Everything You Need To Know About Arsenal Target, Orlando City’s Facundo Torres

The 22-year-old, who joined Orlando City for a reported £5.4m in January 2022, would give Mikel Arteta’s side much-needed depth and stability in their attack.

While the he may not be a marquee winter signing, the 22-year-old has huge potential and is a sharp customer, something that MLS fans have seen this year.

Here’s everything you need to know about Facundo Torres

Facundo Torres rose through the ranks at Penarol in Uruguay before sealing his move to Orlando City earlier this year. In his first season in Penarol’s first team, Torres provided five goals in the Uruguayan Primera Division.

The winger has become a key part of the Orlando City side, where he played in 34 matches this season in MLS. Torres represented Uruguay through the youth ranks before making his senior debut in 2020.

Most notably for Arsenal fans, Torres played in the pre-season match against the Gunners. He was a standout player in this encounter as he got on the scoresheet. After cutting inside onto his favored left foot, the Uruguayan international fired home to beat Aaron Ramsdale from distance – scoring his side’s only goal of the match.

This was a game that showcased Torres’ talents to the north London club. If Torres does make the move to the Emirates, then his audition in the summer was a success.

Ricardo Moreira, Orlando City’s technical director, spoke on Torres’ growth to mlssoccer.com, he said: “We see [Facundo’s] growth into the league, his understanding of the league, his understanding of the physicality and speed required has been amazing.

“He’s a guy where all I have to say is that the sky is the limit. Kudos to the Wilf family, who helped us doing such an investment because I think it’s all paying off today, tonight. There’s more to come from him and I hope we can stay with Facundo as long as we can.”

If Torres is to make the big move to north London in January, then fans can expect to see a continuation of his growth, something that Arteta will be sure of.

Arsenal interest

Arsenal are to bid for Torres in January, while they are set to hold talks with the player’s representatives soon. Torres, who has been pivotal for Orlando City, is contracted to the club until 2025, so a hefty bid may be needed from the Gunners in order to force the American club to sell.

This interest in a winger comes as Saka was forced off after just over 20 minutes against Nottingham Forest. Despite Reiss Nelson coming on to score twice and assist once, Arteta will have recognized that depth is needed in this area.

Arsenal have had an increased number of matches this season compared to the last. Being in the Europa League has meant that their players have had to play twice a week; something that they did not have to do last season. Thus, a busy January is required if they’re to sustain their current success throughout the campaign.

Where would Torres fit at Arsenal?

Talks remain preliminary and a deal isn’t imminent, but it’s clear to see where Torres would fit at Arsenal.

The club is in the market for someone to back up Bukayo Saka on the right wing, a position that is likely Torres’ best. Serving as Saka’s understudy would also, theoretically, allow Torres to ease into life at Arsenal, which would represent a massive step up from MLS.

At just 22, Torres very much falls in line with a typical Arsenal signing, with the club tending to target younger players with high upside. Torres is exactly that, having emerged from a proven academy into MLS, a league that is earning a reputation for developing young talents like Alphonso Davies, Brenden Aaronson, and Miguel Almiron.

On the Orlando City side of things, it would likely take a pretty hefty offer for them to sell given the investment made to sign him from Penarol. The club always knew this day would come, but probably couldn’t have expected it to happen so soon as Torres exceeded most people’s expectations in year one in MLS.