Atlanta United announced the signing of Ajani Fortune to a Homegrown contract that will go into effect in the 2023 season.
Fortune, whose nationality is Trinidad and Tobago and who has made two appearances for its national team, has 14 starts for Atlanta United 2 in the USL this season. He has made 48 appearances, including 31 starts, with Atlanta United 2 since the 2020 season. He primarily plays as a defensive midfielder.
“We’re excited to sign Ajani as a Homegrown player after following his development with our Academy and Atlanta United 2,” Atlanta United Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said in a statement from the club. “Ajani’s progression to the first team is a credit to him and the excellent work being done by Matt Lawrey and our developmental pathway. He’s a talented midfielder who reads the game very well and has a great work rate. We look forward to him taking the next step of his career.”
Fortune will be the 15th Homegrown signing for the club. Other Homegrown signings on the Atlanta United or Atlanta United 2 roster include centerback Noah Cobb, whose contract will start next season, fullback Caleb Wiley, goalkeeper Justin Garces, centerbacks George Campbell, Bryce Washington and Efrain Morales, midfielders Machop Chol and Tyler Wolff, who is on loan with a club in Belgium’s second division, and striker Jackson Conway. Past Homegrown signings who no longer are with the team include George Bello, who plays for Arminia Bielefeld in Germany’s second division, Andrew Carleton, who plays for San Diego in the USL, Patrick Okonkwo, Chris Goslin and Lagos Kunga.
A native of Marietta, Fortune made his debut for Atlanta United 2 on July 11, 2020 against Charleston. He played in Atlanta United’s academy from 2018-19. He made 19 appearances with the U17s.
Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda said that Fortune has improved a great deal since they first met last summer. Pineda said that Fortune has a good work ethic and desire to fight for loose balls.
“And now I think I see a more polished guy that can actually receive the ball in the pockets and turn and play forward and activate. You saw a little bit of that against Pachuca,” he said. “We watched him in preseason, and we think the kid is all right. So I’m happy for him and looking forward to what we can do.”
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Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule
Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1
March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0
March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1
March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3
April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
April 10 Charlotte 1, Atlanta United 0
April 16 Atlanta United 0, Cincinnati 0
April 24 Miami 2, Atlanta United 1
April 30 Montreal 2, Atlanta United 1
May 7 Atlanta United 4, Chicago 1
May 15 Atlanta United 2, New England 2
May 21 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
May 28 Columbus 2, Atlanta United 1
June 19 Atlanta United 2, Miami 0
June 25 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 1
June 30 New York Red Bulls 2, Atlanta United 1
July 3 Atlanta United 2, NYCFC 2
July 9 Austin 3, Atlanta United 0
July 13 Atlanta United 2, Real Salt Lake 1
July 17 Atlanta United 1, Orlando 1
July 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., FS1
July 30 at Chicago, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 6 vs. Seattle, 3 p.m., ABC
August 13 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
August 17 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
August 21 at Columbus, 5:30 p.m., FS1
August 28 vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m., UNIV
August 31 at Philadelphia, 7 p.m., FS1
Sept. 4 at Portland, 5:30 p.m., FOX
Sept. 10 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 14 at Orlando, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept 17 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 1 at New England, 1 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 9 vs. NYCFC, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
