Orlando City signs John Rooney

Updated: January 26, 2012, 3:43 PM ET
Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. -- John Rooney, the younger brother of English national team and Manchester United standout Wayne Rooney, has signed to play with Orlando City Soccer Club of the United Soccer League.

The 21-year-old's signing Thursday is pending United States Soccer Federation approval. Orlando City competes in the American Division of the USL Pro Division, the third tier of the American soccer system.

A Liverpool native, the midfielder most recently played with Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, who drafted him in the second round of the 2011 draft.

Rooney appeared in five regular season games for the Red Bulls and made two U.S. Open Cup appearances with them, where he scored his lone goal of 2011 against FC New York.

Orlando City was 15-3-6 in 2011 and won the U.S. Pro Championship.


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press