Former Orlando City striker Dom Dwyer has a new home in MLS. The 10-year MLS veteran signed a two-year contract with Atlanta United, per reporting from Jamie Watson. This move comes after Dwyer trialed with the Five Stripes throughout preseason. Dwyer will likely serve as a top backup for Josef Martinez.
This move has brought quite a bit of ire from Orlando City fans. Dwyer spent five seasons in Orlando and is one of the more prominent faces in the club's history, albeit without much success. To see a once beloved club figure sign with the biggest rival is certainly a sting, and the matches against Atlanta United this season could get all the more interesting.
I am here to say that I have no problem with Dwyer signing a deal with Atlanta United, and neither should you. Dom Dwyer is not a player who's swimming in options to play in MLS right now. After leaving Orlando City, he eventually earned a deal with Dom Dwyer, but that didn't work out, leading to a trade and immediate buyout with FC Dallas. Frankly, I'm glad to hear he earned another roster spot and gets to keep his MLS career chugging along, even if it's with Atlanta United.
Dom Dwyer is one of the better and most beloved player in Orlando City history, at least I'd argue he is. I recently ranked him as the second best striker in club history, if you need any indication of how highly I rate the four-time US international's time in purple. At this point, I'm just happy to see Dom happy and finding a place in the league. If he can become a good backup striker for Atlanta United, then that's great! As long as he doesn't go out and score on Orlando City this year.