ORLANDO, Fla. (January 3, 2018) - Orlando City SC signs forward Dom Dwyer to a three year-contract ahead of the 2018 season.
“We are happy to have reached an agreement that both Dom and the Club can be proud of,” Orlando City SC General Manager Niki Budalic said. “Bringing him here toward the end of the season was an ambitious move, and we are really pleased with how he adjusted and developed in the short months he had. Dom is a big part of this team and we are excited to see what he brings to the group this season and beyond.”
The Lions acquired Dwyer from Sporting Kansas City on July 25 in exchange for a then-MLS record fee $1.6 million in allocation money - $400,000 in General Allocation Money and $500,000 in Targeted Allocation Money, plus up to $700,000 in conditional future Allocation Money.
Dwyer appeared in 12 of 13 games after joining Orlando City, starting 11 matches and scoring four goals and adding four assists. Dwyer either scored or assisted on eight of City’s last 12 goals of the season and four of its last five. Dwyer also scored the late equalizer against Champions League winners Real Madrid C.F. in the 2017 MLS All-Star Game presented by Target on Aug. 2.
Dwyer has two goals in four appearances with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
After becoming a United States citizen in March, Dwyer scored 19 minutes into his U.S. debut on July 1 against Ghana. The former University of South Florida Bull then scored on July 8 against Panama in the group stages of the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, becoming the 10th player in National Team history to score in each of his first two matches.
This is Dwyer’s second stint with Orlando City. In March 2013, then-MLS affiliate Sporting KC loaned Dwyer to Orlando City in the USL Pro. Dwyer scored a record 15 goals in 13 league games before being recalled to SKC. He was then loaned back to Orlando City for the 2013 USL Pro Championship game, where he scored four goals to lead City to a 7-4 win, capturing Championship Game MVP honors and the Lions their second USL Pro title. The 2012 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick also scored three goals in 21 regular and postseason appearances for Sporting KC en route to the 2013 MLS Cup championship.
Dwyer became a regular for Sporting in 2014, starting 31 of his 33 appearances and scoring 22 goals, the second-most in the league. The Cuckfield, England, native scored 12 goals in 30 MLS appearances in 2015 and 16 goals in 33 appearances in 2016, finishing fifth in the league.
TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC signs forward Dom Dwyer to a three-year contract.
Name: Dom Dwyer
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 180 lbs.
Birth Date: July 30, 1990
Birthplace: Cuckfield, England
Citizenship: USA, United Kingdom
