Breel Embolo is headed to Atlanta United.
The Swiss international striker, who is coming off a 10-goal, 3-assist season at Rennes, will sign for the Five Stripes on a transfer fee that’s up to $18 million, according to Tom Bogert. It would be the third-most expensive incoming transfer in MLS history.
The 29-year-old, who posted 2g/2a for Switzerland in the World Cup, first emerged as a target for Atlanta in late July. Ben Jacobs reported at the time that Hull City, Ipswich Town, and “multiple Serie A clubs” were also keen to sign him. Then, in early August, reports from France indicated that talks had made “significant progress.”
Things seemed to go a little quiet in Atlanta’s pursuit as names like Romelu Lukaku and Darwin Nuñez emerged as possible targets. But as those players landed with other teams, Atlanta and Embolo ultimately sealed the deal that would make him the team’s new No. 6.
Embolo’s high price tag is another massive swing for Atlanta United, who has never been afraid to spend money on talent they feel can make the team better.
But with that massive fee comes massive expectations right out of the gate. After Emmanuel Latte Lath failed to produce for the club following his $22M transfer from Middlesbrough, Embolo won’t get much leeway from the fan base if he struggles early on to find the back of the net.
From a wider lens view, it’s the first big signing for the club under Mauricio Culebro. Whether Embolo succeeds or not will be an early barometer of how sentiment develops around Atlanta United’s new president of soccer.
A lot of commentary on Reddit and podcasts about expectations being higher because his tranfer price, but honestly, does it matter? A DP is a DP, whether he is a free tranfer or costs $100M. I have the same expectations for all of our DPs. His transfer cost is inconsequential to the budget as a DP designation. At that point it is more of a financial investment decision for Aurthur Blank.
As much as I would love to see ATL improve I don’t like this approach. They need a good strong core of players not a few potential stars. There are too many mediocre players already on this team. This will only limit the ability to build quality throughout the squad. I think this is just too big a gamble. I see it as Lathe all over again.
Great signing in a vacuum but I doubt it changes the trajectory of this team given the massive talent deficits in other areas.
The league has evolved to where the best teams have good DPs built around an already strong core. I think we’re past the point of strong DPs carrying a team of mediocre to sub par players.
Hope Im wrong.
At this point, I’m just glad it wasn’t Lukaku.
Why does the article refer to him as a #6?
because our team is so messed up we’re upside down. 🙃
I’m cautiously optimistic… I do worry about his injury history and the MBS field surface.
Nice. Much better fit than Lukaku and Nunez…IMO.
We need a bad ass striker who’s not afraid to mix it up.
Hope that he is miles better than ELL, but time will tell and the season is shot already anyway, so this is part of building for the sprint season. Also, his cost ensures that next summer, the club will exercise a buyout of either ELL (unless he simply kills it in the Championship, which is unlikely), Miggy or Miranchuk – I’m guessing ELL
Zero chance ELL kills it in the Championship since he’s playing for Union Berlin…
There’s also a number of levers to pull before the club would be forced into using a buyout on one of the DPs to stay compliant with the MLS roster rules.
My bad – I was thinking about the rumors of ELL going back to the Championship. Still, Atlanta will need to start the buyout paperwork pretty soon.
Maybe he can be the catalyst for the the MAGA movement (Make Atlanta Great Again)
Man this is getting downvoted so fast that when I downvoted it it went from -3 to -5
The post doesn’t have anything to do with Trump, but I’d bet that’s why people were downvoting it. :0)
considering our track record, I would rather be disappointed right now and be pleasantly surprised later…
Great signing
It feels like a better move than ELL, but I still think there were multiple better options, some way cheaper.
I’ll hold judgement until he puts on our kit, but the dive and subsequent lack of responsibility in the World Cup make me highly suspect of his character.
https://www.mlsstore.com/en/atlanta-united-fc/atlanta-united-fc-wincraft-30-x-60-spectra-beach-towel/t-14016741+p-024479029843457+z-9-185059677
Get these swim towels back in stock, we’re a diving team now.
Hahaha
Wait, is this about Miggy or Embolo…
Yes
I don’t blame him for the dive. For all the times he (and the rest of his team) got hacked without fouls being called, and for all the diving ARG did and got the calls, he had every right to try and finally get one call his way. He just picked the wrong one and did it badly. And his first yellow was kind of weak, IIRC.
I ain’t mad at this.
His hi. Is to be a competent finisher. The end. He’s better than…checks notes…Alexey Miranchuk?