It seemed like a big trade at the time, but Orlando City’s acquisition of Amobi Okugo in December has fizzled in Florida, as the versatile 24-year-old defender/midfielder has been sent to Sporting KC in exchange for Servando Carrasco.
Early in the season Orlando shipped a 2016 second round pick and allocation money to Philadelphia for Okugo, a move that seemed like a lynchpin move for the expansion side. Okugo had played 117 matches over five seasons for the Union, and was talked about as a potential European target.
[ MORE: Trio of women to land FIFA cover slots ]
So when Orlando nabbed him, it seemed like a coup. Okugo started the first nine games of OCSC’s MLS tenure, but has either been a substitute or unused in all MLS matches since.
Sporting KC got considerably stronger on Monday as the race to come out of a deep Western Conference heats up, while Orlando just saved money. Surely Okugo wanted out, as Orlando hasn’t exactly been swimming in healthy and/or available bodies.
For Okugo, it’s a reprieve from a bad situation. For Sporting boss Peter Vermes, it’s yet another solid weapon in his in form arsenal. KC has the best points-per-game return in MLS.
For Orlando, it’s an asset they weren’t maximizing. Could another signing be on the horizon?