Andres Perea traded to the Philadelphia Union

Orlando City traded midfielder Andres Perea to the Philadelphia Union, the club announced Tuesday. Orlando received a total package of $750,000 in General Allocation Money in the deal.

“Andrés has been a vital piece for us these past three seasons and played an important role in winning our first trophy this past year,” general manager Luiz Muzzi said in the club statement.

Orlando City will receive $450,000 GAM for 2023 and $300,000 GAM for 2024, with a potetential further $100,000 GAM in incentives.

Perea arrived in Orlando on loan from Atlético Nacional in his native Colombia ahead of the 2020 Major League Soccer season. That year, the young midfielder played 28 games in all competitions, becoming a key figure in the squad.

Born in Tampa and raised in Colombia, Perea earned an opportunity with the US U-23 national team after that first season in Orlando. In the following two seasons, the 22-year-old midfielder hasn't developed beyond his debut campaign, but has become a steady and reliable role player for Orlando City.

This trade signals that Muzzi and the Orlando front office will be targeting new players in central midfield. At the beginning of the offseason, veteran stalwart Junior Urso decided he would be leaving the club. Now with the trade of Perea, the Lions are in dire need of starting caliber central midfielders.

The added allocation money frees up room for Orlando to shop both domestically and abroad for help in central midfielder. The club also has an open designated player spot after re-signing captain Mauricio Pereyra to a non-DP contract.