Orlando City SC selected attacking midfielder Danny Deakin with the 20th pick (64th overall) in the third round of the 2017 MLS SuperDraft today.
“Going into this round we hoped Danny would be available and were happy he was still on the board,” Lions General Manager Niki Budalic said. “His attacking capabilities, his vision and his passing ability will be an important asset to us this coming season.”
Deakin joins the Lions after spending the 2016 season with Detroit City FC in the National Premier Soccer League, where he had one goal and two assists in nine appearances, seven of them starts.
Prior to signing with Detroit City, Deakin enjoyed great collegiate success at the University of South Carolina and Mercyhurst University. In both of his years with the Gamecocks, the Sheffield United Academy product was a First-Team All-Conference USA selection.
In 2016, Deakin played in all 20 matches and led the team with seven goals, five of them game-winners, and six assists. In his junior season, the started all 21 matches for the Gamecocks and finished second in Conference USA with 11 goals.
The Sheffield, England, native was a two-time NCAA Division II First-Team Daktronics All-America selection in 2013 and 2014 at Mercyhurst, where he led the Lakers to two consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances before transferring to USC.
Orlando City’s fourth-round pick was traded to Real Salt Lake for Yordany Alvarez, the Club’s second MLS signing, in 2014.