Starting centerback Lamine Sané and eight other players whose options were declined will not return for Orlando City in the 2020 season.
The club shared a thank you tribute to nine players on social media on Monday. The posts confirmed the departure of nine players — Sané, Cristian Higuita, Cam Lindley, Sacha Kljestan, Will Johnson, Adam Grinwis, Carlos Ascues and Dillon Powers.
Sané formed the second half of the Lion’s centerback pairing alongside Robin Jansson during the 2019 season. He started in 25 games, dropping the team’s goals-allowed from 74 in 2018 to a club record low of 52 in 2019.