Atlanta United announced today that they’re signing striker Jamal Thiare back to the club on a deal through 2025, with an option for 2026. Jamal Thiare was one of three players whose options were declined at the end of the 2024 season, but whom the club remained in negotiations with – the other two being Ronald Hernandez and Tyler Wolff.
Jamal Thiare was thrust into the conversation as starting striker alongside Daniel Rios in 2024 when Giorgos Giakoumakis made his exit to Cruz Azul. He proceeded to tally a total of 8 goals across 33 total appearances – including the famous Pink Panther goal – and earning his team a couple of penalties. He’s dealt with a fair amount of injury struggles throughout the season, but was available more often than not. Fans have praised him for his desire to leave everything on the pitch as he threw his body into challenges, perhaps not in the most graceful manner, but in a way that showed some passion for the crest.
The signing handles one spot in the depth chart for the striker position, with Garth Lagerwey noting in his end of season press conference that it’s likely the club will be looking to use a Designated Player spot on another center forward.
Let us know below what you think!
This isn’t a bad move, but like others said it depends on how much we paid for him. It also probably means he won’t be around very long if we paid him less too. But that’s all to be determined. Solid move, hopefully he’ll stay healthy, and should provide some depth for what we hope is a good offseason of DP signings
Doug Roberson said his salary isn’t TAM-level so I think he is getting paid like a back up striker, which is fine.
Thiare and Rios were both the best backup strikers we’ve ever had, so I have no problem with keeping either of them as long as we keep them on a backup’s salary. (Vasquez turned into the best striker who played backup for us, but he was NOT that guy while in Atlanta.)
Also, as long as we realize that Thiare seemed to play his best when we were counterattacking and not so great when we were playing for possession.
I would probably take Tito over Rios for a backup striker.
Probably?
[…] Atlanta United sign Jamal Thiare through 2025, option for 2026 […]
Solid move bringing him back
Seems like a good backup plan. He can run and he can press. Not the worst finisher we’ve ever had.
I still think Josef could give you more value as a #2 striker than Thiare, but I don’t know how much that would cost.
i would love josef back, if he would accept the role of the #2 striker / face of the team / veteran leader. but we have no manager and no technical director. both of whom sent him packing the last time around. i doubt he would even answer the phone call until those two items are sorted
curious to see how much money he got. I would assume it is less than what he made last year.
I would assume so, otherwise, just pick up his option.
A little less money, maybe, but Atlanta got another year of control with the option for 2026. That certainty (even better than certainty, because it is a cost they can budget for and then not pick up) is worth something to the club.