ORLANDO, Fla. (May 6, 2021) — Orlando City SC Homegrown midfielder Jordan Bender will join USL Championship side Charlotte Independence on a full-season loan with the right of recall, it was announced today. The Independence, based in Charlotte, N.C., began their 2021 campaign on Saturday, May 1 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
“Jordan is a young player that has shown us a lot of potential and that we can see a bright future for in our Club,” said Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi. “We’re sending him to a club and a coaching staff that we know well, one that is close to us and a place where he’ll get valuable game minutes to further his development. This is a situation that works out well for everyone involved and we’ll be eagerly watching Jordan’s progress over this period.”
Bender, 19, signed as an Orlando City Homegrown Player on Dec. 12, 2019, becoming the first Orlando player to make the climb through the Club’s development pyramid going from the Academy to Orlando City B and later earning a First Team contract. He made his MLS debut in his rookie season on Oct. 14 of last year against New York City FC and started his first MLS match on Nov. 8 against Nashville SC.
The Lake Mary native received a call-up to the U.S. U-20 National Team January Camp in 2020 and was also called up to the U-16 National Team in 2017, making his debut for the youth international side on April 13 in a friendly against Japan’s U-16s.
TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC Homegrown midfielder Jordan Bender sent to Charlotte Independence on a full-season loan with the right of recall.
