IRVINE, Calif. – Orange County SC announced on Thursday the club had signed forward Cameron Dunbar to a multi-year contract ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Dunbar returns to the Black and Orange having previously joined the club on loan this past season from Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer. The 21-year-old Southern California native appeared in five matches during his loan stint and showed flashes of his speed and ability to create space in limited minutes while battling an injury. Now fully recovered, Dunbar has high hopes for himself and his teammates in 2024.

“I am a big fan of the way OCSC has developed players and propelled them forward while becoming one of the top teams in the league,” said Dunbar. “As soon as I arrived on loan last season I felt very welcomed, from the fans, to my coaches, my teammates, the front office, and the technical staff. We all believe that we can be one of, if not, the best team in the league. So we are going to build on what we learned from last year, and this season we will be fighting for trophies from day one.”

Dunbar recorded five goals in nine appearances for MNUFC 2 in MLS NEXT Pro a season ago in addition to making five appearances for Minnesota United but brings extensive USL Championship experience to his new club. A former standout for the LA Galaxy II after coming through the club’s Academy, Dunbar recorded 15 goals and six assists in 48 appearances for Los Dos.

“Cameron is the ideal profile for Orange County SC,” said OCSC President of Soccer Operations and General Manager Peter Nugent. “A young, talented player who is looking for a platform to showcase himself and propel his career to the next level. We are looking forward to integrating a fully fit Cameron into the group next year and anticipate he will have a significant impact on the field for us.”

Analysis

Cameron Dunbar’s permanent move to Orange County SC after last season’s cameo on loan from Minnesota United FC feels like an ideal fit for both player and club. The speedy winger can play on both sides and showed tremendous promise for the Galaxy II previously, coming into his own in the 2022 season when he recorded 12 goals and three assists in 33 appearances.

Dunbar’s ability to stretch the field and take on opponents one-on-one will be a valuable asset for an Orange County SC side looking to reload after the departure of Milan Iloski via transfer to Danish club FC Nordsjælland. If the 21-year-old can regain his form after an injury-hit 2023, it’s easy to imagine a similar pathway opening up for him in the future.