Atlanta United agreed to a transfer of winger Luiz Araujo from Lille on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The acquisition fulfills club President Darren Eales’ goal of adding an impactful starter before the transfer window closed. An official announcement is expected Friday. The player will not be in the U.S. for Saturday’s game at Columbus.
Araujo, a 25-year-old native of Brazil, was purchased for a reported fee of $11.8 million, according to reports. Araujo will be a Designated Player and occupy the team’s last International slot. Though the person declined to say, to make the move, the club had to buy down the contract of centerback Alan Franco. He is the only one of the club’s three DPs with a contract small enough that it could be bought down using Allocation Money.
Araujo played right wing for Lille in France. He scored 18 goals with eight assists in 136 appearances for Lille, which won Ligue 1 last season after setting a club record with 83 points. The club also won the Champions Trophy on Aug. 1. Araujo started that game.
He previously played for Sao Paolo in Brazil, where he scored nine goals in 49 appearances.
Araujo will give the club a left-footed attacking option that it currently mostly lacks. The only left-footed attacker it has is Jake Mulraney, who currently is injured.
The signing ends a tumultuous transfer window for Atlanta United, which reportedly had signed winger Thiago Almada of Velez Sarsfield, only to see that deal postponed until the January 2022 transfer window, according to the president of Velez Sarsfield, because of the wait for a visa for the player.
The club also was tied to Cagliari’s Joao Pedro, Gremio forward Ferreira, Napoli’s Adam Oumas and Braga’s Ricardo Horta, who declined an offer from the club.
Atlanta United has one slot available on its senior roster.
Southern Fried Soccer
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Atlanta United’s 2021 MLS schedule
April 17 Atlanta United 0, Orlando 0
April 24 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 1
May 1 New England 2, Atlanta United 1
May 9 Atlanta United 1, Inter Miami 1,
May 15 Atlanta United 1, Montreal 0
May 23 Atlanta United 1, Seattle 1
May 29 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
June 20 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2
June 23 NYCFC 1, Atlanta United 0
June 27 Atlanta United 0, New York Red Bulls 0
July 3 Chicago 3, Atlanta United 0
July 8 Atlanta United 2, Nashville 2
July 17 New England 1, Atlanta United 0
July 21 Atlanta United 1, Cincinnati 1
July 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0
July 30 Orlando 3, Atlanta United 2
Aug. 4 Atlanta United 2, Montreal 2
Aug. 7 at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 15 vs. LAFC, 4 p.m. ESPN
Aug. 18 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 21 at D.C. United, 8 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 28 vs. Nashville, 3:30 p.m., Univision
Sept. 10 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m., FS1
Sept. 15 vs. Cincinnati, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 18 vs. D.C. United, 3:30 p.m., Univision
Sept. 25 at Philadelphia,3:30 p.m., Univision
Sept. 29 vs. Inter Miami, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 2 at Montreal, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 16 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 20 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 27 vs. Inter Miami, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Oct. 30 vs. Toronto, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Nov. 3 at New York Red Bulls, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
Nov. 7 at Cincinnati, 3:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
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