Atlanta United is trading striker Romario Williams in a deal that could be completed as early as this afternoon, manager Frank de Boer said on Friday.
De Boer said Williams will be traded to another MLS team. He declined to provide any more information. However, according to a person familiar with the situation, Williams is going to Columbus.
Williams, typically Atlanta United’s backup striker, didn’t travel to Wednesday’s game at Toronto and didn’t train on Friday ahead of Saturday’s game against Montreal.
Williams, a 24-year-old native of Jamaica, has yet to make a start with Atlanta United since being acquired before the 2017 season. He has one goal in 21 league appearances with Atlanta United and Montreal, for which he played in 2015 and ‘16. He scored in Atlanta United’s U.S. Open Cup win against Charleston earlier this month.
Brandon Vazquez has emerged as a quality back-up to Josef Martinez in Atlanta United’s single-striker system.
Trading Williams will open a senior spot on the team’s roster, which could be filled by Emerson Hyndman. The team is in contract discusses with the midfielder. Atlanta United currently has two roster spots open, on supplemental and one reserve. The MLS transfer window opens July 9.
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