It was one of the worst-kept secrets in American soccer, but finally, after months of teasing reports and hints from the concerned parties, Kaká has signed for Orlando City, as the first designated player for the side who will begin play in MLS in spring 2015.

The coup of signing the former world footballer of the year follows the arrival of Spain’s David Villa as the first designated player for Orlando’s fellow MLS debutantes, New York City FC, last month.

Last week Orlando had claimed to be in advanced negotiations with Kaká, but for many Orlando fans, whose team are the current champions of US Soccer’s official third tier, USL Pro, the deal only felt real Kaka touched down in Orlando on Monday night.

Local interest was intense, with one news station even carrying live images of the player’s flight touching down. Inside the terminal, hundreds of fans had turned out to greet Kaká, who signed autographs and posed for pictures before leaving to complete the deal.

PIC: Kaka arrives @ MCO. Hundreds here. Been in soccer 16yrs, never seen welcome like this @OrlandoCitySC @MLS pic.twitter.com/PMf4M2zFTf — Gabriel Gabor (@MLSGabor) June 30, 2014

Interestingly, the player also alluded to interest from other teams when greeting the press:

They said to me that they had this dream to get a team and build an amazing team in America. So from 2012 until now we have been speaking a lot, flirting a lot until today that we signed this final contract and I'm so happy for that. It's a dream come true. I've been speaking with other teams two years ago. I had the opportunities to go to New York. In the end I think God had another special thing for me in Orlando. And so I'm happy because for me it's a very nice project. We can build a lot of good things here in Orlando and also because Flavio is Brazilian, for the Brazilian people it's nice to have this focus now on America and American football.”

Kaka’s brother Digao briefly played for New York Red Bulls and the player was previously linked with the Red Bulls, before the persistent connection with Orlando made that move the most likely.



Along with a protracted attempt to secure a stadium – Orlando will commence play in the Citrus Bowl in 2015, prior to the completion of their dedicated stadium in downtown Orlando – City’s pursuit of credibility on the field, and in particular Kaká, has been the cornerstone of majority owner Flavio Augusto da Silva’s strategy for the side’s step up to MLS, as he and his team face up to a notoriously fickle Florida sports market.

But while the Brazilian Da Silva liked to publicly emphasize his friendship with Kaká, the path to Orlando was by no means clear. Certainly the fact that his former club AC Milan had failed to qualify for Europe this season, triggering a potential release clause, helped clear the way, along with Kaka missing out on the Brazilian World Cup squad.

There is no confirmation as yet, as to whether Kaká may remain with Milan on loan until the new year, or whether he will prepare by going on loan back in Brazil.

Those logistics are for another day. Tuesday was for Orlando and club president Phil Rawlins to revel in finally getting their man: