Orlando City sign USMNT forward Nicholas Gioacchini from Caen | OneFootball

Orlando City have completed the signing of American forward Nicholas Gioacchini from Stade Malherbe Caen of France’s Ligue 2, the club announced Wednesday.

Gioacchini arrives on a free transfer through the 2024 MLS season with a club option on 2025, with Caen retaining a percentage of any future fee Orlando City may make on the player.

“Niko is an exciting young player that has a great ability to break lines and has a keen eye for goal,” Orlando executive vice president of soccer operations and general manager Luiz Muzzi said in a club press release. “He’s begun to work his way into the national team pool already and we look forward to him furthering his young career with us here in Orlando.”

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Gioacchini has eight caps to his name with the USMNT to date, scoring three times and providing one assist - including one of each in the Stars and Stripes' successful Concacaf Gold Cup campaign last summer.

In club play, the forward - who turns 25 on Monday - has 12 goals and four assists to his name in 87 combined appearances for Caen and Montpellier at senior and B Team levels.

“[Orlando is] a place where I felt at home. A Club with a history of being very family-like and the fans…The fans, the stadium, it’s a place where there’s a lot of energy and that’s for sure a part of the reason I decided to come,” said Gioacchini, a Kansas City native.

“[Playing in MLS is] one of the parts I’m most excited about. Coming home, that feeling of coming back to my home country and getting the experience to play against the rising MLS and being a part of it. That’s a great feeling.”