Justin Ellis is an American soccer player whose path to Orlando City’s first team ran through the club’s academy, MLS NEXT and Orlando City B. The Wellington, Florida, forward became one of the academy’s leading scorers, won two major individual honors in 2025, and gradually earned opportunities at the senior level.
His development has not been limited to scoring. During his first sustained run with Orlando City in 2026, Ellis also became a productive creator. His own comments describe a number nine who enjoys bringing teammates into attacking moves, an approach that became increasingly visible in his first-team performances.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Wellington, Florida |
| Position | Forward |
| Height | 6 feet |
| Club | Orlando City |
| Shirt number | 22 |
| Player category | Homegrown |
| Citizenship | United States |
Orlando City’s Development Path Prepared Ellis for the First Team
Ellis developed through Orlando City’s academy before moving into Orlando City B, the club’s MLS NEXT Pro side. That pathway let him face professional reserve competition while continuing to play at the academy level.
His first Orlando City B appearances came in 2024. By the following season, he was producing more consistently in the final third. One of his strongest reserve-team performances came against Inter Miami II on May 18, 2025, when he recorded a goal and two assists in a 3-0 victory.
Ellis created the opening two goals with chipped passes before converting a penalty. MLS NEXT Pro named him Player of Matchweek 10 on May 20. The award came the same week as his first appearance for Orlando City’s senior team, linking his reserve-team development to his emerging first-team opportunity.
Orlando City has published different reserve-team totals for Ellis. Its February 2026 signing announcement listed 41 appearances, eight goals and five assists, while his current player profile lists 40 appearances, nine goals and six assists. The club’s published material does not explain the discrepancy.
A Golden Boot and MLS NEXT MVP Defined His Breakout
The 2025 Generation adidas Cup became a major stage in Ellis’s academy career. Orlando City won the competition after navigating seven matches, including a championship game against the Colorado Rapids. Ellis scored six times during the tournament and received the Golden Boot as its leading scorer in his division.
After the tournament, he credited his teammates for much of his success. Ellis said they repeatedly placed him in favorable positions to finish chances, while also acknowledging that scoring was part of his responsibility as the team’s number nine.
The tournament award was followed by recognition across the full MLS NEXT season. Ellis scored 18 regular-season goals and was named the 2024–25 U-19 MLS NEXT MVP. Those accomplishments documented two different forms of production: a six-goal run in a concentrated tournament and sustained scoring over a complete academy campaign.
The official material has a minor naming difference. Orlando City’s contemporary tournament coverage referred to the championship team as U-18, while his current club profile describes the achievement as U-19. The championship, six-goal total, and Golden Boot remain consistent across the records.
His MLS Debut Arrived on His 18th Birthday
Orlando City made Ellis available to the first team through short-term agreements in 2025. He made his senior debut against Charlotte FC on May 14, 2025, the day he turned 18.
He entered in the 88th minute as Orlando completed a 3-1 home victory. Although the appearance was brief, it marked his arrival in Major League Soccer while he remained with Orlando City B.
The club formalized his move to the first team on February 20, 2026, signing him as a Homegrown player. The announcement described him as an academy and Orlando City B product who had advanced through every level of Orlando’s development system.
The original announcement said his agreement ran through the 2027 MLS sprint season, with club options for 2027–28 and 2028–29. His current Orlando City profile instead lists him under contract through 2028–29 with an option for 2029–30. The current profile does not explain the revised terms.
Ellis Showed He Could Create as Well as Score
Ellis’s first senior start came in the U.S. Open Cup against FC Naples on April 15, 2026. One week later, he made his first MLS start as Orlando City defeated Charlotte FC 4-1.
His first league start produced his first senior-team assist. After receiving the ball from Tiago, Ellis protected possession inside the penalty area, turned and found Martín Ojeda making a run toward goal. Ojeda completed the move to give Orlando the lead.
Ellis later said the play reflected how he wants to operate. He described himself as a striker by trade but explained that he does not always want to be the player taking the final shot. He also said creating opportunities for teammates is part of how he understands his role.
That match also carried an emotional adjustment. Ellis acknowledged feeling nervous before the start but said the confidence provided by those around him helped once he stepped onto the field. He also spoke about the connection among Orlando City’s academy graduates, explaining that they discuss their opportunities, exchange advice, and support one another away from matches.
His First Goal Led Into an Open Cup Breakthrough
Three days after his first MLS assist, Ellis scored his first league goal. He found the net against D.C. United on April 25, 2026, reacting to a rebound and finishing in the 57th minute. It was his second MLS start, although Orlando eventually lost 3-2.
His next notable contribution came in the U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 against New England Revolution on April 29. Ellis assisted Griffin Dorsey in the first half before scoring Orlando’s third goal in the 70th minute. Orlando went on to win the seven-goal contest 4-3.
U.S. Soccer selected him for its Team of the Round following that goal-and-assist performance. The official tournament review also recorded a 75 percent passing rate, four recoveries, three successful duels and two fouls drawn.
The award covered one Open Cup round rather than the entire tournament, but it captured how quickly his role was expanding. Within one week, he had registered his first MLS assist, scored his first MLS goal, and contributed directly to two goals in a knockout competition.
Creative Contributions Strengthened His 2026 Campaign
Ellis continued producing after his April breakthrough. Against Nashville SC on July 25, he received the ball between the lines, beat multiple defenders, and released Tyrese Spicer for the winning goal. He later assisted Antoine Griezmann during Orlando City’s 3-3 draw with Minnesota United on August 29.
That pass to Griezmann gave him eight assists across all competitions in 2026, according to Orlando City’s match report. At the time, only Iván Angulo had supplied more for the club.
By September 3, U.S. Soccer credited Ellis with three goals across all competitions during the season. One came in MLS against D.C. United, another came against New England in the U.S. Open Cup, and his third came in Orlando’s August match against Atlético de San Luis.
Official summaries differ on his assist total. U.S. Soccer listed six in its September 3 Open Cup preview, while Orlando City had credited him with eight on August 29. Neither source explains the discrepancy, so the totals require clear dates and attribution.
His comments after an August draw with FC Cincinnati also offered insight into his development. Ellis accepted responsibility for failing to convert a chance that he believed could have changed the result. Rather than shifting attention elsewhere, he said he needed to improve and described himself as a young player who was still learning.
U.S. Youth Selection Added an International Pathway
Ellis’s development has also included involvement with the United States youth national-team system. U.S. Soccer selected him as a forward for the U-18 team’s September 2024 tournament in Japan.
He later moved into the U-19 setup. Official federation records included him in the March 2026 training camp in Spain and again on the June 2026 roster. Those selections placed him among the forwards being evaluated within the national youth pathway.
The United States subsequently qualified for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup through the August 2026 Concacaf U-20 Championship. Official records confirm Ellis’s earlier U-18 and U-19 selections but do not confirm that he participated in that qualifying campaign.
Ellis’s Academy-to-MLS Progress Defines His Story
Ellis’s route to Orlando City’s first team follows a clear sequence of documented achievements. He developed in the academy, gained professional experience with Orlando City B, scored six goals during a Generation adidas Cup championship, and completed an 18-goal MLS NEXT MVP season.
His MLS debut on his 18th birthday introduced him to the senior level, while his 2026 performances established a broader role. The early goals drew attention, but his assists and direct comments reveal a forward who also wants responsibility for creating chances.
By late August 2026, Ellis had moved beyond being only an academy prospect receiving occasional minutes. He was contributing regularly to Orlando City’s attack while remaining part of the United States youth setup, completing the transition from decorated MLS NEXT scorer to first-team Homegrown contributor.