With its second MLS SuperDraft pick, Atlanta United selected Providence midfielder Julian Gressel with the eight slot in the MLS SuperDraft on Friday in Los Angeles.
“It’s a huge honor being part of something new,” he said. “Let’s go win some games.”
Gressel is a native of Germany who played four years for the Friars, scoring 30 goals with 26 assists. He is supposed to be an attack-minded central midfielder, but he was forced to play as a forward as a senior because of an injury. He started as a wide midfielder.
He had several tough tackles in Thursday’s scrimmages at the combine.
The team selected Syracuse defender Miles Robinson with the second pick in the first round.
The draft is being held in the mammoth Los Angeles Convention Center, and wraps up, in Atlanta United’s case, a few years of scouting college players that it hopes will become contributors to the senior team. Atlanta United will open training camp on Jan. 23 in Bradenton, Fla.
It will play its first preseason game, which will be the first opportunity to see No. 2 pick, against Chattanooga on Feb. 11 at Finley Stadium. It will host its first game on March 5 against New York Red Bulls at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium.
More to come soon. Please keep checking back. Follow me on twitter @DougRobersonAJC and team news on Atlanta United News Now.
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