PORTLAND, Ore. -- Orlando City is set to add two more key young pieces today before the transfer deadline.
The two players, Rafael Ramos and Estrela, will come from Portuguese club Benfica, Lions' general manager Paul McDonough told the Sentinel.
The players will join the club for the remainder of the USL season and will stay with the team through the move to MLS. Ramos, 19, is a right back with Benfica's under-19 team. Estrela, 18, is a defensive midfielder from Angola who also played with Benfica's under-19 team.
McDonough compared Ramos to a younger, less polished version of FC Dallas defender Zach Loyd, while Estrela plays a style similar to Portland's Diego Chará.
"These are two good young pieces for us as we continue to build," McDonough said.
Both players were inked to multi-year deals and will join Orlando City this week, pending visa applications. Orlando City has now signed eight players to MLS deals, including designated player Kaká, midfielders Kevin Molino, Darwin Ceren and Yordany Alvarez and defenders Tyler Turner and Tommy Redding.
After the USL season, the players may return to Benfica to train and remain in shape ahead of the start of MLS preseason in January, McDounough said.
These moves indicate the first major benefits of Orlando City's partnership with Benfica, which the club announced earlier this year. Through that partnership, the Lions will share evaluations regarding professional and youth players, arrange friendlies and provide opportunities for players to train with the other team.
McDonough and coach Adrian Heath traveled to Portugal earlier this month to meet with Benfica regarding player development and other aspects of the club.