# Justin Ellis (soccer)
**Justin Ellis** (born 2007) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a forward, primarily a center-forward, for Orlando City SC of Major League Soccer and the United States national team.[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.us/justin-ellis/profil/spieler/1008429) A product of the Orlando City Academy, he signed with the first team as a Homegrown Player in February 2026, made his senior United States debut in September 2026, and scored in that debut four minutes after entering the match.[3](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-homegrown-forward-justin-ellis-to-first-team-contract) • [4](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2007, Wellington, Florida, United States[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/) |
| Position | Center-forward (secondary: attacking midfielder); right-footed, 1.82 m[2](https://www.transfermarkt.us/justin-ellis/profil/spieler/1008429) • [4](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile) |
| Club | Orlando City SC, signed as a Homegrown Player on Feb. 20, 2026, through the 2027 season with club options for 2027-28 and 2028-29[3](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-homegrown-forward-justin-ellis-to-first-team-contract) |
| Orlando City B record | 9 goals and 6 assists in 40 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/) |
| Youth honors | 2025 Generation adidas Cup winner; 2025 U-19 MLS NEXT MVP and Golden Boot (18 goals)[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/) • [5](https://www.carolinacorefc.com/news/recent-usmnt-debutant-justin-ellis-named-2026-mls-next-pro-pathway-player-of-the-year) |
| Senior USMNT debut | September 2026 against Peru; scored four minutes into a 4-1 win[4](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile) |
| League award | 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year[6](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/players/justin-ellis/news/) |
## Youth career with Orlando City
Ellis came up through the Orlando City Academy in Florida. In the 2024-2025 MLS NEXT season he claimed the 2025 U-19 MLS NEXT Golden Boot with 18 goals and was named the 2025 U-19 MLS NEXT MVP.[5](https://www.carolinacorefc.com/news/recent-usmnt-debutant-justin-ellis-named-2026-mls-next-pro-pathway-player-of-the-year) That same year the Academy U-19 side won the [Generation](https://www.edgepedia.org/generation) adidas Cup, the club's first title in that competition.[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/) • [7](https://orlsoccer.deltatre.net/news/orlando-city-sc-forward-justin-ellis-earns-first-senior-u-s-men-s-national-team-call-up)
In 2024 he signed an MLS NEXT Pro contract with Orlando City B, the club's second team, alongside fellow Academy product Bernardo Rhein.[8](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ocb/news/orlando-city-b-signs-academy-products-justin-ellis-bernardo-rhein) Across two years with Orlando City B he made 40 appearances, scoring 9 goals and providing 6 assists.[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/)
## Orlando City first team
Ellis made his first-team debut on May 14, 2025, his 18th birthday, in Orlando City's match against [Charlotte FC](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlotte-fc), after signing a short-term agreement that day under MLS rules allowing academy players to appear for the first team.[3](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-homegrown-forward-justin-ellis-to-first-team-contract) • [9](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-justin-ellis-to-short-term-agreement)
On February 20, 2026, Orlando City signed him to a full first-team contract as a Homegrown Player through the 2027 [Major League Soccer](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-soccer) season, with club options for 2027-28 and 2028-29. [General manager](https://www.edgepedia.org/general-manager) and sporting director Ricardo Moreira described him as the latest player to rise through every step of the club's development pathway.[3](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-homegrown-forward-justin-ellis-to-first-team-contract) His MLS player page lists his current status as under contract through 2028-29 with a club option in 2029-30, reflecting options exercised since the original deal.[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/)
**2026 season.** In his breakout first full season, Ellis established himself in the Orlando attack and developed an on-field partnership with summer signing [Antoine Griezmann](https://www.edgepedia.org/antoine-griezmann). In July 2026 he set up Griezmann's first MLS goal, receiving the ball at the edge of the San José area and laying it off for the Frenchman to score in a 4-0 win at PayPal Park.[10](https://as.com/us/futbol/antoine-griezmann-arranca-con-gol-en-su-debut-con-el-orlando-city-en-la-mls-f202607-n/) In league play that season he recorded 20 appearances, 1,310 minutes, 1 goal, and 9 assists,[11](https://fbref.com/en/players/fee55588/Justin-Ellis) and a scouting profile credits him with 3 goals and 11 assists across all competitions in 2026.