Atlanta United and Charleston Battery agreed to renew their affiliation for 2017.
The Battery were Atlanta United’s USL affiliate in 2016. The MLS squad loaned several players to the team, including goalkeeper Alex Tambakis, the first player Atlanta United signed, midfielders Andrew Carleton, Chris Goslin and forward Jeffrey Otoo. The Battery were 13-8-9 in the USL’s Eastern Conference last year. Tambakis started 21 games and Carleton, 16 years old, became the youngest U.S. player to start a USL match on Sept. 10. Otoo made five appearances. Romario Williams, who later was acquired by Atlanta, scored 10 goals for the Battery.
“Our mutually-beneficial partnership with Charleston made perfect sense for us to continue,” Atlanta United President Darren Eales said in a statement from the club. “Our players were able to gain valuable professional experience last season and we look forward to having the opportunity to utilize the partnership even more in 2017 with having a full roster.”
Several MLS teams have affiliations, partnerships or own USL teams, using them similarly to how MLB teams use the minor leagues as places to give players more game experience.
Atlanta United will play the Battery in an exhibition game Feb. 25 in Charleston as part of the Carolina Challenge Cup.
