Orlando City have reached a deal with Serie A side Atalanta to sign Colombian forward Luis Muriel. Transfermarkt understands that the fee will be in the region of €1 million. Muriel has signed a three-year contract until 2026.  

Market Value

L. Muriel Centre-Forward

€3.00m

“We are very excited to welcome Luis to Orlando," Orlando City general manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club statement. "Whenever he’s on the field, he’s a player that is known to always be a threat to score, will force defenses to account for him at all times, and has the ability to combine with and make his teammates better. His accolades and statistics over his career thus far speak for themselves. He’s someone that we feel will help us take the next step in our pursuit to win trophies, not only this season but in the future as well.”

The 32-year-old forward, who has scored eight goals in 45 games for his country, leaves Italy after four successful years with Atalanta. Initially signed in a deal worth €21.2m from Sevilla in 2019, Muriel has managed 68 goals and 28 assists in 184 games for the Italian club. This season, his goalscoring rate somewhat declined, with Muriel managing just two goals and one assist in 18 Serie A games. Muriel’s record is better in the Europa League but his four goals in five games were scored against Austrian side Sturm Graz (2-2) and Polish club Rákow (0-4). 

What can Luis Muriel add to Orlando City? “A fast and technically gifted striker”

“He is a fast and technically gifted striker,” Italy Area Manager Transfermarkt Jatin Dietl said when asked about Muriel. “He had some very good years at Atalanta, but you could also see that he declined a bit over the last few years, especially physically. In the past he has been often compared to the Brazilian Ronaldo, but he suffered several physical setbacks and he never fulfilled his full potential.”

Player Comparison

Luis Muriel

Ronaldo

Orlando City SC

Retired

€3.00m

Market Value

-

33

Age

47

Centre-Forward

Position

Centre-Forward

Dec 31, 2026

Contract until

-

Full Player Comparison

Why is Atalanta allowing Muriel to leave? “Muriel was supposed to be sold last summer but then new signing El Bilal Touré suffered a significant injury,” Dietl said. “But he is back now and in Ademola Lookman, Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere Atalanta now have significant depth in that position and Muriel isn’t really needed anymore.” 

Although McGuire is now set to stay, Orlando City need depth in the attack. The MLS club did sign Ramiro Enrique from Banfield this winter, but the Argentine will likely need some time to adapt to his new surroundings and other than McGuire is the only center-forward of format in the squad. Plus, there is a good chance that McGuire could leave the club in the summer when several clubs might have the financial means to sign the American striker.