Atlanta United announced on Wednesday that they have acquired Mexican forward Daniel Rios on loan from Liga MX’s CD Guadalajara (Chivas). According to the MLS side, Rios joins the club until the end of the 2024 campaign and will occupy a supplemental roster spot.

Rios is well familiar with MLS, having played in the league between 2020 and 2022 with Nashville SC and Charlotte FC. He has scored 12 goals in 57 matches during that period.

According to Atlanta’s vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra, the team wanted to strengthen their attacking depth and felt that Rios was a perfect choice due to his previous experience in MLS.

“We have been looking to strengthen our depth in the attack and find a proven goal scorer who knows MLS,” said Bocanegra in a statement. “Daniel is a player we are familiar with from his previous stops in the league. Looking ahead to a busy summer with MLS, U.S. Open Cup, and Leagues Cup, along with the potential to lose several players to both Euros and Copa America, we believe Daniel brings quality to our team and adds competition to the group.”

Rios made his professional debut with Chivas in 2015 but spent most of his early career on loans. In 2018, he was loaned out to USL side North Carolina FC, where he scored 20 goals in 32 games. This prompted Nashville to make him their first MLS signing. He would go on to spend another season in the USL, scoring 21 goals and becoming the first player in league history to score 20 goals in back-to-back seasons.

Rios left MLS at the end of the 2022 season to rejoin Chivas. However, he struggled to find playing time with his boyhood club, making only 19 appearances.

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Atlanta United announced on Friday that ex-Argentina international defender Gabriel Heinze will serve as the club’s new head coach. Heinze, who spent the previous three seasons with Velez Sarsfield, signed a deal through 2022 with the MLS team.

Speaking about their decision to hire Heinze, Atlanta’s club president Darren Eales said that they were attracted by the 42-year-old manager’s style of coaching and soccer philosophy.

“This is a milestone moment in Atlanta United history, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Gabriel as our next head coach,” said Eales in a statement. “Gabriel’s playing philosophy and commitment to youth development closely align with our ideas at Atlanta United, and we are happy to welcome him as we move into our club’s next chapter.”

Heinze will be tasked with returning Atlanta to the top of the MLS after a disappointing 2020 season under Frank de Boer and interim head coach Stephen Glass. The club finished at No. 12 in the Eastern conference, collecting just 22 points and winning six games in 23 games.

As a player, Gabriel Heinze made 72 appearances for Argentina’s national team while playing for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. After retiring from professional soccer in 2014, Heinze turned to coaching and served as a manager with Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Junior, and Velez Sarsfield.

His biggest managerial successes were earning promotions with Argentinos and having two consecutive No. 3 finishes with Velez in the Argentine Primera División.

Look for him to try and repeat the same level of success in Atlanta.

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Despite being dubbed as the next big star of the league, Argentina midfielder Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez is leaving MLS after less than two seasons. According to The Athletic’s Felipe Cardenas, Martinez has been a subject of an $18 million bid by Saudi Arabia side Al-Nassr.

Reportedly, Atlanta accepted the offer, while Martinez is also keen on the move. The 24-year-old forward is currently finalizing personal terms with Al-Nassr, and the transfer should soon be official.

Cardenas reports that Martinez already said goodbye to his former teammates.

“It’s no secret what his resumé is all about in terms of before coming to Atlanta United, being here at the club, the respect that he received on a daily basis from everybody,” said United’s goalie Brad Guzan when asked about Martinez’s departure.

Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez made a name for himself in native Argentina, where he played with Huracan and River Plate. Martinez saw particular success with River, contributing 30 goals and 28 assists in 145 games while helping the club win two Copa Libertadores trophies.

His impressive performances in Argentina caught the attention of Atlanta, who paid around $16 million for his services. However, Martinez failed to make the same impact in MLS, although he showed flashes of brilliance at times. He leaves the United States having played 54 games. 

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Atlanta United and manager Frank De Boer are finally going their separate ways. The club confirmed the news on Friday, saying that the decision was mutual.

