Atlanta United will have four players who will qualify for free agency when the MLS season ends. However, the team has options on the contracts of three of those players, according to information released by the Major League Soccer Players Association on Wednesday.
The three with options are centerback Miles Robinson, fullback Brooks Lennon and midfielder Ozzie Alonso. Robinson and Alonso are out for the season with injuries. Robinson suffered a ruptured Achilles on May 7. Alonso suffered a torn ACL on April 2. Lennon may be out for the season after sustaining an MCL injury during pregame warmups June 25.
Mikey Ambrose has made two appearances this season.
The components to become a free agent changed in the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the MLSP and the league’s owners.
To become a free agent, a player must be at least 24 years old and have five years of service. Going into the 2022-23 season, there will be 130 players eligible for free agency. That is 27% of the players. In 2019, 11% were eligible, according to the MLSPA.
A team can sign as many free agents as it wants.
Robinson, 25, has made 96 regular-season appearances, including 85 starts, for Atlanta United. Before suffering his injury against Chicago, Robinson was considered one of the best defenders in MLS. He has a guaranteed salary of $737,500 this season, according to information released by the MLSPA earlier this season.
Lennon, 24, has made 71 regular-season appearances, including 62 starts with four goals and 11 assists since signing with the team before the 2020 season. He ranks among the best chance creators in MLS. He has a guaranteed salary of $500,000 this season, according to the MLSPA.
Alonso, 36, signed with the club as a free agent before this season. He has made four appearances, including four starts. He has a guaranteed salary of $84,000 this season, according to MLSPA.
Among players who are out of contract at season’s end include Chicago defender Jonathan Bornstein ($330,000), Colorado forward Gyasi Zardes ($1.55 million), D.C. United striker Ola Kamara ($1.52 million), L.A. Galaxy midfielder Sacha Kljestan ($84,000), LAFC fullbacks Franco Escobar ($550,008), a former Atlanta United player, and Ryan Hollingshead ($393,750), Red Bulls centerback Aaron Long ($1.08 million), New England midfielder AJ DeLaGarza ($250,000), NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson ($550,000), a native of Lilburn, and defender Alexander Callens ($814,000), Philadelphia midfielder Alejandro Bedoya ($1.11 million), San Jose midfielder Eric Remedi ($450,000), a former Atlanta United player, Sporting KC forward Daniel Salloi ($506,667), Toronto goalkeeper Alex Bono ($557,000) and midfielder Jonathan Osorio ($1,026,250).
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast...and if you like what you hear please give us a good rating so we can grow the show.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution has a special offer for Atlanta United supporters and listeners to this podcast. If you subscribe today you will not only get unlimited digital access to the AJC and the Sunday paper for $2.30 a week, but we are also throwing in a special limited edition Atlanta United and Atlanta Journal Constitution scarf. So sign up now at subscribe.ajc.com/utdscarf.
-
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
About the Author
