Orlando City SC acquires forward Justin Meram from Columbus Crew SC in exchange for $750,000 ($300,000 in 2018 and $450,000 in 2019) in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), $300,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and a 2019 international roster slot to be returned to City in 2020.
“Justin is the ideal fit to round out our attacking group. He’s a proven contributor in our league who can both score and create goals,” Lions General Manager Niki Budalic said. “His 1v1 ability and versatility to operate in various roles will add another dimension to our attack. “
Meram joins Orlando City after playing seven seasons for Columbus. In 2017, Meram played all 34 regular season games, scoring 13 goals and adding seven assists in 32 starts, and scored a goal and an assist in five playoff games to lead Crew SC to a second Eastern Conference final in three years. Meram has played at least 31 games in each of the past four seasons and has 37 goals and 33 assists in 188 regular season games in his career. Meram has three goals and two assists in 12 MLS Cup Playoff games.
The Shelby Township, Mich., native has earned 25 senior caps for the Iraq national team. Meram, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Iraq, debuted for Iraq on Nov. 10, 2014 ahead of the Gulf Cup of Nations and scored his first international goal on Sept. 3, 2015, against Chinese Taipei.
Meram was selected 15th overall by Columbus in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Michigan.