The suspense about Patrick Weah, Moises Tablante, and several new faces on the training pitch this preseason is finally over. As fans eagerly await transfer news about the senior team’s new Designated Players, Atlanta United treated fans to seven new signings for the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Arif Kovac and Santiago Pita officially joined ATL UTD 2 after signing pre-contracts last July. Santiago Pita (attacking midfielder) has already appeared for Atlanta United’s U-18s after joining the club from Weston FC. Arif Kovac (striker) joins the club from St. Louis Scott Gallagher SC. The club also signed Ugandan U-20 defender Toto Majub from Amusi Football Club in Uganda. All three players remain eligible to play for Atlanta United’s U-18s.
MLS NEXT Pro veterans Ryan Carmichael, Patrick Weah, Moises Tablante, and Salvatore Mazzaferro signed with the 2s from other MLS NEXT Pro teams.
Ryan Carmichael (23) joins ATL UTD 2 from Inter Miami CF II. Though playing mostly as a forward for Hofstra, the Northern Ireland native mostly lined up at the wide midfield and right wingback position for Inter Miami CF II. He is a productive attacking player who scored 46 goals at Hofstra and added another 9 goals and 6 assists in his one year in Miami. The 24th Overall 2024 SuperDraft pick earned a short-term call-up to play with Inter Miami’s first team in June after earning the Goal of Matchweek 4 honor for his rocket against Huntsville City FC in April.
A lot of Atlanta United fans know Weah from when he tagged Atlanta United in his social media bio this past winter. The former Minnesota United Homegrown Player never caught on in Minnesota after returning from two seasons at Saint Louis University. He spent the last two seasons on loan in the USL Championship with Sacramento Republic and FC Tulsa along with a loan overseas with HB Koge in Denmark. The Liberian forward can line up across the front line of an attacking trio and will likely have his versatility called on often by a 2s team that rarely runs out the same starting 11.
We reported on Moises Tablante potentially joining the club earlier this offseason as a player who could best fit the 2s. Tablante has been part of the MLS reserve league and academy system since 2017, playing 51 matches for Orlando City’s academy before signing with Orlando City B in 2019 when they were still playing for USL League 1. He played in their inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season before departing the club at the end of 2023. The 23-year-old Venezuelan would bring a great deal of versatility and experience to the left side of the 2s formation. He can play as a left-wing, left-back, or midfielder.
Salvatore Mazzaferro (23), a Canadian centerback, joins the 2s from Austin FC II. He left the Toronto FC Academy for the University of South Florida where he became a regular starter throughout his four-year career. In 2023, he signed with Austin FC II and has made 58 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro over the past two seasons. He becomes at least the second Toronto FC Academy product to join the 2s in the past couple of seasons, replacing Noble Okello as experienced defensive depth.
There are likely more signings to come with both of Atlanta United’s 2025 SuperDraft picks remaining unsigned, the potential for several academy players to earn their first contracts, and at least one Homegrown Player loaned for the 2025 season from the MLS team.
Official Atlanta United 2 Roster (as of Jan. 24, 2025):
Defenders (4): Dominik Chong Qui, Toto Majub, Salvatore Mazzaferro, Kaiden Moore
Midfielders (4): Javier Armas, Santiago Pita, Cooper Sanchez, Moises Tablante
Forwards (4): Ryan Carmichael, Arif Kovac, Rodrigo Neri, Patrick Weah
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[…] they prepare for the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. This is a completely rebuilt 2s side with a wave of new signings announced last week. The 2s could also include our two 2025 SuperDraft picks and a handful of academy prospects […]
thanks grey! i have heard very little until now, but that seems like it’s kinda the norm for the past several years. excited for the new talent!
It has gotten pretty quiet around 2s storytelling in general. Unfortunately, most of the outlets covering the team are not interested in the 2s or academy. We think it is an important part of the story for the entire club, so we’ll keep working with the club to showcase these young guys on their journey to the Benz.
I appreciate that. It isn’t easy to do since I am not located in Georgia, but having spent a lot of time around minor league sports and having closely watched the 2s and academy from the beginning, I appreciate the opportunity to share the same kind of fan experience I got as a Braves fan while watching their Lower Single-A prospects battling it out in the South Atlantic League with the hope that maybe one day I could watch them on TBS or Fox Sports South in the Majors.