ORLANDO - Harvey Sarajian, a 21-year-old Naples native drafted fifth overall in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft, is closing out his rookie season with Orlando City SC on a rising trajectory after a patient climb through the club’s developmental system.

Sarajian spent the bulk of his first professional year with MLS NEXT Pro side Orlando City B, recording seven goals and six assists in 16 appearances before earning consistent first-team minutes. His MLS debut came in April off the bench against the Houston Dynamo, but a sustained role with the senior squad proved elusive until the Lions returned from the World Cup break.

“It’s awesome to show that my hard work and patience is showing off,” Sarajian said. “I think it’s a lot of credit to the coaches on the OCB side and first team side for integrating me and slowly developing me and making me take my time to get to where I want to be. I’m super grateful for that.”

The turning point came Sept. 12 at Inter.co Stadium, when Sarajian scored his first MLS goal against Toronto FC. He signed with Orlando City in January, just four days after stepping onto the training pitch for the first time, having gone straight from a sophomore year at Wake Forest to the professional ranks without the benefit of an MLS academy background.

“That goal changed my whole year, honestly, because it just gives me the belief that I can go and score against these teams and help this team,” Sarajian said. “That was a huge moment for me.”

Sarajian attended his first professional match at Camping World Stadium in 2015 as a 10-year-old, watching Orlando City from the stands. He credited his non-academy path for instilling the mindset that has carried him through the adjustment. “My whole soccer career has been a slow, burning kind of thing where I didn’t play in an MLS academy or anything like that,” he said. “So it’s always been a process and always kept me humble and taught me how to be patient.”

Orlando City hosts the Columbus Crew this Saturday night at Inter.co Stadium, a rematch coming just weeks after the two clubs met in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal. “We’re going to use that game to learn from and come at them with a better plan,” Sarajian said. “We’re excited to get out there and compete against them again.”