The 2024 secondary transfer window opens on Thursday, and it’s about as important a transfer window Atlanta United has had since entering MLS. The decisions Garth Lagerwey, Carlos Bocanegra, and their front office staff make could either set the club up for renewed success for years to come or prolong what’s been a frustrating last few years for the Five Stripes.
Here’s where things stand now.
Atlanta United’s outgoing transfers have fetched the club “north of $50 million”
This much is clear: Atlanta United has a warchest of money from completed (and pending) transfers that’s full to the brim. Over $50 million, in fact, according to Lagerwey.
- It started with reports in May that Giorgos Giakoumakis would be keen for a move to Cruz Azul, a transfer that materialized in mid-June for a reported $10 million.
- Then, the big one: Thiago Almada‘s transfer to Botafogo for a reported $21 million — the second-highest outgoing transfer fee in MLS history, one that could grow to a record $30 million — where he’ll stay until making a move to sister club Lyon in January.
- There’s also Caleb Wiley, reportedly on his way to Chelsea for $10.9 million pending finalization of a deal that will keep him under the control of the Premier League side until 2031 and will see him loaned to sister club Strasbourg for further development and playing time.
- Finally, Atlanta will fetch $3 million due to a sell-on clause in the contract of Ezequiel Barco, sold from River Plate to Spartak Moscow in July. That’s on top of the $11 million they received from River’s decision to exercise their purchase option after he was loaned there in 2022.
MLS, of course, will take its cut of the proceeds (five percent), still leaving Atlanta with a significant amount of cash to make some major moves. And while a top-four spot in the East is out of the question, that doesn’t mean reaching the postseason is impossible if Atlanta can land the right players, even after they settled for a 2-2 draw with NYCFC after a 2-0 advantage.
“The number one priority is making the playoffs. We have not said goodbye to the season in any way, shape or form … that’s the number one goal for the team,” Lagerwey told Mike Conti and Jason Longshore before Wednesday’s match.
Atlanta United’s incoming transfers
The only confirmed signing for Atlanta United as of Thursday is left back Pedro Amador, signed through 2026 with an option for 2027. The free transfer and former Sporting Lisbon academy product willl fill Wiley’s vacant spot on the left side of the Atlanta defense. Obviously, this list will grow significantly, but we could see Amador as early as Saturday against the Columbus Crew.
Anyone hoping to see any Marco Reus (reportedly)-to-LA Galaxy and Olivier Giroud/Hugo Lloris-to-LAFC styled moves will be disappointed, though.
“We’re trying to avoid the 35-year-old that might come in and be good for a year or make a big splash or big impression,” Lagerwey said. “We want someone who’s going to be able to play all the time, hopefully prime age player 24 to 29, and someone who’s going to be able to be here for a longer period of time. We want to evolve past buy, develop, sell…
“We’re still going to develop players, to be clear, but the purpose of buying players will be to win games.”
What are Atlanta United’s biggest needs?
Atlanta United, of course, need a striker and a No. 10. While not much has materialized in the way of rumors concerning a No. 9, Atlanta seems to have settled on a Thiago Almada replacement: 28-year-old Atalanta midfielder Alexsey Miranchuk, from whom Atalanta reportedly want over $16 million.
That’s well north of the estimated $10.9 million value Transfermarkt has put on him and, frankly, probably more than Atlanta should play for someone who had four goals and 12 assists in 42 appearances last season across all competitions as a part-time starter.
Atlanta have also been linked to 27-year-old Grêmio midfielder Franco Cristaldo, whose estimated value on Transfermarkt is also at $10.9 million.
New MLS transfer rules incoming
Starting Thursday, MLS announced new rules that could help clubs maximize spending. One pertains to DPs and U-22 players: clubs will be allowed three DPs and three U-22 players or two DPs, four-U-22 players, and up to $2 million in GAM. Clubs can also convert up to $3 million of overall transfer revenue to GAM, up from the previous amount of a shade over $1.215 million.
One proposal that didn’t materialize: a proposed rule change that will allow teams two buyouts each season instead of one.
Simply put, Atlanta United’s never seen a transfer window like this. But while they have a significant amount of money to work with, Lagerwey touted a patient approach. That might mean not having any new players — besides Amador — in the fold until after the Leagues Cup break. Atlanta’s next MLS match after Saturday is on August 24 at the Galaxy, with Reus potentially in LA’s fold by then.
“It’s desperately important that we not rush these signings, but that we get them right,” Lagerwey said. “Would we like them to be here for the Leagues Cup? Absolutely yes, that would be awesome, but what’s vitally important is that they’re here ahead of that game (against the Galaxy)…
“Arthur Blank told me when he hired me, ‘I’ve got the transfer record.’ He’s now got it times two. ‘I want to win MLS Cups.’ He’s got one of them. We’re going to try to bring him a second one.”
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So wait, does this new rule mean a team can sign 3 DPs and theoretically up to 3 DP-level U-22s if they front load their transfer fee since that doesn’t count against the cap? “We’ll give you an extra 5 million upfront but only pay you 500k a year”