Could Alan Velasco be keen to return to MLS after a stint at Boca Juniors?
According to ESPN Brazil’s Luiz Carlos Largo, Atlanta United will “(prepare) a bid” for the 23-year-old Boca Juniors midfielder as Boca is “open to hearing offers” for him. Velasco played three seasons with FC Dallas before signing for Boca in January 2025 on a reported $12 million transfer fee.
Velasco, a graduate of Independiente’s academy, signed a professional deal with the club as a 16-year-old in 2019. That eventually opened a door to a transfer to FC Dallas in 2022 for what was then a club-record $7 million. Velasco posted totals of 6g/7a in 26 regular-season appearances (23 starts) that season.
Injuries, though, have taken a toll on Velasco. In 2023, he managed 4g/1a in 28 matches (27 starts) before tearing his ACL in the playoffs that October. He returned nearly a year later, starting five times across eight matches with a 2g/2a stat line.
After signing a four-year contract extension in December 2024 that would keep him in Dallas through 2028 with an option for a fifth year, Velasco instead opted for a move to Boca Juniors. After signing for Boca, he suffered an ankle sprain that held him out for about a month before a ligament strain in October 2025 sidelined him for just under two months. Then, this past January, he missed a little under two months due to a Grade 2 MCL sprain.
Despite the injury risk, Velasco certainly has plenty of talent, as evidenced by his time with FC Dallas. He has a green card, meaning he won’t command an international slot. It’s worth noting, too, that he was on a Designated Player contract in Dallas.
We’ll see what happens with Atlanta’s reported interest, but if it ends up happening, some bigger dominos will need to fall first.
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at least he is young, so that is the one positive rather than the recent run at 30+ year old players.
I like it better if he’s not a DP and/or he’s a loan.
Agreed. That many injuries at a young age won’t ‘age’ well (pun intended). Ask me how I know. 🙁
That’s a lot of injuries. Yea he can ball, when healthy. So which DP would we get rid of??? Miggy? Miranchuk? We don’t have a solid striker.
In other news… See Orlando & Chicago.
Unless this is a loan, I dont see how this one makes sense. With that injury history and mediocre set of stats, he needs to prove it first.
Like the loan. Prove himself, stay healthy, and earn it.