Orlando City acquires Josh Saunders in trade with NYCFC

Orlando City has bolstered its goalkeeping ranks with the acquisition of Josh Saunders from New York City FC in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft.

The 35-year-old joins Jason Kreis' team once more - his fifth club in MLS - as backup to Joe Bendik and brings with him 125 regular-season appearances. The two had previously worked together at NYCFC and Real Salt Lake.

"Josh is a veteran MLS goalkeeper that will add championship experience, leadership, and depth to our side with 125 appearances in 11 years in the league," Orlando general manager Niki Budalic said in a club-issued statement.

"Jason Kreis is very familiar with Josh from his time in New York and Real Salt Lake and is looking forward to working with him again."

The move comes just one day after the Lions traded backup goalkeeper Patrick McLain to Minnesota United as part of a package deal for Kevin Molino, receiving a league-record $650,000 in allocation money in return.

While Saunders has played an important role in New York City FC's formative years, head coach Patrick Vieira has other options between the posts, including newly acquired shot-stopper Sean Johnson from the Chicago Fire.

"It was a priority for us as a club to work with Josh to find him a team that he wanted to go to and I’m really happy that we’ve managed to find that solution together," Vieira said in a club-issued statement.

"In the end, we reached a conclusion that suited both parties as he's going to Orlando which is a club he wanted to be at. Myself and all of the coaching staff would like to thank Josh for his great contribution to NYCFC and wish him luck for the year ahead."

Saunders joined the league in 2003 with the San Jose Earthquakes and then spent seven seasons with the LA Galaxy, before moving to RSL in 2013. He was then acquired by NYCFC in 2015 and appeared in 66 matches over two seasons with the Pigeons.