[4](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile) In October 2026, MLS NEXT Pro named him the second-ever Pathway Player of the Year, an award recognizing success at multiple levels of the professional player pathway.[6](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/players/justin-ellis/news/) • [5](https://www.carolinacorefc.com/news/recent-usmnt-debutant-justin-ellis-named-2026-mls-next-pro-pathway-player-of-the-year)
## International career
Ellis scored 4 goals in 11 appearances for the United States U-17 and U-19 men's national teams.[1](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/) He earned his first senior call-up under head coach [Mauricio Pochettino](https://www.edgepedia.org/mauricio-pochettino) in September 2026, part of a group of young players given minutes in friendlies against Peru and Chile.[7](https://orlsoccer.deltatre.net/news/orlando-city-sc-forward-justin-ellis-earns-first-senior-u-s-men-s-national-team-call-up) • [12](https://as.com/us/futbol/de-cavan-sullivan-a-cole-campbell-los-jugadores-estadounidenses-que-podrian-jugar-por-primera-vez-ante-mexico-f202609-n/)
Four minutes into his senior debut against Peru at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, he flicked a Gio Reyna free kick inside the far post to open the scoring in a 4-1 win.[4](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile) In the following October window, with [Folarin Balogun](https://www.edgepedia.org/folarin-balogun) and [Ricardo Pepi](https://www.edgepedia.org/ricardo-pepi) unavailable, Pochettino started Ellis against Canada, and he scored the only goal of a 1-0 victory.[13](https://as.com/us/futbol/estados-unidos-tiene-mas-de-un-9-justin-ellis-le-da-la-victoria-ante-canada-f202610-n/)
## Playing style
Scouting assessments describe Ellis as a technically refined, possession-oriented center-forward rather than an athletic one. His reported strengths are his first touch, close control in tight spaces, two-footedness, and passing weight and timing, which make him effective as a connector and creator between the lines.[4](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile) The same profile identifies his limitations: average burst and pace, limited aerial threat, and ball-striking power that is still developing, and it notes he fits best in a possession-heavy system or one that must break down a low block, paired with runners in behind rather than making those runs himself.[4](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile)
Transfermarkt lists his market value at €500,000 as of June 2, 2026, with CAA Stellar as his agent.[2](https://www.transfermarkt.us/justin-ellis/profil/spieler/1008429)
## References
1. [Justin Ellis, MLSsoccer.com player page](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/justin-ellis/)
2. [Justin Ellis, Transfermarkt profile](https://www.transfermarkt.us/justin-ellis/profil/spieler/1008429)
3. [Orlando City SC Signs Homegrown Forward Justin Ellis to First Team Contract, Orlando City SC (Feb. 20, 2026)](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-homegrown-forward-justin-ellis-to-first-team-contract)
4. [Justin Ellis player profile, US Soccer Collective (September 2026)](https://www.ussoccercollective.com/player-profiles/justin-ellis-player-profile)
5. [Recent USMNT debutant Justin Ellis named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year, Carolina Core FC](https://www.carolinacorefc.com/news/recent-usmnt-debutant-justin-ellis-named-2026-mls-next-pro-pathway-player-of-the-year)
6. [Justin Ellis Named 2026 MLS NEXT Pro Pathway Player of the Year, Orlando City SC (Oct. 15, 2026)](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/players/justin-ellis/news/)
7. [Orlando City SC Forward Justin Ellis earns first Senior U.S. Men's National Team call-up, Orlando City SC](https://orlsoccer.deltatre.net/news/orlando-city-sc-forward-justin-ellis-earns-first-senior-u-s-men-s-national-team-call-up)
8. [Orlando City B signs Academy products Justin Ellis & Bernardo Rhein, Orlando City SC](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/ocb/news/orlando-city-b-signs-academy-products-justin-ellis-bernardo-rhein)
9. [Orlando City SC signs Justin Ellis to short-term agreement, Orlando City SC (May 14, 2025)](https://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/orlando-city-sc-signs-justin-ellis-to-short-term-agreement)
10. [Antoine Griezmann arranca con gol en su debut con el Orlando City en la MLS, AS English](https://as.com/us/futbol/antoine-griezmann-arranca-con-gol-en-su-debut-con-el-orlando-city-en-la-mls-f202607-n/)
11. [Justin Ellis Stats, FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/fee55588/Justin-Ellis)
12. [De Cavan Sullivan a Cole Campbell: los jugadores estadounidenses que podrían jugar por primera vez ante México, AS](https://as.com/us/futbol/de-cavan-sullivan-a-cole-campbell-los-jugadores-estadounidenses-que-podrian-jugar-por-primera-vez-ante-mexico-f202609-n/)
13. [Estados Unidos tiene más de un '9'; Justin Ellis le da la victoria ante Canadá, AS](https://as.com/us/futbol/estados-unidos-tiene-mas-de-un-9-justin-ellis-le-da-la-victoria-ante-canada-f202610-n/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of North and Central America and the Caribbean › United States men's soccer players*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license