Atlanta United has another striker. It’s not yet THE striker, but President Garth Lagerwey said Wednesday the club is actively pursuing Designated Player-level signings.
On Wednesday, the team signed Cayman Togashi, a 31-year-old who has 47 goals in 274 appearances for six clubs in Japan. The move is a free transfer.
Togashi is seen as competition at backup striker, similar to the role held by Daniel Rios last season. Togashi was born in New York, where he spent a few years growing up. He won’t take up an International slot on the roster.
“I think we got really good performance from our strikers last year, and this is further investment in that space where we are trying to get this done well ahead of time, where we have options in all the attacking positions,” Lagerwey said.
Togashi is the first signing made by Atlanta United’s new Soccer Director Chris Henderson. Togashi can play as a single striker, second striker or left winger, which will give new manager Ronny Deila options with formations. Togashi is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and right-footed.
Togashi and Jamal Thiare are the experienced strikers on Atlanta United’s roster as it continues to try to sign a third, likely as a Designated Player. The club reportedly also has been interested in signing Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi. Lagerwey wouldn’t talk about Furuhashi, but said that signing Togashi is unrelated.
Togashi is the first player from a Japanese league signed by the club. The Asian market is one that Lagerwey and Henderson explored and used successfully while with Seattle.
“That’s a market that I think is interesting,” Lagerwey said. “I think that it’s a good league. It’s a good level. Players tend to be hardworking. They tend to be disciplined. So there should be a good profile match, I think, for Atlanta United.”
Lagerwey is cautiously optimistic that they will sign at least either the DP-level striker or another DP-level midfielder or winger during the January window.
As is Lagerwey’s approach, the club will not rush to make a signing. The club also won’t be limited to the more than $40 million it has from the sales of several players last summer.
“There are fewer good players available in the winter versus summer,” he said. “But please don’t misunderstand, there are good players available in the winter, and if we can get the two that we think are right, we’ll get them now. … What we won’t compromise on is we won’t sign a lesser player in an effort to do it quickly.”
The club also is pursuing acquiring a few other depth pieces to fill out the roster. Lagerwey said those processes are far along.
“In terms of the DPs, those are the big focus, and can we get the right guys in by the start of the season?” Lagerwey said.
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Atlanta United’s 2025 schedule
Feb. 22 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Apple
March 1 at Charlotte, 2 p.m., Apple, Fox
March 8 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Apple
March 16 vs. Miami, 7 p.m., Apple
March 22 at Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m., Apple
March 29 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 5 vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 12 vs. New England, 2:30 p.m., Apple, Fox
April 19 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple
April 26 at Orlando, 7 p.m., Apple, Fox
May 3 vs. Nashville, 2:30 p.m., Apple, Fox
May 10 at Chicago, 2:30 p.m., Apple
May 14 at Austin, 8:30 p.m., Apple
May 17 vs. Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m., Apple
May 25 vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m., Apple
May 28 vs. Orlando, 7:30 p.m., Apple
May 31 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 12 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 25 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple
June 28 at Miami, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 5 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 12 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 16 vs. Chicago, 7:30 p.m., Apple, FS1
July 19 vs. Charlotte, 7:30 p.m., Apple
July 26 vs. Seattle, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 9 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 16 at Colorado, 9:30 p.m., Apple
Aug. 24 vs. Toronto, 5 p.m., Apple
Aug. 30 at Nashville, 8:30 p.m. Apple
Sept. 13 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Sept. 20 vs. San Diego, 4:30 p.m., Apple
Sept. 27 at New England, 7:30 p.m., Apple
Oct. 5 at LAFC, 10:30 p.m., Apple
Oct. 18 vs. D.C. United, 6 p.m., Apple
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