Atlanta United may be a relatively young club in MLS, but its youth development pipeline has consistently been a resounding success. From homegrown players like Caleb Wiley, George Campbell, and George Bello, to players who grew at the club along a different path like Miles Robinson, Atlanta has churned out fantastic talent year after year. The Five Stripes are more than just the final product that fans see week-in and week-out at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and one player is providing a shining example for all to follow.
At just 16 years old (15 when the contract was signed), midfielder Adyn Torres has achieved what many young players dream of but – as of now – only he’s accomplished: a rise from the grassroots level of Atlanta United’s Regional Development School (RDS) to securing a homegrown contract with the club’s first team. His journey is not only a testament to talent, hard work, and the robust development system at Atlanta United, but to the overall values of the club itself. The young man sat down with Scarves and Spikes for an interview covering his very young career, his aspirations, and what representing the crest means – coming fresh off his MLS Next All-star award.
RDS and the First Impressions
Adyn Torres’ began his Atlanta United journey back in 2019 at the Regional Development School, though he admits his soccer career up in Providence, Rhode Island and the Boston, Massachusetts area was delayed by his initial love of American football. It was his uncle – an Arsenal supporter – who helped foster his love for the game as a seven year old Adyn would watch Premier League matches with him and then travel with him as he played Sunday league ball.
“Ever since then I made the switch and never looked back,” said Torres of his initial foray into the beautiful game. His family moved from New England down to the metro-Atlanta area, and his parents decided to enroll him into one of the RDS tryouts.
Leigh Jakes, Atlanta United’s Director of Youth Development, recalled the first time she saw Torres play. “The first time we saw Adyn from RDS was at our RDS Marietta location back in 2019. When players come out for tryouts, all they do is play, that way we can see a lot of the really cool qualities a player brings to the table. One of the things we look at is what kind of impact they make on the game, and that was something we saw directly with Adyn that season.”
For Torres, the tryouts were not only an opportunity to demonstrate his skills but – unbeknownst at the time – a critical step in his soccer journey. “RDS was a great experience for me,” he said. “There was no pressure, but I was able to get out there with other kids my age and just showcase myself.”
The 2020 COVID pandemic put a delay on other RDS work, but as soon as the world began to open back up and soccer kicked off again, Torres returned to the RDS over at Silverbacks Park and his potential became even more evident. “Then when he went on the next season to our Doraville location, we were like ‘This kid is ready,'” Jakes continued. “After that first tryout, those first few weeks, we were like ‘We need to get this kid into the Academy.’ I don’t even think Adyn finished that full season within the RDS once we identified him as a talent for the Academy.”
Is this speedy route from tryouts to the Academy typical? No, but it isn’t unheard of, either. Leigh noted that some kids stay at the RDS for years and others move along quickly, all while continuing to compete at their local clubs. RDS essentially serves as supplemental training for the kids who are involved, where they’re schooled on a variety of fundamentals while showing their love for the game.
“We have them play small-sided games, 4v4 or 5v5. After that, once a kid is selected, they train with us for 6 to 8 weeks. We look for that balance of their technical ability, physical ability, and mentality as they’re going through it,” said Leigh. “We try to create scenarios where kids can show us what their vision is on the field…their willingness, like Adyn, to break lines.”
Climbing the Ranks
Once the Academy scouts and other decision-makers signed off, Torres was moved into the Atlanta United Academy, where he continued to impress.
For Adyn, the Academy has been a period of significant growth, development, and goal-setting. “For me, trying to grow as a player on and off the field each day, trying to become one percent better and take something out of each day,” Torres explained. “I have really high goals and I want to be a big player someday, so pushing myself every single day, but specifically being better on the ball and off the ball, defensively, and being higher up the field and scoring more goals. So creating little small goals like that is what I do.”
In the Academy, Torres found mentorship and support from key figures. “A big mentor for me was Matt Lawrey, former Academy director, helping me out, watching videos a lot, just helping me with all the really small things,” Torres shared. “Some games I’d have a bad game and be upset with myself, and he’d sit me down and talk to me, and other games I’d be really happy with myself and he’d tell me how ‘this is good, but stay level-headed.’ Then there’s coach Steve [Covino], who I played three or four seasons with…I can go to him about anything. But everyone is on the same page, they all want you to be better and succeed.”
Adyn also gave massive praise to his parents, his uncle, and his entire family, stating they were where it was all rooted.
The young midfielder continued to impress, being named to the U-15 Best XI at the 2022 Generation Adidas Cup before being called up to his first United States camp with the U-16’s in Tampa, Florida in January of 2023. As of the day of this publication, he’s also representing the club as an MLS NEXT All-star.
Torres’ dedication paid off when he signed his MLS Next Pro contract with Atlanta United 2 back in May of 2023, which would transition him to an Atlanta United homegrown player on January 1, 2024. This was a crucial step in his development, offering him the chance to play and train with much more experienced players – all while focusing on his specific age-group in the Academy and then the 2’s when possible. Ultimately, he’d make his first team debut in the U.S. Open Cup match vs Charlotte Independence on May 7th, 2024.
