ORLANDO, Fla. (December 16, 2016) - Orlando City SC signs on-loan defender José Aja to a four-year contract, the Club announced today.

“We are excited to keep José in Orlando. He proved to be a great player and strong asset for our team in a short period of time,” Lions General Manager Niki Budalic said. “We look forward to his continued contributions in 2017.”

Orlando City acquired Aja on a six-month loan from Racing Club de Montevideo in his native Uruguay on July 21, 2016. The 23-year-old center back quickly entrenched himself in the Lions back line and made 10 appearances, including eight 90-minute performances in the team’s last nine games. Aja contributed to three of the Lions’ five clean sheets, helping City secure points at Colorado, Toronto and Philadelphia.

In Uruguay, Aja featured in 12 of 15 matches in Racing’s Primera División Clausura campaign earlier this year, scoring two goals and notching one assist.

TRANSACTION: Orlando City SC signs defender José Aja to a four-year contract.

Name: José Manual Aja Livchich (Jo-SE AH-ha)

Height: 6’4”

Weight: 185 lbs.

Birth Date: May 10, 1993

Birthplace: Montevideo, Uruguay

Citizenship: Uruguay