Place of birth: Dalian, China
Position: midfield/forward
Orlando City 2013
5 goals in 25 appearances for Orlando
Another of the 2013 USL Pro Championship heroes is up next in our 'what have they been up to?' series. A series where we take a look at the careers of some former Orlando City pros, and see just what they have been up to since they left the club.
Tan arrived at the club on a one year contract from D.C. United, for whom he scored just 1 goal in 6 games, leading to his subsequent release. Adrian Heath and Orlando City saw enough in the former Vancouver Whitecaps forward to gamble on a one year contract. It was a low-risk move which certainly paid dividends for the Lions.
Tan scored a goal and assisted on another during his debut for Orlando in a 3–1 victory over Phoenix FC. Famously Tan netted in the fourth round of the 2013 U.S. Open Cup, where he scored in the second minute in a 1–0 victory against defending champions Sporting Kansas City to take his club to the next round. His contract was not renewed at the end of the 2013 season and he was released.
Since leaving the club at the end of the 2013 season, Tan has found some success. Including making his debut in 2018 for the Chinese national team. Upon leaving Orlando Tan signed with Chinese lower league outfit Harbin Yiteng, where he had a fruitless year in 2014, making only 7 appearances and scoring 0. What followed was a return stateside with Arizona United. Tan notched an impressive 29 goals in 69 USL games, including 14 in 2015 alone. He also spent some time on loan with the Tampa Bay Rowdies, whilst in Arizona. But I see no need to dwell on that too much.
Upon leaving Arizona in 2016, Tan headed back to his native China signing a deal with Changchun Yatai . Then of the Chinese Super League. Unfortunately Tan suffered relegation to League One in 2018, but has still plunder a very respectable 32 goals in 88 outings. In a team that often utilitises him in midfield.