Orlando City SC has acquired midfielder Dillon Powers from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for midfielder Luis Gil and $100,000 of Targeted Allocated Money (TAM).
Orlando City retains Gil’s 2017 budget charge while the Rapids retain Powers’ 2017 budget charge. Additionally, the Rapids commit to sending $100,000 in TAM to Real Salt Lake in 2018 and assume Orlando City's position in the trade agreement with Real Salt Lake for Rights of First Refusal to Gil.
“Dillon is a creative midfielder who has proven himself in this league over the past four seasons,” Orlando City General Manager Niki Budalic said. “We are pleased to add more depth to our midfield with this trade and look forward to integrating Dillon into the team.
”The 26-year-old midfielder joins the Lions after featuring for the Rapids since the 2013 campaign, making 139 overall appearances and registering 14 goals and 26 assists.After being selected 11th overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft from Notre Dame, Powers earned 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year and was awarded 2013 Rapids MVP honors by scoring five goals and adding six assists in 30 appearances.
The Plano, Texas, native followed up his award-winning rookie season by leading the team in assists the following two years, registering nine and six assists, respectively. In 2016, the midfielder made 29 regular season appearances and recorded one goal and four assists to help the Rapids finish second in the Supporters’ Shield race before playing in the three games of Colorado’s run to the Western Conference final.
Powers also received the club’s Humanitarian of the Year in 2016 for his work in the community and with the Special Olympics Unified Team.This season, Powers has played 15 of the Rapids’ 21 fixtures, including their 2-0 loss at Orlando City Stadium on April 29.