According to VAVEL USA soccer writer John Whiteshall, Orlando City Soccer Club will make Canadian National Team striker Cyle Larin their first ever MLS SuperDraft pick. The Lions, who own the first pick in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft, will use it on the former University of Connecticut stalwart who has foregone European opportunities to sign with MLS.
Larin, a Generation Adidas signing with MLS, has represented his nation twice at the U-20 level and three more times at the senior international level. Heading into the day, he was widely expected to go first overall but we can now confirm that is where he will go.
Larin began his footballing career with Sigma FC in Canada and has had training stints with Germany's Werder Bremen, Hertha Berlin and Wolfsburg in addition to Belgium's Club Brugge and and Racing Genk. Larin has been oft-rumored for a move to Europe, and was linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League this offseason before he signed with MLS.
In his two seasons at Connecticut, he has scored 23 goals in addition to being named to the Soccer America All-Freshmen Team in 2013 and the 2014 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. His exploits with the Huskies have led to on-and-off transfer rumors, and Larin could well have been a top pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft. However, he chose not to make the move to the pros until now and it has paid off because Orlando City Soccer Club will select him first overall in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.