Orlando City SC announced Friday that the club has signed 22-year-old Forward Giuseppe Gentile for the remainder of the 2014 USL PRO season. Per league and team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Gentile will be available for selection in City’s match against the Wilmington Hammerheads on Saturday at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Kick-off for the match against Wilmington is scheduled for 7:30 p.m

The addition of Gentile comes at the right time for the undefeated Lions. The two strikers currently on Orlando City's roster, Corey Hertzog, and Oviedo native Dennis Chin are both nursing injuries. The move adds much-needed depth at forward.

“We’re looking to strengthen our front-line for the remainder of the season and adding a player like Giuseppe provides that for us,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath.

After spending three seasons at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, in which the striker notched 27 goals and 12 assists in 67 matches, Gentile relinquished his college eligibility after the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and signed a contract with Major League Soccer (MLS), making him available to all teams.

He was then acquired by the Chicago Fire on Jan. 24 through the MLS Waiver Draft. The Charlotte, N.C. native scored two goals in three Reserve matches for the Fire before being loaned to the Charlotte Eagles.

Gentile scored one goal in 11 appearances with the Eagles this season. That goal spoiled the Lions clean sheet in a 3-1 Orlando City victory over Charlotte on May 21st at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.

 

- article info provided by Jhamie Chin/Orlando City S.C.