Atlanta United 2 kicks off its signings for the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season with the return of former academy forward and Lawrenceville native Liam Butts, defender Daniel Chica, and winger Cameron Dunbar. All signed one-year deals with a club option for 2027.
Butts, 24, returns to the 2s after a successful college career at Penn State and an excellent season with New England Revolution II, scoring 13 goals in 24 matches played, which ranked sixth overall in the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro goal-scoring charts during the regular season. Butts was drafted by the New England Revolution ahead of the 2024 season and has mostly featured with New England’s MLS NEXT Pro team. Butts also represents Guyana with two senior international appearances.
“We are excited to add Liam, Daniel, and Cameron to our roster for the upcoming season,” said ATL UTD 2 head coach Jose Silva. “All three players will add quality and depth to our roster. We’re happy to bring Liam back to the organization after previously spending time in our Academy. He is coming off an excellent season scoring goals at the MLS NEXT Pro level. Daniel was one of the best center-backs in NEXT Pro last year with Carolina Core, helping them reach the playoffs. Cameron brings MLS experience to our young team, and he is a pure winger who will help us break defensive lines.”
Chica, 23, joins Atlanta from Carolina Core FC. After two years at George Mason University, Chica signed with Loudon United FC in 2023. Atlanta United II fans might remember him from the final stretch run as both clubs vied for a playoff spot.
Dunbar, 23, joins ATL UTD 2 after three seasons with Orange County SC from the USL Championship. Orange County prides itself as a development hub of young SoCal talent and MLS academy talent without clear paths to the pros. Dunbar is a former LA Galaxy academy product who played a combined 20 MLS appearances for both LA Galaxy and Minnesota United. Dunbar has added 11 goal contributions in all competitions for Orange County SC since he joined the team in 2023.
Player Profile
Name: Liam Butts
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Birthdate: Feb. 20, 2001 (24)
Birthplace: Lawrenceville, Georgia
Citizenship: United States, Guyana
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 signs Liam Butts to a contract for the 2026 season with an option for 2027 on Dec. 17, 2025.
Player Profile
Name: Daniel Chica
Position: Defender
Height: 6-2
Birthdate: Feb. 18, 2002 (23)
Birthplace: Leesburg, Virginia
Citizenship: United States
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 signs Daniel Chica to a contract for the 2026 season with an option for 2027 on Dec. 17, 2025.
Player Profile
Name: Cameron Dunbar
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-4
Birthdate: Oct. 22, 2002 (23)
Birthplace: Carson, California
Citizenship: United States
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 signs Cameron Dunbar to a contract for the 2026 season with an option for 2027 on Dec. 17, 2025.
Atlanta United 2 Roster (as of Dec. 17, 2025):
Goalkeepers (2): James Donaldson, Jonathan Ransom
Defenders (3): Daniel Chica, Toto Majub, Kaiden Moore
Midfielders (3): Cameron Dunbar, Ignacio Suarez-Couri, Moises Tablante
Forwards (3): Liam Butts, Arif Kovac, Patrick Weah
[…] have already seen the annual reset of the 2s with a large group of players departing and the first multi-player announcement of the offseason. Santiago Pita, Jonathan Ransom, and James Donaldson all signed their first contracts and have been […]