Orlando City ends Larin-to-Besiktas transfer saga with deal

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jan 30, 2018

More than two weeks after he was first seen in Turkey, undergoing medical tests, 22-year-old Canadian Cyle Larin was sold by Orlando City to reigning Turkish Super Lig champion Besiktas. Judging by the MLS club's statement, it is glad to see the dispute over and Larin gone:

"After recognizing the existence of a valid contract, Besiktas J.K. has agreed with Orlando City SC on terms for the transfer of forward Cyle Larin to the Turkish side for an undisclosed fee.

"Although the Club was disappointed with the unacceptable behavior of the athlete and his representatives, a decision was taken to guarantee compensation with the Club’s future in mind.

"The Club looks forward to focusing on the upcoming season with staff and players who honor and respect the strong values of the Club and commitment to our community to lead us through 2018 and beyond."

The No. 1 pick in 2015 SuperDraft out of UConn, Larin was signed to a two-year contract in 2015 with three club option years. He scored an MLS rookie record 17 goals and was named the MLS Rookie of the Year in his first season. He scored 43 goals in three seasons for the Lions.

Orlando City picked up the second option year after the 2017 season and seemed to be accommodating if a buyer could agree to a transfer fee for Larin, who had not been quiet about his interest in moving abroad.

The dispute arose when Besiktas challenged the validity of the club option. Its attorney, Safak Mahmutyazicioglu, was confident the Turkish club could successfully fight OCSC's club option before FIFA's Dispute Resolution Chamber.

Transfer görümelerine baladmz Cyle Christopher Larin salk kontrolünden geçti. @ACIBADEMSPORTS #Beikta pic.twitter.com/jRmhYKrM18

— Beikta JK (@Besiktas) January 13, 2018

A dispute between FC Dallas and Trabzonspor in 2016 ended up with the Turkish club paying FC Dallas paying $3 million for an option on Fabian Castillo that it later exercised for an additional $1 million.

The difference between the Larin and Castillo cases is that Larin moved during the January transfer window when there is generally much less activity. Castillo moved in the middle of the MLS season and before the start of the Turkish Super Lig campaign.

Turkish media reported the transfer fee for Larin to be an estimated $2.3 million.

-- Orlando City SC also announced the signing of Spanish midfielder Oriol Rosell, who previously played in MLS for Sporting Kansas City.

The Lions acquired the No. 1 position in the MLS Allocation Ranking Order from FC Dallas in exchange for $400,000 in Targeted Allocation Money to select the 25-year-old Rosell. As a returning MLS player sold for a transfer fee, Rosell went through the Allocation Ranking Order. FC Dallas had acquired the top spot in the deal that sent Walker Zimmerman to Los Angeles FC.

Rosell moved from Sporting KC to Sporting Lisbon in 2014. He has spent the last three seasons on loan to Vitoria Guimaraes, Belenenses and Portimonense in Portugal.