Orlando City SC acquires the Homegrown rights and signs midfielder Cam Lindley from the Chicago Fire in exchange for defender Rafael Ramos and $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) - $50,000 in 2018, and $50,000 in 2019. City signs Lindley to a four-year contract with Club options.
“We are excited to add Cam to our squad,” Lions General Manager Niki Budalic said. “He is a technical midfielder that has stood out in his two seasons at UNC. His passion ability and tactical awareness will allow him to fit in very well in our squad. We look forward to Cam joining us in Orlando”
Lindley, 20, is coming off a standout sophomore season at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Lindley scored seven goals and added 13 assists in 22 appearances - all of them starts - en route to ACC Midfielder of the Year and First Team All-ACC honors. Lindley burst onto the college scene as a freshman in 2016, starting all 21 games and tallying seven assists. Lindley earned NSCAA Second Team All-America honors and was named ACC and TopDrawerSoccer National Freshman of the Year.
Prior to attending UNC, Lindley won a national championship with the Chicago Fire U-18 Academy team. Lindley also played for Chicago FC United and the Wilmington Hammerheads in the Professional Development League in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The Carmel, Ind., native has featured for the U.S. at various youth national team levels, most recently at the U-20 national team training camp in July 2016.
Ramos, 23, was the last of eight players that moved with the Club from the USL Pro to MLS in 2015. The Seia, Portugal, native was a fixture in City’s inaugural 2015 MLS squad, starting 24 of his 25 appearances and adding two assists. Ramos finishes his City career 39 MLS appearances and five assists.
“I want to thank Rafa for all he’s done for our Club,” Budalic added. “He’s been an integral piece since the very beginning and was always a top-class professional and teammate. We wish him every success in the future.”
TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC acquires the Homegrown rights and signs midfielder Cam Lindley to a four-year contract with club options from the Chicago Fire in exchange for defender Rafael Ramos and $100,000 ($50,000 in 2018 and $50,000 in 2019) in Targeted Allocation Money.
Name: Cameron Lindley
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs
Birth Date: July 18, 1997
Birthplace: Carmel, Ind.
Citizenship: USA
