Atlanta United traded the seventh pick in Wednesday’s MLS draft to Real Salt Lake in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money.
The seventh pick was Atlanta United’s only in the draft’s first round.
The team has gathered $575,000 in GAM for the pending season following Wednesday’s trade and last week’s trade of centerback George Campbell to Montreal.
Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said that there are many players from Atlanta United 2 and the Academy, such as Caleb Wiley and Noah Cobb, challenging for spots on the first team. He said they thought those players were ahead of the players that were available to be selected in the draft, so that’s why the pick was traded.
“In the end, it made sense for us to acquire the GAM and continue to utilize that to strengthen the roster,” he said.
Bocanegra said Cobb, who will become a Homegrown signing, has potential to one day play for the U.S. men’s national team.
With its second-round pick, 36th overall, the team selected Campbell’s Tyler Young, a 22-year-old midfielder. He appeared in 49 games, with 41 starts, 18 goals and 21 assists for the Camels.
Bocanegra said scouts said Young can play anywhere in the front six of the formation.
Atlanta United’s past draft picks, in order: Miles Robinson, Julian Gressel, Andrew Wheeler-Omiunu, Alex Kapp, Jon Gallagher, Oliver Shannon, Gordon Wild, Paul Christensen, Anderson Asiedu, Amar Bashti, Patrick Nielsen, Phillip Goodrum, Josh Bauer and Aiden McFadden, Erik Centeno, Tristan Trager, Daniel Bloyou and Tola Showunmi. Of those, Robinson and McFadden are the only players with the first team. Centeno and Trager performed well for Atlanta United 2 last season.
Most Atlanta United players will report for medicals on Jan. 6. Training is scheduled to begin Jan. 8. Bocanegra said there are no updates regarding trading or transferring Josef Martinez and Marcelino Moreno. Bocanegra said he and Pineda are finalizing dates of arrivals for those players not arriving on Jan. 6.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 vs. San Jose Earthquakes, 7:30 p.m.
March 4 vs. Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
March 11 at Charlotte FC, noon, Fox
March 18 vs. Portland Timbers, 7:30 p.m.
March 25 at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
April 1 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
April 8 at New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 15 at Toronto FC, 7:30 p.m.
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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