Atlanta United signs Russian playmaker as designated player

Atlanta United added what it hopes will be an important piece to its roster with the transfer of Alexey Miranchuk. The club confirmed the acquisition Tuesday. Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said Tuesday that the club may soon add a striker to play with Miranchuk.

Miranchuk, who had been on Atlanta United’s wish list since March 2023, was purchased from Atalanta in Italy for $13 million, funds that came from the more than $50 million the team has after selling Giorgos Giakoumakis, Thiago Almada and Caleb Wiley. A 28-year-old attacking midfielder, Miranchuk will be a Designated Player and occupy an International slot. Miranchuk’s contract is through 2027 with an option for 2028.

“We feel he can score and create goals,” Bocanegra said. “He’s a creative attacking player that we hope to drive the team forward.”

Atlanta United has started the visa process that will allow Miranchuk to train and play for the club. The process can take as along as three weeks. Atlanta United’s next MLS match will come Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy. Bocanegra said the club did its due diligence regarding visas for Russians and said he doesn’t see foresee any issues securing one for Miranchuk.

Atlanta United President Garth Lagerwey told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution when the window opened that he wanted Bocanegra to pursue signing prime-age players from one of the better leagues in Europe.

Miranchuk satisfies those goals.

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Miranchuk came up with Lokomotiv Moscow in his native Russia. He was transferred to Atalanta in September 2020. He went on loan to Torino in August 2022 and rejoined Atalanta in June 2023. He made five appearances in the Champions League for Atalanta. He has 63 goals and 71 assists across all competitions, including 13 goals and 19 assists in 98 appearances for Atalanta. Bocanegra said that Miranchuk was one of the top chance-creators per 90 minutes in Serie A. He has 45 appearances with seven goals for Russia.

Bocanegra said that Miranchuk speaks English and very much enjoys rap music, which may have helped their pitch when recruiting him. Bocanegra said he was impressed with the types of questions Miranchuk asked about the team, the city and the league.

“He’s very, very quietly confident in himself,” Bocanegra said. “Doesn’t need to be the loudest person at the table, doesn’t need to be the loudest person in the conversation.”

Replacing Almada won’t be easy. Before he was sold to Botafogo for at least $21 million, Almada finished with 24 goals and 34 assists in 79 regular-season and playoff appearances in his career with the club.

Miranchuk can play across the midfield, but Bocanegra and the team’s scouts see him as an attacking midfielder who may be more of a combiner with players around him than was Almada, who was more effective when he had more possession of the ball.

“I think he’s comfortable getting the ball with somebody on his back or under pressure and can make a little yard space or where there’s a lot of trouble to relieve some pressure for the team,” Bocanegra said. “But we also want to see him higher up the field, in spaces where he can go and hurt the other team because that’s where we think he’s the most dangerous. So we’d like to see a little bit of a balance where he’s helping us progress the ball, but also, not always coming back too deep to be the only one progressing.”

Atlanta United has one more piece to sign, a striker to replace Giakoumakis, who was sold to Cruz Azul for $10 million. The transfer window will close Aug. 14. Atlanta United will have nine matches remaining.

“We’re definitely looking to bring in one more attacking player here before the end of the window, and we feel confident we’ll be able to do that,” Bocanegra said. “So hopefully we’ll have announcement here shortly and obviously someone that we think will pair very well with with Alexey, as well as the rest of the team.”

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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup