Houston Dynamo set to trade for Orlando City forward Duncan McGuire: Sources

The Houston Dynamo have agreed to a deal to acquire American forward Duncan McGuire from Orlando City, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.

Orlando will receive $1.25 million in general allocation money plus another $1.15 million targeted allocation money in performance-based add-ons and will retain a sell-on clause. McGuire was held out of Orlando’s friendly against the Tampa Bay Rowdies on Wednesday night as the move became closer.

Houston was one of a number of MLS clubs to inquire about a deal for McGuire this summer.

McGuire, 25, excelled in his first two seasons in MLS after being selected in the first round of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, scoring 23 goals in 2,994 MLS minutes. His last 18 months have been slowed by injuries, though.

Orlando signed French star Antoine Griezmann this summer and still have plenty of firepower in attack, alongside fellow designated players Martin Ojeda and Marco Pasalic, as well as Brazilian attacker Tiago and homegrown forward Justin Ellis, who won a regular role before MLS took a break for the World Cup.

Houston has been searching for a consistent, goal-scoring center forward for a couple of seasons, as club-record signing Ezequiel Ponce hasn’t lived up to the price tag yet. Several South American clubs are pursuing a potential deal for Ponce as well, sources add.

McGuire will slot seamlessly into the Dynamo’s overhauled attacking core of Mateusz Bogusz, Guilherme, Jack McGlynn and more.

The Dynamo sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with 22 points after 14 matches. The team has scored 19 goals, fewer than all but two of the 18 teams currently above the playoff line in MLS.

Orlando is 12th in the East, though only four points below the playoff line with Griezmann preparing to make his debut this month. He appeared — and scored — in Wednesday’s exhibition vs. the Rowdies.