Atlanta United will have near $50 million to spend in transfer window

Atlanta United should have more than $42 million and could have at least $50 million to spend in this transfer window, depending upon how quickly some transactions progress.

Summing up the funds:

$10 million reportedly for the sale of Giorgos Giakoumakis to Cruz Azul;

$21 million base for the sale of Thiago Almada to a consortium;

$11 million for the sale of Ezequiel Barco to River Plate, plus the sell-on percentage from his reported $16 million sale to Spartak Moscow;

The Barco sale to River Plate was supposed to go into effect on Jan. 1. It’s unknown if the club spent some of those funds on purchasing new players during the winter window.

A wildcard is the possible sale of fullback Caleb Wiley to Chelsea. A possible transfer fee of $11 million was reported by journalist David Ornstein on Monday.

The MLS transfer window opens on July 18.

Atlanta United has already signed one player, fullback Pedro Amador. It has two Designated Player slots available. MLS rules dictate that teams can apply 95% of funds received on the sale of DPs toward the acquisition of another DP. Teams can also choose to spend more, if needed.

Atlanta United is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, one spot below the playoff line. It hasn’t won a trophy since 2019.

The Almada sale could reach as much as $31 million if incentives are reached, but he won’t start playing for Botafogo in Brazil until the Olympics are concluded. The gold medal game in the Olympics is scheduled for Aug. 9. The MLS transfer window closes Aug. 14. If those incentives are triggered while Almada is at Botafogo this fall, it will give Atlanta United a jump on funds to spend during the 2025 winter transfer window.

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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