“After discussing it with Frank, the decision was reached mutually to part ways,” said Atlanta’s president Darren Eales. “In winning two trophies in his first season in charge, he will always be a part of the club’s history, and with great appreciation and respect, we wish him all the best in the future.”

Atlanta will announce their interim manager in the near future while embarking on a search for a permanent solution at the position. 

De Boer leaves the club after a horrific campaign in the MLS is Back tournament, where Atlanta lost all of their three matches while failing to score a single goal. The club reportedly couldn’t overlook the deficiencies in the team’s game and decided that squad needs a new leading voice in the locker room.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had with Atlanta United,” said De Boer. “Coaching in Major League Soccer and living in Atlanta has been a wonderful experience and a welcome new challenge.”

Frank De Boer took over Atlanta United ahead of the 2019 MLS season, replacing Gerardo Tata Martino at the helm. He had a shaky start of the season, and was on the verge of being sacked, before turning things over. Atlanta ended up winning U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup last year while making it to Eastern Conference Finals.

Before coming to MLS, De Boer coached Ajax, Inter Milan, and Crystal Palace. He won four Eredivisie titles with Ajax but only lasted 14 games with Inter and five games with Palace before being sacked. 

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Atlanta United is turning to USL Championship for help in the wake of injury that sidelined their star forward Josef Martinez for the rest of the season. The team announced on Monday that they signed JJ Williams from Birmingham Legion FC.

Williams is expected to give Atlanta more depth in attack, at least until the team manages to find a more experienced solution on the position. The 22-year-old has seven MLS appearances as a member of Columbus Crew SC, but is yet to score his first goal in the league.

“JJ is someone that had been on our radar over the offseason, and we’re pleased to add him to our roster,” said Atlanta United vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra. “He is coming off a strong season with Birmingham and will provide additional competition to our attack.”

JJ Williams turned pro in 2019 when he was selected 18th overall in MLS SuperDraft by Columbus. However, he spent most of the season on loan with Legion, where he played 23 games and scored eight goals.

After the end of the season, Williams was waived by Crew, but his rights were still owned by MLS. The league ended up loaning him to Legion, but kept an option to bring him back if a Major League Soccer team offers him a contract.

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Another Atlanta United fan-favorite looks to be on the exit door. After Darlington Nagbe and Julian Gressel left the club in recent months, Paraguayan winger Hector Tito Villalba might also follow their footsteps.

According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Doug Roberson, Atlanta is looking to sell Villalba this offseason, with Paraguay emerging as his most probable destination. The 25-year-old reportedly already left the team’s training camp.

On the other hand, The Athletic reports that Villalba’s transfer is already done and that he will become a member of Club Libertad.

One of the reasons for the departure of Villalba from MLS is his wish to get extended playing time so he could return to Paraguay’s national team. The player asked for guarantees from Atlanta, but the coach Frank de Boer couldn’t promise him a more prominent role in 2020.

Tito Villalba joined Atlanta United in 2016 as the club’s first Designated Player. In his first season with the team, he proved to be an impactful player, making 68 appearances and scoring 21 goals alongside 15 assists. Villalba also played a crucial role in the team’s MLS Cup win in 2018.

This past season, however, Villalba struggled with injuries and also couldn’t find his place in de Boer’s system. He ended up starting just 10 games and scoring once.

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Atlanta United announced on Monday that they have signed United States midfielder Emerson Hyndman to a permanent deal from Premier League side Bournemouth. Hyndman was previously on loan at Atlanta, coming to MLS in July.

According to the club’s official announcement, Hyndman inked a deal that will keep him with the organization through the 2022 season. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed per team policy.

“We’re excited to bring back Emerson on a permanent deal,” – said Atlanta United’s Vice President Carlos Bocanegra. “He played an important role in our midfield after joining the team mid-season and will add competition and depth to our group as we prepare to play in various competitions in 2020.”

