Orlando City confirms Kljestan swoop

Orlando City began the new year with a bang.

United States international Sacha Kljestan swapped the New York Red Bulls for Orlando on Wednesday after three successful years with Jesse Marsch's side.

Striker Carlos Rivas and defender Tommy Redding headed to New York in the deal, with Orlando also receiving an additional $150,000 in Targeted Allocation Money.

"We are thrilled to bring Sacha to Orlando," general manager Niki Budalic said. "His ability to see the field and make the final pass will be huge assets for us. But more than that, he's a winner. He's won everywhere he's gone, and we look forward to that continuing here."

Kljestan leads Major League Soccer with 51 assists since his return to the United States in 2015, and helped New York win the Supporters' Shield that year.

Before that, he was a key cog of Anderlecht's midfield, scoring 25 goals in 180 appearances for the Belgian outfit while winning three league titles.

It's still unclear whether the 32-year-old will retain his Designated Player status in Orlando. The Lions could decide to buy down his salary with TAM.

But he will certainly be asked to fill the boots of Kaka, who decide to retire in December following three seasons in Florida.

New York has now dealt away its captain for a second straight year. Supporters were shocked to see Dax McCarty traded to the Chicago Fire before the start of the 2017 campaign.

"It's never easy to trade a player, especially one that has been as impactful as Sacha," Red Bulls sporting director Denis Hamlett said in a statement. "That said, this move is in the best interest of our club now and for the future. We are adding two young, exciting players that have MLS experience."

Goal correspondent Ives Galarcep added the Red Bulls are likely to replace Kljestan with Argentine winger Alejandro Romero, a move that should free up around $300,000 in salary-cap space.