A quality, young talent is headed to the MLS. Atlanta United have splashed out on an MLS record transfer fee of $16 million for Argentine international Thiago Almada, having agreed to terms with Velez Sarsfield over the move, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Official and confirmed. Thiago Almada leaves Vélez to join Atlanta United starting from February 2022. Deal signed and completed for the Argentinian talent to start new MLS chapter. 🤝🇦🇷 #transfers
$16m transfer fee’s new MLS transfer record. 🇺🇸 #MLS pic.twitter.com/0eQRWKxgpy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 3, 2021
The transfer will go through in February of 2022, at which point Almada will make the coveted move from the Argentinian Premier Division to the MLS. The $16 million move breaks the current MLS transfer record, also held by Atlanta United, who paid $15.95 million for Gonzalo ‘Pity' Martinez in 2020. That deal didn't pan out, however, and Martinez currently finds himself playing in Saudi Arabia.
Atlanta United also hold the third-highest incoming transfer fee among MLS clubs, having signed fellow Argentine Ezequiel Barco from Independiente for a fee of $13.5 million. Barco has been a key contributor for the club since joining, and they will be hoping for much of the same from Almada.
Almada, 20, recorded 18 starts for Velez in 2021, scoring four goals and adding four assists. Across three seasons at the club, the youngster has recorded 11 goals and six assists, featuring in 56 matches, 35 of which he started. He's considered one of the brightest young talents in Argentina, and adds to the impressive list of Argentinian-born players currently at Altanta United.
Atlanta United qualified for the 2021 Audi Cup Playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by NYCFC in a 2-0 defeat. It will be new head coach Gonzalo Pineda's first full year in charge in 2022, and with the record-breaking signing on the squad, expectations will be high for both Almada and the club.
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