Former Orlando City full-back Kyle Smith joins FC Cincinnati

Former Orlando City full-back Kyle Smith has signed for FC Cincinnati after departing Central Florida upon the expiry of his contract last month, his new club have confirmed.

Arriving on an initial one-year deal with a club option for a further six months, the Queen City native will bring ample Major League Soccer experience to a side that have fallen at the final hurdle multiple times over the past three seasons.

“We’re thrilled to bring Kyle back home to Cincinnati,” said Chris Albright, the club's general manager. “He’s an experienced player, an exceptional teammate, and a winner. We’re proud to welcome him to the club.”

Attending La Salle High School in the city's Monfort Heights neighbourhood and excelling for their varsity soccer teams, Smith earned himself a place at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky where he would set multiple goalscoring and goal-creating records.

Balancing amateur soccer with full-time accountancy after graduation, he was awarded his first professional contract in 2016 by Louisville City, Orlando's successor franchise in the United Soccer League. Three silverware-loaded seasons later, he was reunited with former coach James O'Connor when he moved to the City Beautiful, and the rest is history.

Smith's move to a direct league rival certainly asks questions of Ricardo Moreira, following the sale of Dagur Dan Thórhallsson to CF Montréal earlier this winter.

With Alex Freeman, himself subject to huge interest from Europe, now standing alone as Orlando's only remaining senior right-back, Moreira is now tasked at identifying capable depth to cover for any potential injuries, or worse.

A possible reunion with the 33-year-old is scheduled for May as Orlando travel to TQL Stadium, before the two teams do battle at Inter&Co Stadium in August.