ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 23, 2021) - Orlando City SC has acquired 24-year-old forward Silvester van der Water (VAN-der-VAH-ter) via transfer from Heracles Almelo of the Eredivisie, the Netherlands’ top-flight, it was announced today. Van der Water joins the Lions, pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa and ITC, on a three-year deal with an additional one-year option with Targeted Allocation Money used for the signing.
“We are excited to bring Silvester to Orlando and to Major League Soccer,” said Orlando City EVP of Soccer Operations Luiz Muzzi. “Silvester is an exciting, up-and-coming player that we have been targeting for a while. He will add yet another different dimension to our attacking corps, as we get ready to challenge for titles in a very fixture-packed year.”
Van der Water started out his professional career at Almere City FC of the Eerste Divisie, the Netherlands’ second division, making his professional debut in February of 2016. The Dutch winger played for Almere City for two years before transferring to top-flight Heracles Almelo in July of 2018. The Blaricum, Netherlands native has made 124 appearances, scored 34 goals and provided 19 assists across all competitions with both Heracles and Almere.
The 24-year-old has registered three multiple goal games at the senior level, twice for Heracles Almelo and once for Almera City FC, adding three more multi-goal performances in his youth career for Almera.
Orlando City SC will begin a week of voluntary preseason training on March 1, followed by the official start of the 2021 preseason a week later and the 2021 MLS regular season kicking off the weekend of April 17. Season ticket memberships and multi-game packages are now available at OrlandoCitySC.com/tickets or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
TRANSACTION: Orlando City acquires forward Silvester van der Water via transfer from Heracles Almelo on a three-year contract with a one-year option, pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa and ITC.
Name: Silvester van de Water
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Born: Sept. 30, 1996 in Blaricum, Netherlands
Hometown: Blaricum, Netherlands
Citizenship: Netherlands