Since joining Atlanta, Hyndman played 15 regular-season games (10 as a starter), contributing with one goal and three assists. He also played a significant role in the club’s postseason run.

Emerson Hyndman started his career with Fulham, where he played for two seasons before joining Bournemouth in 2016. In Bournemouth, however, Hyndman didn’t get a real chance and ended up playing just two games, while spending most of his time there on loans.

Hyndman made it through all of the U.S. youth ranks and made two appearances for the senior team. His last game for USMNT came in 2016.

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Atlanta United’s young star Ezequiel Barco might be making a move to Europe sooner than expected. According to influential Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Seria A giants Roma and Inter are interested in Barco’s services and are expected to make a move soon.

Calcio Mercato also adds that both teams would prefer to bring Barco in the summer, rather than in the January transfer window. This would work out for Atlanta, as the team would have one of their best players for the Concacaf Champions League.

Roma and Inter are not the only European clubs in pursuit of Barco, as he also sparked interest from Portugal. Sporting Club Lisbon is reportedly keen on Argentinian winger and might bring him in if they sell their star midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Ezequiel Barco joined Atlanta United in early 2018 in a $15 million transfer from Independiente. Barco played 49 games in MLS since then, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. He also earned All-Star appearances in the past two seasons.

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Atlanta United’s center back and captain Michael Parkhurst announced on Monday that he is currently playing his last season as a professional soccer player. Parkhurst will retire at the end of 2019 MLS season and put an end to an impressive career that spanned over 15 years.

“Well, the time has come for me, unfortunately,” – said Parkhurst in a video announcement. “I know I’m one of the lucky ones to be able to say that I’ve really, really enjoyed what I’ve been able to do the last 15 years. To kick a soccer ball and get paid for, it has been an absolute dream come true.”

Parkhurst joined Atlanta United ahead of the team’s inaugural MLS season in 2017 and became the captain the following year. During his time with the organization, he helped the team win MLS Cup, Campeones Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. The 35-year-old will now be looking to try and make another deep playoff run with Atlanta, who are currently at the second spot in the East, before he calls it quits.

“We want to congratulate Michael on an illustrious career and thank him for immense contributions to Atlanta United,” – said team’s technical director Carlos Bocanegra said. “His career accolades speak for themselves, but during his time in Atlanta, he was a consummate professional and played an integral role for us, both on and off the field.”

Michael Parkhurst began his career with the New England Revolution, before heading to Europe, where he played with Nordsjælland and FC Augsburg. He returned to MLS in 2014, signing with Columbus Crew SC and playing for three seasons there before joining Atlanta.

Parkhurst was also U.S. international, making 25 appearances with USMNT between 2007 and 2014.

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Atlanta United are adding some badly needed depth to their midfield. The team announced on Wednesday that they have acquired Iraqi attacking midfielder Justin Meram in a trade with Columbus Crew.

According to the official announcement, Atlanta will give up $100,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and an undisclosed draft pick in exchange for Meram’s services.

“Justin is a proven commodity in MLS and we’re pleased to welcome him to Atlanta,” – said Atlanta’s vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra in a statement. “During his time in Columbus, Justin established himself as one of the better attacking players in the league, and we expect him to come in and compete immediately.”

Meram’s addition is especially important for Atlanta United since they will see several key players missing time in the next few months. Ezequiel Barco will be absent with Argentinian U20 team for the FIFA U20 World Cup in late May and early June, while forwards Josef Martinez and Hector Villalba will take part in Copa America 2019 over the summer.

After playing college soccer with Michigan Wolverines, Justin Meram was taken 15th overall in 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew. He played seven years with Crew and established himself as an important part of the team’s starting lineup before being traded to Orlando City in 2018. Meram, however, didn’t settle in Orlando in the best way possible and ended up being traded back to Columbus after just 17 games.

Meram played a total of 223 games in MLS and managed to score 39 goals while providing 37 assists.

