Orlando City is finalizing a deal to sign Brazilian winger Tiago from Bahia, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.
Orlando will pay a fee around $4 million, sources add. He will hit the roster as an Under-22 initiative signing.
Tiago, 20, has also played center forward in his young career. He broke through to become a key contributor this season, appearing in the final 21 Brazilian Serie A games he was available for this year. He had three goals and two assists in just under 900 minutes this year in the top flight.
Tiago also scored seven goals in the Copa do Nordeste, a regional cup. He scored a hat trick in the final against lower league opposition Confianca.
Additionally, Orlando City is nearing a deal to transfer center back Rodrigo Schlegel to Liga MX side Atlas, sources briefed on the deal tell The Athletic.
Schlegel, 28, joined Orlando from Racing Club in 2021. He was a first-choice starter this year and made 180 total appearances for the club.
Schlegel in action for Orland in August (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ESPN Brazil first reported the agreement on Tiago.
It’s a busy winter already for Orlando, who is looking to reload for 2026 after several strong years, albeit a slow finish to 2025.
In addition to Tiago, The Athletic previously reported the club was finalizing a deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Luis Otavio from Internacional. That deal is still in place, for a fee in the region of $3.5 million.
Otavio, 18, is a central midfielder. He will also join via the U-22 initiative.
Much more is still expected from Orlando this offseason. The club needs to replace goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and is hoping to move on from forward Luis Muriel. If Muriel departs, the club can sign a new designated player.
Orlando still has key players like Martin Ojeda, Marco Pašalić, Robin Jansson, Eduard Atuesta, Wilder Cartagena and more as a foundation.