Atlanta United 2024-25 Offseason Recap
Credit: Photo by Melissa McAlpine, taken from discoveratlanta.com; “Time to start chanting.”
The 2024 season was a long one for Atlanta United. A very poor start under Gonzalo Pineda after the exciting 2023 playoffs led to the coach being fired on June 3. Thiago Almada, Giorgos Giakoumakis, and Caleb Wiley were sold for over $50 million in the summer transfer window. With the remaining team, plus the additions of Pedro Amador and Alexey Miranchuk, held together by interim head coach Rob Valentino, United took 9th place in the Eastern Conference. After beating Josef Martinez and CF Montreal on penalties in the Wild Card match, the team pulled off the greatest upset in MLS history by defeating Inter Miami and Lionel Messi in the first-round best of three series, mainly thanks to the unbelievable heroics of goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Atlanta would lose a close match in the next round to rivals Orlando City, and reality set in for the team. They still needed a lot of retooling to move forward around Miranchuk and challenge for the MLS Cup in the future, and they’d have to do it without Valentino. This offseason, they’ve been trying to do just that. Here is a summary of United’s moves so far in an attempt to reach their former glory.
Additions/Signings:
Added Ronny Delia as Head Coach (former MLS Cup Champion with NYCFC)
Acquired Miguel Almiron from Newcastle United for $10 million + add-ons, $400,000 GAM to Charlotte FC for Discovery Rights
Reported deal for Middlesbrough forward Emmanuel Latte Lath for $22 million + add-ons (MLS-record inbound transfer)
Traded for midfielder Mateusz Klich (formerly of DC and Leeds United) for Pick 23 in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft (and $50,000 GAM if Klich is signed to a new contract)
Signed forward Cayman Togashi on a free transfer (10 years experience in Japan)
Extended contract options on Brad Guzan, Efrain Morales, and Jay Fortune
Resigned Jamal Thiare through next season, option in 2026
Resigned Ronald Hernandez through next season, option in 2026
Ashton Gordon and Jayden Hibbert join 1st team from MLS NEXT Pro
Signed Will Reilly to a Homegrown deal
Departures/Sales:
Received $50,000 GAM from Real Salt Lake for Tyler Wolff
Transferred Santiago Sosa to Racing Club for a reported $4 million (+ $2.5 million in potential bonuses, 25% Sell-On Fee)
Declined contract options for Franco Ibarra, Nick Firmino, and Erik Centeno
Loan for Daniel Rios expired, forward returned to Guadalajara
Dax McCarty, Quentin Westburg retired
Roster/Projected Lineup:
As of Publication:
Goalkeepers (3): Josh Cohen, Brad Guzan, Jayden Hibbert
Center-backs (5): Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, Stian Gregersen, Efraín Morales, Derrick Williams
Fullbacks (4): Pedro Amador, Matthew Edwards, Ronald Hernández, Brooks Lennon
Midfielders (6): Jay Fortune, Mateusz Klich, Tristan Muyumba, Will Reilly, Bartosz Slisz, Adyn Torres
Wingers/#10’s (6): Saba Lobjanidze, Alexey Miranchuk, Edwin Mosquera, Luke Brennan, Xande Silva, Miguel Almiron
Forwards (4): Ashton Gordon, Jamal Thiaré, Cayman Togashi, (Emmanuel Latte Lath)
Projected Full-Strength Starting Lineup (Ronald Hernandez will replace Brooks Lennon for a few months due to injury)
Projected Depth/2nd Options on the Bench for Each Position
Projected 3rd String Depth
Thoughts:
There have been plenty of positive moves made by Gareth Lagerwey and new technical director Chris Henderson this transfer window, highlighted by the addition of Ronny Delia as head coach. The club desperately needed a winner and they got that with Delia, who in my opinion was the best coach on the market who had previous MLS success. Henry Higuita of Scarves and Spikes reviewed Delia’s tactical system over a month ago in a great article, highlighting the potential the team has creating numerical overloads in the back, finding space in behind when building out from the back, and taking advantage of the counter due to an aggressive high press. Along with the coach’s vibrant and demanding personality that will control the locker room, this move, on paper, is the right one.
The largest move for a player so far this offseason is the return of Miguel Almiron after 6 years, 30 goals, and 12 assists at Newcastle United. What a return it is, not only to win back some of Atlanta’s fanbase, but also due to Miggy’s fit with this new Atlanta roster. He can play either as the right winger or the #10, depending on how Delia decides to play Miranchuk, and his pace has not let up, meaning he’ll likely once again kill opposing defenders. If he can reach his 2022-23 Newcastle form, his former form of Atlanta legend, or even just be half of the player he was so early in his career for the club, he’ll make a huge impact.