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Atlanta United announced on Wednesday that they have acquired Mexican forward Daniel Rios on loan from Liga MX’s CD Guadalajara (Chivas). According to the MLS side, Rios joins the club until the end of the 2024 campaign and will occupy a supplemental roster spot.

Rios is well familiar with MLS, having played in the league between 2020 and 2022 with Nashville SC and Charlotte FC. He has scored 12 goals in 57 matches during that period.

According to Atlanta’s vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra, the team wanted to strengthen their attacking depth and felt that Rios was a perfect choice due to his previous experience in MLS.

“We have been looking to strengthen our depth in the attack and find a proven goal scorer who knows MLS,” said Bocanegra in a statement. “Daniel is a player we are familiar with from his previous stops in the league. Looking ahead to a busy summer with MLS, U.S. Open Cup, and Leagues Cup, along with the potential to lose several players to both Euros and Copa America, we believe Daniel brings quality to our team and adds competition to the group.”

Rios made his professional debut with Chivas in 2015 but spent most of his early career on loans. In 2018, he was loaned out to USL side North Carolina FC, where he scored 20 goals in 32 games. This prompted Nashville to make him their first MLS signing. He would go on to spend another season in the USL, scoring 21 goals and becoming the first player in league history to score 20 goals in back-to-back seasons.

Rios left MLS at the end of the 2022 season to rejoin Chivas. However, he struggled to find playing time with his boyhood club, making only 19 appearances.

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Atlanta United announced on Friday that ex-Argentina international defender Gabriel Heinze will serve as the club’s new head coach. Heinze, who spent the previous three seasons with Velez Sarsfield, signed a deal through 2022 with the MLS team.

Speaking about their decision to hire Heinze, Atlanta’s club president Darren Eales said that they were attracted by the 42-year-old manager’s style of coaching and soccer philosophy.

“This is a milestone moment in Atlanta United history, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Gabriel as our next head coach,” said Eales in a statement. “Gabriel’s playing philosophy and commitment to youth development closely align with our ideas at Atlanta United, and we are happy to welcome him as we move into our club’s next chapter.”

Heinze will be tasked with returning Atlanta to the top of the MLS after a disappointing 2020 season under Frank de Boer and interim head coach Stephen Glass. The club finished at No. 12 in the Eastern conference, collecting just 22 points and winning six games in 23 games.

As a player, Gabriel Heinze made 72 appearances for Argentina’s national team while playing for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. After retiring from professional soccer in 2014, Heinze turned to coaching and served as a manager with Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Junior, and Velez Sarsfield.

His biggest managerial successes were earning promotions with Argentinos and having two consecutive No. 3 finishes with Velez in the Argentine Primera División.

Look for him to try and repeat the same level of success in Atlanta.

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Despite being dubbed as the next big star of the league, Argentina midfielder Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez is leaving MLS after less than two seasons. According to The Athletic’s Felipe Cardenas, Martinez has been a subject of an $18 million bid by Saudi Arabia side Al-Nassr.

Reportedly, Atlanta accepted the offer, while Martinez is also keen on the move. The 24-year-old forward is currently finalizing personal terms with Al-Nassr, and the transfer should soon be official.

Cardenas reports that Martinez already said goodbye to his former teammates.

“It’s no secret what his resumé is all about in terms of before coming to Atlanta United, being here at the club, the respect that he received on a daily basis from everybody,” said United’s goalie Brad Guzan when asked about Martinez’s departure.

Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez made a name for himself in native Argentina, where he played with Huracan and River Plate. Martinez saw particular success with River, contributing 30 goals and 28 assists in 145 games while helping the club win two Copa Libertadores trophies.

His impressive performances in Argentina caught the attention of Atlanta, who paid around $16 million for his services. However, Martinez failed to make the same impact in MLS, although he showed flashes of brilliance at times. He leaves the United States having played 54 games. 

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Atlanta United and manager Frank De Boer are finally going their separate ways. The club confirmed the news on Friday, saying that the decision was mutual.

