Orlando City SC has acquired forward Matheus Aiás from English Championship side Watford FC via transfer for an undisclosed amount. Aiás joins the Lions on a two-and-a-half year contract with an option for an additional year, pending the receipt of his ITC and P-1 visa.
“We are very excited to add Matheus to our roster. He is an exciting young player that we have been looking at for some time that we think will make an immediate impact amongst our group,” Orlando City EVP of Soccer Ops Luiz Muzzi said. “As a Club we continue to work to add difference makers to our team and we think Matheus will fit that mold in the near future and beyond.”
Aiás comes to Orlando following two seasons on loan with Mirandés of Spain’s Segunda División beginning in August 2018. That same year, Aiás made 41 appearances for Mirandés while netting 11 goals, helping the side achieve promotion. In 2019, he totaled 34 appearances and 12 finishes, six of which came in the Copa del Rey. In that same competition, he netted four goals in three matches against top La Liga sides Villarreal CF, Sevilla FC and Real Sociedad.
The 23-year-old forward began his senior career with Granada B, then owned by Watford, in 2015, making his senior debut on March 15 of that year. He would go on to make 61 appearances for Granada and net 18 finishes before loan spells with Lorca FC, CF Fuenlabrada and Valencia CF Mestalla.