Now it is official!
ÖFB team striker Ercan Kara follows the lure of Major League Soccer (MLS) and signs a contract with Orlando City SC. For the Florida team, the new 2022 season starts at the end of February.
He signs a three-year contract until the end of 2024 with the club’s option for 2025 and 2026. Kara is considered a “designated player”, of which a team may have a maximum of three in the squad – they may earn above the salary cap.
Last week, Kara left the Green-Whites’ training camp to negotiate with his new employer. The clubs were already in agreement at the time, but the medical check was still pending, which also prevented Dejan Ljubicic from transferring to the MLS in spring 2020. With Kara, however, the transfer worked.
The 26-year-old from Vienna is leaving SK Rapid after two years to the day – and will play in purple in the future. Overall, Kara scored 37 goals and 16 assists in 84 appearances for Hütteldorfer.
According to the US offshoot of “Transfermarkt”, the deal for the Hütteldorfer could be absolutely worthwhile: According to this, around two million US dollars would flow in transfer fee, although Kara only has half a year remaining contract.
The rise of the seven-time ÖFB international is impressive. Within six years, the center forward worked his way from the Vienna League to the Regional League and 2nd League to Rapid, where he initially started at Rapid II, but quickly became a regular and goal-getter for Hütteldorfer. After two years he is now moving on to realize his first foreign post.
“Leave Rapid as a huge fan”
Rapid brought the now seven-time ÖFB team player to their side in the 2020 winter transfer window after impressing with 15 goals for Horn in 18 second division games.
“I will always be grateful to Rapid for the opportunity I was given two years ago. The time in Hütteldorf was a great experience for me and even though we were far too rarely able to play in front of a large crowd, I would like to thank all the fans for thank you for your support, and of course also all the coaches, support staff, employees and my teammates. I wish the club, for which I have always tried to give everything, every success and I will certainly continue to carry green and white in my heart. I am forward two years ago as a player and now I’m leaving Rapid as a huge fan,” says Kara on his farewell.
Sporting Managing Director Zoran Barisic sends high praise on the trip overseas: “Ercan Kara has developed remarkably during his time with us and quickly became a very important player for us. We wanted him over a year ago for the long term bind, but did not come to a conclusion. Rather, we have known for some time about his desire to change and yet he gave everything in every training session and game, which speaks for him. Now he has a few months before his Rapid contract expires (Note: at the end of the current season) we have an offer that we simply cannot refuse him, as we were also able to come to an agreement with his new club. I wish Ercan Kara all the best and much success in his future career if he keeps his attitude sure to advance to even higher spheres.”
Our #️⃣9️⃣
Welcome to Orlando, Ercan ???? #VamosOrlando pic.twitter.com/zxbMheb364
— Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC) January 27, 2022
Text which: © LAOLA1.at
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