ORLANDO, Fla. (March 24, 2017) - Orlando City SC announces nine season-long loans to Orlando City B, the Club’s United Soccer League (USL) affiliate, ahead of its USL season opener at Tampa Bay Rowdies on Saturday. The players loaned are goalkeeper Earl Edwards, Jr.; defenders Tommy Redding, Conor Donovan, Kevin Alston and PC; midfielders Richie Laryea, Danny Deakin and Pierre Da Silva; and forward Hadji Barry.
The loans include Right of Recall, which permits free movement of these players between the USL and MLS squads in compliance with MLS roster guidelines.
Edwards, Jr., 25, is loaned to OCB following two years serving as the primary backup to goalkeepers Tally Hall and Joe Bendik. Edwards, Jr., appeared in U.S. Open Cup matches and friendlies in 2015 and 2016. Orlando City originally drafted the San Diego, Calif., native in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.
Redding has made 17 starts among 20 appearances for the First Team since 2015, including 18 appearances in 2016. Redding became Orlando City’s first Homegrown signing in March 2014 when he was 17 years old. The 20-year-old has also appeared for the U.S. U-20 national team.
Donovan, 21, made his only MLS appearance on Aug. 8, 2015, but exited the match in the 14th minute after suffering a torn ACL. Donovan returned from the injury and made 14 appearances for OCB in 2016 and scored his first professional goal - the game-winner on June 11 at the Charleston Battery.
Alston, 28, was a fixture in the Lions starting XI in 2016. After joining the Club during the offseason, Alston made 21 starts among 24 appearances predominantly at right back. Alston is returning from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of City’s first two games of 2017.
PC, 23, signed with Orlando City on Jan. 4 from then-NASL side Tampa Bay Rowdies, where he played part of the 2016 season. PC previously played with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL) since 2015.
Laryea, 22, made 22 starts among 23 appearances and earned two assists for OCB in 2016. Orlando City drafted Laryea from the University of Akron with the seventh overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft.
Deakin, 23, signed with City on March 3 after being drafted in the third round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. The Sheffield, England, native most recently played with Detroit City FC in the National Premier Soccer League after spending two years at the University of South Carolina.
In 2016, Da Silva led OCB with five assists to go with two goals in his first year as a professional. Da Silva was signed to the First Team on Jan. 20, becoming the first player in Club history to climb from the Development Academy to OCB to the First Team. The U.S. U-19 national team midfielder made his MLS debut in Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Philadelphia Union.
Barry, a 2016 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick, made his MLS debut in the Lions 2016 season opener and earned an assist in City’s incredible comeback. The Conakry, Guinea, native made four starts and eight appearances with the First Team in 2016. The 24-year-old made 10 appearances with OCB in 2016, chipping in four goals and two assists.
Orlando City B opens its second USL season on Saturday, March 25, against I-4 rival Tampa Bay Rowdies. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET at Al Lang Stadium. The match can be streamed at www.OrlandoCitySC.com/LIVE The Lions will play its first game at Orlando City Stadium on Thursday, March 30, against Louisville City FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
