ORLANDO, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2025) – Orlando City SC and midfielder Wilder Cartagena have agreed to a new one-year contract through the 2026 season, with a Club option for 2027, the Club announced today.
“Wilder is one of those players who brings so much more than just his performance on the pitch,” said Orlando City SC General Manager & Sporting Director Ricardo Moreira. “He’s a true leader in our locker room; someone our players look to both in moments of intensity and in everyday preparation. His experience at the international level and his commitment to excellence make everyone around him better. We’re proud to have him back, he was missed in our 2025 campaign, and know he’ll continue to be a driving force in our pursuit of success and championships.”
The Peruvian National Team midfielder originally joined the Lions on loan in 2022 before signing permanently ahead of the 2023 campaign. Since then, Cartagena has made 70 starts in 80 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals and adding three assists. Two of those goals were game-winners in 2023, helping secure victories in the Leagues Cup against Santos Laguna and in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs against Nashville SC. He also played a pivotal role in the Club’s historic run to its first MLS-era trophy in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
A product of Alianza Lima in Peru, Cartagena has played for clubs across the globe, including Vitória Setúbal FC (Portugal), Universidad San Martín (Peru), Tiburones Rojos de Veracruz (Mexico), CD Godoy Cruz (Argentina) and Al-Ittihad Kalba SC (UAE) before arriving in Orlando.
Since beginning his professional career in 2012, Cartagena has totaled 11 goals and nine assists in 323 appearances across all competitions. Internationally, he has earned 40 caps for the Peruvian National Team, featuring in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Copa América and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC signs midfielder Wilder Cartagena to a new contract through 2026 with a Club option in 2027.
