Scouts needn't travel far to find talent in Orlando City B | OneFootball

Sometimes you don’t have to scout any further than the affiliated MLS NEXT Pro club.

In Orlando City B, the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of Orlando City SC, sometimes all scouts need do is step next door to find their next major contributor.

At the end of the 2024 MLS regular season, Orlando City B announced contracts for 2025 for midfielders Gustavo Caraballo and Jhon Solis, plus defender Zakaria Taifi.

Some standouts for the squad had gotten picked up for 2025 by the first club. Those players include forward Yutaro Tsukada and midfielder Colin Guske.

Caraballo first signed with Orlando City B in Aug. 2023. His current contract has options through 2028.

Apr 2, 2024; Bradenton, FL, USA; Orlando City B and Inter Miami II at IMG Academy. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images | Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images

The midfielder worked his way up from his first season on the U-15 side of the Academy. The idea is to develop this son of respected Venezuelan National Team midfielder Gustavo Caraballo Sr. into a solid chance-creator for City.

The left-footed player shows early strength as an attacking midfielder from the right wing.

Scouts recognized his talent early, so he’s the youngest player to sign a professional contract in Club history at 14 years, 11 months, and 16 days. He’s now age 16.

One of the finest showings of the Orlando City B season included powerful contributions from Jhon Solis. They went on the road and took down Crown Legacy FC 4-1. The fourth goal by Shak Mohammed came with an assist by Solis.

The midfielder skillfully led Mohammed behind the opposing backline where could beat the keeper.

In first-half stoppage time, Solis had also led a teammate – this time Luca Petrasso – down the left wing, creating the chance he took with a cross to Alex Freeman for the second of four goals.

So when Caraballo gets placed along the right wing of the Orlando City pitch, Solis will be ready for the left side.

Defender Zakaria Taifi signed through 2025 early in 2024. He grew up in the organization’s Academy system, showing strength among the players of the U-17 team. He was a key contributor to the 2021 U17 MLS Next Cup championship team.

In the 2023 Orlando City B season, Taifi featured 23 times as an Academy player, providing one assist as the team went on to qualify in their first-ever playoffs.

Taifi continues to develop as a future Orlando City B backline player.

All three under contract are nearing consideration for Orlando City SC.