Kaká officially joins Orlando City SC, receives hero's welcome

At long last, Orlando City SC, who will kick off their inaugural MLS season in 2015, have signed the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Rumors of Kaká signing with the Florida club started back in November, when co-owner Flavio Augusto da Silva announced his intention to sign a Brazilian and specifically mentioned that it "might be Kaká." By mid-June, the inevitable move was the worst-kept secret in soccer circles.

However, at his first press conference on Monday, the 32-year-old stated that the signing has been in the works since 2012.

Per The Guardian:

They said to me that they had this dream to get a team and build an amazing team in America. So from 2012 until now we have been speaking a lot, flirting a lot until today that we signed this final contract and I'm so happy for that. It's a dream come true. I've been speaking with other teams two years ago. I had the opportunities to go to New York. In the end I think God had another special thing for me in Orlando.

And so I'm happy because for me it's a very nice project. We can build a lot of good things here in Orlando and also because Flavio is Brazilian, for the Brazilian people it's nice to have this focus now on America and American football.

Upon touching down in Orlando, Kaká received a phenomenal welcome at Orlando International Airport, where it became clear that the fresh club will have no shortage of supporters come 2015.

Local media also covered the Brazilian superstar's arrival from the moment his plane touched down.

After greeting the press and giving his first press conference with the club, Kaká headed to Orlando City SC`s official party for the United States' round-of-16 loss against Belgium.