“After discussing it with Frank, the decision was reached mutually to part ways,” said Atlanta’s president Darren Eales. “In winning two trophies in his first season in charge, he will always be a part of the club’s history, and with great appreciation and respect, we wish him all the best in the future.”

Atlanta will announce their interim manager in the near future while embarking on a search for a permanent solution at the position. 

De Boer leaves the club after a horrific campaign in the MLS is Back tournament, where Atlanta lost all of their three matches while failing to score a single goal. The club reportedly couldn’t overlook the deficiencies in the team’s game and decided that squad needs a new leading voice in the locker room.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve had with Atlanta United,” said De Boer. “Coaching in Major League Soccer and living in Atlanta has been a wonderful experience and a welcome new challenge.”

Frank De Boer took over Atlanta United ahead of the 2019 MLS season, replacing Gerardo Tata Martino at the helm. He had a shaky start of the season, and was on the verge of being sacked, before turning things over. Atlanta ended up winning U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup last year while making it to Eastern Conference Finals.

Before coming to MLS, De Boer coached Ajax, Inter Milan, and Crystal Palace. He won four Eredivisie titles with Ajax but only lasted 14 games with Inter and five games with Palace before being sacked. 

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Atlanta United is turning to USL Championship for help in the wake of injury that sidelined their star forward Josef Martinez for the rest of the season. The team announced on Monday that they signed JJ Williams from Birmingham Legion FC.

Williams is expected to give Atlanta more depth in attack, at least until the team manages to find a more experienced solution on the position. The 22-year-old has seven MLS appearances as a member of Columbus Crew SC, but is yet to score his first goal in the league.

“JJ is someone that had been on our radar over the offseason, and we’re pleased to add him to our roster,” said Atlanta United vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra. “He is coming off a strong season with Birmingham and will provide additional competition to our attack.”

JJ Williams turned pro in 2019 when he was selected 18th overall in MLS SuperDraft by Columbus. However, he spent most of the season on loan with Legion, where he played 23 games and scored eight goals.

After the end of the season, Williams was waived by Crew, but his rights were still owned by MLS. The league ended up loaning him to Legion, but kept an option to bring him back if a Major League Soccer team offers him a contract.

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Another Atlanta United fan-favorite looks to be on the exit door. After Darlington Nagbe and Julian Gressel left the club in recent months, Paraguayan winger Hector Tito Villalba might also follow their footsteps.

According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Doug Roberson, Atlanta is looking to sell Villalba this offseason, with Paraguay emerging as his most probable destination. The 25-year-old reportedly already left the team’s training camp.

On the other hand, The Athletic reports that Villalba’s transfer is already done and that he will become a member of Club Libertad.

One of the reasons for the departure of Villalba from MLS is his wish to get extended playing time so he could return to Paraguay’s national team. The player asked for guarantees from Atlanta, but the coach Frank de Boer couldn’t promise him a more prominent role in 2020.

Tito Villalba joined Atlanta United in 2016 as the club’s first Designated Player. In his first season with the team, he proved to be an impactful player, making 68 appearances and scoring 21 goals alongside 15 assists. Villalba also played a crucial role in the team’s MLS Cup win in 2018.

This past season, however, Villalba struggled with injuries and also couldn’t find his place in de Boer’s system. He ended up starting just 10 games and scoring once.

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Atlanta United announced on Monday that they have signed United States midfielder Emerson Hyndman to a permanent deal from Premier League side Bournemouth. Hyndman was previously on loan at Atlanta, coming to MLS in July.

According to the club’s official announcement, Hyndman inked a deal that will keep him with the organization through the 2022 season. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed per team policy.

“We’re excited to bring back Emerson on a permanent deal,” – said Atlanta United’s Vice President Carlos Bocanegra. “He played an important role in our midfield after joining the team mid-season and will add competition and depth to our group as we prepare to play in various competitions in 2020.”