While nostalgia robs Emanuel Latte Lath of being the largest move of the offseason, he arguably is the most impactful. The Middlesbrough striker in all competitions (but largely the EFL Championship) has 11 goals and 3 assists in 30 matches this season, and 18 goals and 1 assist in 35 matches last season. In 2022-23 with FC St. Gallen in the Swiss Super League, he had 14 goals and 3 assists. United beat Premier League clubs for Latte Lath, who profiles as a rapid-quick striker with fantastic control and a great heading ability. He times runs in behind the defense well and has efficient footwork to beat defenders. If Giorgos Giakoumakis and pre-ACL tear Josef Martinez could be merged together, Latte Lath would be the result. With a record-breaking price tag, he’ll be expected to score immediately, but that shouldn’t be too big of an ask for a player of his caliber.
The third largest move was the trade for Matheuz Klich, who profiles as an efficient passer and connector in the midfield as a more attacking minded #8. This will both allow the team to not have to rely on one main chance creator (now Miranchuk, previously Almada), have another man upfield to create numerical advantages, and provide an opportunity for Bartosz Slisz to do his job as a defensive midfielder (was forced due to injuries and occasional Gonzalo Pineda tactical changes to play more as an #8, even sometimes as a #10 last season). He was one of DC United’s better players last season, and being able to acquire him on a non-DP deal with how well he profiles with Ronny Delia’s tactics makes this a great trade.
Brining in Cayman Togashi makes sense for depth purposes as a third striker. Though he comes in with below-average production, so did Jamal Thiare, and maybe a change of scenery will help in a league and coach’s system he said was stylistically similar to MLS (quote according to Connor Hines, CBS Atlanta). If he doesn’t pan out, Ashton Gordon is behind him, and if both don’t pan out, Cooper Sanchez is waiting in NEXT Pro.
The other simpler moves were no-brainers. How couldn’t the club bring back Brad Guzan after his legendary playoff performances? Morales and Fortune still have a lot of potential and are solid depth, and the Homegrown signing of Will Reilly after his great career in Stanford adds depth to the midfield. Resigning Thiare and Hernandez also add needed depth, as both players proved they could be spot-starters last season. Hibbert is an option for the club’s future GK after Guzan retires, as a fantastic season from him in NEXT Pro and poor performances from Josh Cohen when he saw the field created what may now be a genuine position battle.
The departures were very understandable moves, as well. Selling on Tyler Wolff for $50,000 GAM was the right move at the right time. The winger has never gotten confident driving at players nor developed into a solid depth piece for the club. Allowing Sosa to stay in Argentina with Racing Club was an easy decision for the profit made and for the player’s happiness. Ibarra has made a good name for himself away from the club, and there was no way he’d be brought back with the fractured relationship from the Toronto FC loan. Firmino and Centeno are fantastic players for the USL/NEXT Pro level, but weren’t able to make an impact in the MLS. Seeing Rios go hurts, but his style of play doesn’t fit under Delia. Plus, he was more of an emergency depth loan last season. Finally, Westburg and McCarthy retiring takes away needed veteran pretenses, but hopefully Klich and others can replace that void.
After all of these moves, where does this leave Atlanta’s starting lineup? Well, the starting 11 seems to be one of the best in the MLS, with one of if not the best attacking units in the league. A top 3 position in the East and a deep playoff run, preferably with a MLS Cup, should be the goal. Depth wise, the team is very well off in the midfield with Muyumba, Fortune, and Reilly, and even better off with center-backs backed by Abram, Cobb, and Morales. Fullback and striker depth is good enough with the backing of young prospects like Gordon, Edwards, and Chong-Qui behind the first and second options. However, wing depth is a concern. It’s unlikely that United will get a deal for another winger over the line before the regular season begins, but currently relying on injury-riddled Xande Silva (inconsistent when healthy last season) and Edwin Mosquera (whose only strong suit is pace) to back up potential league-winning attacking pieces is not good. You need attacking depth to win in the MLS, and even with the continued development of Luke Brennan brining promise, one signing for insurance would be greatly appreciated.
Nonetheless, Atlanta United on paper looks much better overall than the United of years past. They look better than the recent Almada and Giakoumakis-led team, and they arguably look better than the 2018 championship side. Fans likely have the most optimism for the club to succeed than they’ve had a long time, and rightfully so. This offseason was one of the biggest in MLS history, and it promises to pay dividends.