Walking into Orlando Health for a preseason physical exam was a special moment for José Aja.
There was no guarantee he would be there. To him, Saturday’s checkup with Dr. Daryl Osbahr was not only the official start of Orlando City’s preseason, it was a new period in his life that he’d worked toward the entire second half of last year.
After fulfilling a six-month loan period with the Lions from July to December, the Uruguayan centerback could have been released but instead was signed to a four-year contract.
“It’s really emotional to be back here and to start training,” Aja said through a translator.