Throughout his journey, Torres has not only developed his technical and physical skills but also his leadership qualities. “Here at Atlanta United and at the U.S. they want me to be a leader,” he said. “For the national team they watch a lot of your club football, and I’ve spoken with them and it’s playing well with your club and showcasing your club. Being a leader on and off the field, every coach has told me they want leadership.”
Leigh Jakes noted that from the bottom to the top of the organization, Atlanta United is always focused on instilling those qualities – life qualities – in the players. “We always tell our kids, you never know when a national team coach or academy coach is watching.”
But for all the training and discipline, Adyn and his cohorts throughout the Academy are still ultimately just kids and young men, many of whom receive the added benefit of being able to see the world for the first time. Torres said he’d only traveled out of the state three or four times before he joined the Academy, but then went to places like California, Texas, Canada, Brazil, and Japan.
He recalled fondly those international camps. “Japan was my favorite camp,” he reminisced. “We spent 10 days in Fukushima, it was an interesting place. We went on a tour about the tsunami, it was us, Japan, the Netherlands, and Nigeria. We all stayed in the same hotel, after the games we’d all connect and play Playstation. Obviously, on the field, you’re out there battling but then when you get off the field they’re cool people and it’s fun to meet guys who play for like PSV and in Nigeria, it’s completely different from the U.S. and it was really fun.”
Signing that homegrown contract with Atlanta United was the culmination of years of focus, dedication, and hard work – and owed in no small part to the support of his family. “The Homegrown contract was probably the most surreal moment of my life,” he said. “It was a huge moment for me and my family…my moment is here but also this is just where it starts.”
Jakes also recognized the significance of this milestone and the pride it brings to the RDS and youth development pipeline as a whole. “He was a player that was willing to connect play. For me personally, it was a really awesome experience, he’s a special talent and we’re excited to see him develop in that first team environment.”
As the first player to rise from the Regional Development School to the first team, Torres’ journey is an inspiring example for young players in the system, not only at Atlanta United but for soccer in the United States as a whole. That pathway is much clearer now, something soccer in the States has desperately needed for a long time.
As a side note, though, RDS doesn’t just provide resources for the kids, they also have coaching programs and camps for girls. “We try to show the kids that there is a pathway, we try to show coaches in the local community that there is a pathway for them, as well,” Jakes explained. “I was a part-time coach, and now I’m the Director of Youth Development.”
No soccer tale would be complete without plenty of stories to share, and Torres’ journey has been marked by memorable moments and personal growth. Reflecting on his favorite memories, he shared an emotional story that many fans may remember, “Probably joining the Academy would be my favorite memory. But my favorite game memory was probably my goal after a really hard loss for the 15’s team when our teammate passed away, Christian Carrillo. It was a really hard time for us. I remember we were kind of all down traveling to Orlando…I don’t remember the score but I just remember a corner came in and I headed it and it was just so much relief. His whole family was there watching us, so that’d probably be my favorite memory in a game so far, scoring that goal kind of meant more than just a goal for me, it was some happiness in a really tough time.”
Now looking ahead, Torres has clear goals and an identity as a midfielder for the club. “For me, my personal favorite is playing as an eight, I like to be box-to-box, I can run up and down the field and it gives me freedom to go forward sometimes but also to show my defensive capabilities. That’s where I definitely want to play but playing six, I don’t mind that either.”
As for who he models aspects of his game after? “I think recently now I love to watch Jude Bellingham, in the future I want to play as a complete player and play like him…I just want to have that kind of quality and I want to have that kind of leadership going forward. For me that’s probably the player I look up to the most and idolize right now.”
Adyn’s journey is far from over. With a homegrown contract in hand and a bright future ahead, he is prepared to try make a significant impact on Atlanta United’s first team. “Hopefully soon,” he says when asked about playing inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium. “I’ll be ready for it when it comes.”
For now, Torres is focused on continuing his development and making the most of every opportunity. “It’s an honor, I feel like the city, the state has a bunch of talent. It’s kind of underrated how much talent we have at the club, but it’s an honor and a blessing to be that first player but I know a bunch of players will come throughout the years and continue to do what I did, if not better, but it’s crazy to think about and I’m honored and glad I can represent that going forward. It’s nothing but happiness when I look back and think about everything, but I know other guys will come through that pathway as well.”
As Torres continues to grow and develop, his journey should serve as an inspiration to young players everywhere. His story is a perfect example of what’s possible with talent, hard work, discipline, and the right support system. And for Atlanta United and fans, it’s a proud moment to see one of their own rise through the ranks and make it to the top.
[…] of a large business. This isn’t a secret. It’s been covered far and wide when discussing the Five Stripes and the Falcons, but the impact reaches far beyond the boundaries of Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Arthur […]
Good article. Thanks for letting us know more about one of our prospects, Tyler.