Since joining Atlanta, Hyndman played 15 regular-season games (10 as a starter), contributing with one goal and three assists. He also played a significant role in the club’s postseason run.

Emerson Hyndman started his career with Fulham, where he played for two seasons before joining Bournemouth in 2016. In Bournemouth, however, Hyndman didn’t get a real chance and ended up playing just two games, while spending most of his time there on loans.

Hyndman made it through all of the U.S. youth ranks and made two appearances for the senior team. His last game for USMNT came in 2016.

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Atlanta United’s young star Ezequiel Barco might be making a move to Europe sooner than expected. According to influential Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, Seria A giants Roma and Inter are interested in Barco’s services and are expected to make a move soon.

Calcio Mercato also adds that both teams would prefer to bring Barco in the summer, rather than in the January transfer window. This would work out for Atlanta, as the team would have one of their best players for the Concacaf Champions League.

Roma and Inter are not the only European clubs in pursuit of Barco, as he also sparked interest from Portugal. Sporting Club Lisbon is reportedly keen on Argentinian winger and might bring him in if they sell their star midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Ezequiel Barco joined Atlanta United in early 2018 in a $15 million transfer from Independiente. Barco played 49 games in MLS since then, scoring eight goals and providing five assists. He also earned All-Star appearances in the past two seasons.

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Atlanta United’s center back and captain Michael Parkhurst announced on Monday that he is currently playing his last season as a professional soccer player. Parkhurst will retire at the end of 2019 MLS season and put an end to an impressive career that spanned over 15 years.

“Well, the time has come for me, unfortunately,” – said Parkhurst in a video announcement. “I know I’m one of the lucky ones to be able to say that I’ve really, really enjoyed what I’ve been able to do the last 15 years. To kick a soccer ball and get paid for, it has been an absolute dream come true.”

Parkhurst joined Atlanta United ahead of the team’s inaugural MLS season in 2017 and became the captain the following year. During his time with the organization, he helped the team win MLS Cup, Campeones Cup and the U.S. Open Cup. The 35-year-old will now be looking to try and make another deep playoff run with Atlanta, who are currently at the second spot in the East, before he calls it quits.

“We want to congratulate Michael on an illustrious career and thank him for immense contributions to Atlanta United,” – said team’s technical director Carlos Bocanegra said. “His career accolades speak for themselves, but during his time in Atlanta, he was a consummate professional and played an integral role for us, both on and off the field.”

Michael Parkhurst began his career with the New England Revolution, before heading to Europe, where he played with Nordsjælland and FC Augsburg. He returned to MLS in 2014, signing with Columbus Crew SC and playing for three seasons there before joining Atlanta.

Parkhurst was also U.S. international, making 25 appearances with USMNT between 2007 and 2014.

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Atlanta United are adding some badly needed depth to their midfield. The team announced on Wednesday that they have acquired Iraqi attacking midfielder Justin Meram in a trade with Columbus Crew.

According to the official announcement, Atlanta will give up $100,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and an undisclosed draft pick in exchange for Meram’s services.

“Justin is a proven commodity in MLS and we’re pleased to welcome him to Atlanta,” – said Atlanta’s vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra in a statement. “During his time in Columbus, Justin established himself as one of the better attacking players in the league, and we expect him to come in and compete immediately.”

Meram’s addition is especially important for Atlanta United since they will see several key players missing time in the next few months. Ezequiel Barco will be absent with Argentinian U20 team for the FIFA U20 World Cup in late May and early June, while forwards Josef Martinez and Hector Villalba will take part in Copa America 2019 over the summer.

After playing college soccer with Michigan Wolverines, Justin Meram was taken 15th overall in 2011 MLS SuperDraft by Columbus Crew. He played seven years with Crew and established himself as an important part of the team’s starting lineup before being traded to Orlando City in 2018. Meram, however, didn’t settle in Orlando in the best way possible and ended up being traded back to Columbus after just 17 games.

Meram played a total of 223 games in MLS and managed to score 39 goals while providing 37 assists.

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