Alex Freeman's stock just went up tenfold, and that can be only be a good thing | OneFootball

Ever since Alex Freeman netted his first Major League Soccer goal back in March, Orlando City supporters have been braced for his departure.

What followed has seemingly only expedited that moment, with the 21-year-old phenom enjoying nothing short of a stunning breakout year.

Six league goals, a USMNT debut, a Leagues Cup semi-final, a CONCACAF Gold Cup final, an All-Star call-up, and inclusion in the league's end-of-season Best XI, there a little more Freeman could've achieved in 2025. But then he went and did just that.

In his final appearance of the year, he delivered a remarkable two-goal, man-of-the-match performance as the USMNT destroyed CONMEBOL giants Uruguay 5-1 over at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.

Rising highest in the penalty area to nod in Sebastian Berhalter's corner and make it 2-0, he then danced his way past three defenders (including Barcelona's Ronald Araújo) to cooly slot beyond Cristopher Fiermarin in the Uruguay goal for his second and his team's third.

"I think it was something special playing in my home state, playing in Florida, I think it was something I had to show out," a delighted Freeman said after full-time. "For my career it's just something I can add to my column, being able to get a goal for my national team, especially with my family here."

If it wasn't already clear enough before last night, then it is now. Orlando fans must brace for that imminent departure, because Alex Freeman is going to play for one of Europe's biggest teams.

However defeatist that may sound if you're a fan of the club, this is a deal that could really benefit Orlando both in the short and long term.

A loan-back clause?

As Tom Bogert clarified earlier this week, La Liga outfit Villarreal were and still are chasing Freeman's signature.

With just one year left on his current deal, Orlando could be backed into a corner and forced to sell this off-season to guarantee some transfer windfall. But the club are still hoping to agree a new contract with their homegrown right-back, which would add significant bargaining power to any transfer negotiations.

If Freeman departs this winter, there is a very real chance that any deal could include a loan-back clause, akin to that of Adilson Malanda's recent move from Charlotte FC to English Championship outfit Middlesbrough.

Just as Malanda helped Dean Smith's side to a fourth-placed Eastern Conference finish before departing for good, keeping hold of Freeman for another six months (or maybe even the entirety of 2026) would be crucial if Orlando truly want to deliver that second MLS-era title next season.

What's more, another year of guaranteed game-time would be crucial for Freeman's development, who must've been dying to win a trophy with his hometown team in 2025 before embarking on the next stage of his career.

Huge transfer windfall?

If Orlando and Freeman manage to agree to a new contract, then we can expect a club-record sale when he eventually departs.

Now that MLS is finally allowing intra-league cash-for-player trades, Orlando have ample opportunity to make the most of any incoming windfall.

With Evander switching from Portland Timbers to FC Cincinnati for a guaranteed $12 million, Djordje Mihailovic joining Toronto FC for up to $9 million, and Sporting Kansas City acquiring Dejan Joveljić for $4 million, MLS clubs were certainly creative during the first year without such transfer restrictions. Orlando could be the next to do so.

But Orlando could equally use the Freeman money elsewhere. With the club reportedly offering $5 million for Brazilian Série A starlet Luis Otávio, such substantial expenditure could easily be wiped off once the right-back departs.

The only way is up

Particularly during the stewardships of Ricardo Moreira and the recently-departed Luiz Muzzi, Orlando have developed an enviable reputation for identifying, developing, and selling exciting young talent.

Freeman, though, represents the first true success story from Orlando's academy. But he will certainly not be the last.

With three of Orlando's young stars featuring at this winter's FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, the club's U-18 side winning the Generational adidas Cup back in April, and no less than seven academy products featuring for the senior side during 2025, it's only a matter of time before another Freeman emerges.

That man could easily be Zakaria Taifi. Sharing Freeman's right-back position, also hailing from the local area, and being 20 years of age, the two academy products are remarkably alike. The first player to progress the entire way through the club's development pathway to the senior team, he could be the homegrown, ready-made replacement Orlando are looking for.

The much-forgotten Dagur Dan Thórhallsson is also more than capable of reassuming his spot at right-back. Still finding a way to contribute four goals and an assist in just 1,334 minutes in 2025, Orlando are well-stocked in that position if and when Freeman departs.

Freeman's breakout year has been nothing short of extraordinary. If he does depart this winter, both player and club can look back with immense pride at what has been achieved, also knowing that this is just the beginning of the story.