Though Atlanta United and MLS teams are less than 72 hours from roster compliance, the Five Stripes are continuing to tweak the squad coming into the home stretch. The club announced today it has signed striker Sergio Santos on a one-year deal on a supplemental slot with an option all the way through 2027 (not just the shortened season during the schedule change). Santos completes the trio of potential number 9’s that Tata Martino could choose from, in addition to Latte Lath and Cayman Togashi.
The 31-year old Brazilian forward was most recently involved in a short stint at Houston for a few months, but spent the prior three years with FC Cincinnati – including as part of their Supporter’s Shield winning squad in 2023. According to Transfermarkt, he’s appeared in 156 MLS regular season matches, tallying 28 goals and 16 assists, or about a goal every 226 minutes. That’s not including the handful of other competitions, most notably a goal and assist each in Concacaf Champions Cup and Leagues Cup, and 3 assists in the playoffs. As a PSA to all Atlanta United fans and perhaps most importantly, Santos scored three times in the afflicted MLS is Back tournament, so maybe he’s just the guy Atlanta United needs to help right the wrongs of the past.
“Sergio has been a productive forward in our league for the past seven seasons and will add competition to our group of attackers,” Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson said. “He’s going to bring MLS experience, quality and a winning mindset to our team and we look forward to welcoming him to the club.”
As for Santos’ play style, expect a mobile but fundamental number 9 who loves to post up in, and everywhere around, the box. Think of a half-poacher/half-playmaker who isn’t incredibly selfish when it comes to how the ball hits the back of the net.
Let us know down below what you think of the signing!
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Any chance this trialist is a #6? Still not confident we have one of those.
Nah, in the recap, they mentioned the trialist was an attacking player.
That was sorta out of nowhere. Fills a need anyways, and is Brazilian so Marcelo might be happy.
i suck at this but i am scratching my head on where all the int’l spots are gonna come from. i’m sure greater minds than mine are at work in front office, but it will be interesting to me to see how all of these pieces slot together.
it is possible he has a green card considering he was with Cincinnati for 3 years and Philly previously as well.
Definitely needed a depth piece. Given the price, I think this is good for our roster
We will keep guessing, so was he the mysterious trialist?
He was not 🤣 I promise I’ll let everyone know the moment I can say who it was, maybe even do an article because it’s gonna be so funny by that point 😭
Yea we are gonna need that article for sure Tyler!
So I assume we’re not signing the trialist?
Most likely will be, but some stuff has to happen first
Definitely Ronaldo!
Sorry, I had to do it… It’s the hair, man!
So it’s Mbappe for sure.
I guess that international slot AU picked up this morning is one of the “stuffs”?