A little cloudy as Mikey Halliday and Nico Lodeiro depart Orlando City SC | OneFootball

Note: The afternoon after this article posted the Houston Dynamo announced signing Nico Lodeiro. So the clouds parted! But the complex structure of this transaction still bears study...

These two Orlando City SC transfers didn’t exactly go as we thought they would.

The roster moves were announced shortly after a brief period of grinding by the rumor mill. Homegrown defender Mikey Halliday is moving to the Houston Dynamo FC. But the Orlando City SC rumor included versatile and successful midfielder Nico Lodeiro.

Halliday last year played in only six games for the Lions’ first team. He was on the pitch for 105 minutes. Yet at the close of the business day when the trade hit, Halliday had a Dynamo contract to sign. In return, Orlando gets a first-round 2026 SuperDraft pick and a sell-on percentage should the Dynamo transfer Halliday to another club.

But Lodeiro didn’t also get transferred yet.

That afternoon, Lodeiro abandoned his Senior Roster spot with Orlando City. Then, he and the front office mutually agreed to terminate his contract. The club utilized its buyout of a guaranteed contract so his previous wages don’t count against the 2025 budget.

In parting, Executive Vice President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Luiz Muzzi said the club is leaving open the possibility that Lodeiro could return to the roster.

That sounds confusing until realizing that possibilities are still open for the known clubs that sent queries about Lodeiro.

Nov 9, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando City midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro (14) celebrates with defender Rodrigo Schlegel (15) after defeating the Charlotte FC in a 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs Round One match at Inter&Co Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images | Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The San Jose Earthquakes had sent queries. But the Houston Dynamo FC still has a strong case in this hunt.

Shortly after the contract terminated, Houston soccer broadcaster and former professional Glenn Davis spoke as if the Dynamo contract with Lodeiro had already been inked. He described the midfielder as one of the great playmakers in MLS history.

He described the Dynamo’s need for Lodeiro to make plays until Houston settles on a solid Designated Player star. If and when that happens, Lodeiro won’t be replaced but will improve.

So both Mikey Halliday and Nico Lodeiro have bright futures with the Houston Dynamo. It’s just that Lodeiro’s departure looked a little cloudy at first.

The clouds will clear for both the departing players and for Orlando City SC.