Now it’s official: Ercan Kara is leaving Rapid and moving to the USA! The striker will be on the hunt for goals for Orlando City in Major League Soccer in the future. This was announced by his previous club Rapid and the club from Florida on Thursday. According to Orlando, Kara has a contract until the end of 2024 with an option for an extension in 2025 and 2026.
The recently 26-year-old had been in action for Rapid for two years. His contract would have expired in the summer. Rapid still collects a transfer fee for the seven-fold international. With Kara goes a player who radiated goal danger. In a total of 84 competitive games for Rapid, the 1.92m man, brought in from second division Horn two years ago, scored 37 goals. “Ercan Kara has developed remarkably during his time with us and quickly became a very important player. We wanted to bind him to us more than a year ago, but we didn’t come to a conclusion,” said sporting director Zoran Barisic. Rapid had known about his desire to change for some time. According to Barisic, Kara could not be denied the offer from Florida. The striker left the training camp in Turkey on Saturday. As a “designated player”, Kara’s salary may be outside the “salary cap” – the upper limit for player salaries. Each club in the MLS can employ three such players. Orlando plays in purple, the “Lions” finished last season in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. In the play-off, the 1st round was the end of the line. General manager Luiz Muzzi said on the club’s website: “His size and strength make him a target player in the penalty area. But with his skills, he’s also a danger from outside. With his variability at the top he will give us many opportunities in attack.” Kara himself thanked Rapid for the chance he had. “I came as a player two years ago and am now leaving Rapid as a huge fan,” said the attacker.
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