Atlanta United sign Thiago Almada on a MLS record transfer fee

Atlanta United has confirmed the signing of defender Thiago Almada after reaching an agreement with Argentine Primera Division side Velez Sarsfield. The 20-year-old arrives on a reported MLS-record $16 million transfer fee and his contract will run through 2025.

Thiago Almada arrives a Designated Player

Atlanta United's previous big money signing was midfielder Ezequiel Barco, who joined from Independiente in 2018. The Five Stripes had to open up a designated player spot to bring Almada, and loaned Barco to River Plate for the 2022 campaign.

“After an extensive and in-depth due diligence process, we have exercised our exclusive option to permanently transfer in Thiago,” VP and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a release. “He’s a player we’ve been tracking for a long time and he’s shown that he’s one of the best young players in South America over the past few seasons.

“We feel that his abilities fit well with the kind of attacking soccer that we want to play at Atlanta United and we’re confident that he will be able to play at a high level in Major League Soccer.” With the arrival of Almada, the Five Stripes have the three most expensive incoming transfers in the history of the league, with Thiago Almada ($16 million), Pity Martinez ($15.5 million), Barco ($15 million) and Araujo ($12 million).