Orlando City star Facundo Torres has signed a new long-term deal with the Major League Soccer side, which could eventually see him leave for a league-record fee.
Torres has been exceptional ever since joining Orlando in January 2022, when he arrived for a club-record fee of £7.5million ($9m) from Uruguayan side Penarol. Torres scored nine goals in 33 MLS appearances last season, and scored the only goal of the game against New York Red Bulls on Sunday to get them off to a winning start in the 2023 campaign.
There has been heaps of interest reported in the Uruguayan, who was just over a year into his four-year deal as their Young Designated Player. But he's now agreed a long-term contract extension, raising his stock even further.
According to MLS insider Tom Bogert, it would now take a MLS record fee for an outgoing player to see Torres depart should a team from another league come in for him. The 22-year-old has already been mixing with the Uruguay national team, and has a bright future ahead.
Torres was handed his senior debut by Uruguay legend Diego Forlan back in August 2020, but quickly become a regular starter within the first team. Orlando snapped him up at the start of 2022, and he's flourished in MLS ever since.
Not only did Torres ease through his first MLS season, he scored four goals during their MLS Open Cup success - two of which came in the final. Torres was awarded man of the match as his brace helped Orlando beat Sacramento Republic 3-0 in the final.
Torres left Uruguay as a title winner with Penarol, and featured in their official team of the season twice before departing for the United States. MLS continues to welcome talented stars to their league, and Torres is certainly one of them.
The Uruguayan is one of the most talked about talents in MLS, alongside Argentina star Thiago Almada, who earned a World Cup winners medal in 2022. The Atlanta United star is projected for a huge move in the future, and both he and Torres could smash the existing record for an outbound sale.
The record is currently held by Miguel Almiron who joined Newcastle United back in 2019. The Magpies paid £21.75m ($26m) for the Paraguayan winger, who's become a star under Eddie Howe this season and recently been rewarded with a new deal.
