In a curious financial decision, Miles Robinson rejected Atlanta United’s contract offer and chose to sign with Cincinnati.
Per MLS rules, no other club can offer more than the maximum Targeted Allocation Money deal that Atlanta United offered Robinson more than 18 months ago after he sustained a torn Achilles during the 2022 season. That contract would be for approximately $1.65 million per year for four years.
Several outlets reported the Robinson agreement Wednesday. The contract with Cincinnati is for 2024 with an option for ‘25.
Robinson, 26, spent seven seasons with Atlanta United and became one of the league’s better defenders, with 123 appearances, including 111 starts. He helped the club win the U.S. Open Cup in 2019. Robinson served as a captain several times for the club.
Robinson was beloved by many Atlanta United supporters. He attended many Hawks games.
The club drafted Robinson from Syracuse with the second pick in the 2017 MLS draft. He wasn’t considered the top centerback in that class, but the club appreciated his athletic ability and speed. He spent the 2017 season on loan with Charleston in 2017 and mostly with Atlanta United 2 in 2018. After Gerardo Martino resigned and Frank de Boer was hired, Robinson became the centerpiece of the defense in 2019. Former captain Michael Parkhurst said Robinson was the best one-on-one defender he had ever seen. Others would describe drills in which Atlanta United players would try to get past Robinson in a one-on-one drill. They couldn’t.
Robinson finished third in voting for Defender of the Year in 2019 and again in ‘21. The team and Robinson agreed to a new contract in 2019 through 2023. His guaranteed compensation last year was $1,437,500, according to the Major League Soccer Players Association.
Robinson played well enough for Atlanta United to make 27 appearances for the U.S. men’s national team, becoming a consistent starter until the ruptured Achilles.
Robinson returned in 2023. He consistently was asked if he intended to sign Atlanta United’s contract offer. Robinson consistently said that he was going to allow the contract to expire and bet on himself.
“I’ve done that my whole career, and I don’t really ever kind of play with fear or, you know, wake up scared or anything like that,” he said in January. “I kind of go out and try to take what I think I deserve.”
Robinson, only a year removed from his Achilles, wasn’t at his best in 2023. Atlanta United’s defense ranked among the worst in the league, with 53 goals allowed, which was the result of many factors.
There were rumors of only one club, PSV in Holland, showing interest in signing Robinson when it became apparent that he was going to sign another contract with Atlanta United.
Atlanta United declined to comment Wednesday. President Garth Lagerwey and Vice President Carlos Bocanegra have said in past weeks that the club was pursuing other signings. If those were completed, the team would be forced to withdraw its offer to Robinson. Atlanta United is close to completing the signing of Norwegian centerback Stian Gregersen, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. Gregersen, 28, currently is with Bordeaux in France’s Ligue 2, where he has 75 appearances.
Atlanta United’s pool of centerbacks are Luis Abram, Derrick Williams, Noah Cobb and Efrain Morales.
Cincinnati is the reigning Supporters’ Shield winners. The club also has Matt Miazga and former Atlanta United player Brandon Vazquez, who reportedly is going to be transferred to a club either in Mexico or Germany.
Atlanta United is scheduled to play Cincinnati on April 20 and May 15.
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Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule
Feb. 24 at Columbus, 2 p.m.
March 9 vs. New England, 7:30 p.m.
March 17 vs. Orlando, 7 p.m., FS1
March 23 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
March 31 vs. Chicago, 3:30 p.m., FOX
April 6 at NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
April 14 vs. Philadelphia, 2:30 p.m., FOX
April 20 vs. Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
April 27 at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.
May 4 vs. Minnesota, 7:30 p.m.
May 11 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
May 15 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
May 18 at Nashville, 1:30 p.m.
May 25 vs. LAFC, 7:30 p.m.
May 29 at Miami, 7:30 p.m.
June 2 vs Charlotte, 4:30 p.m., FOX
June 15 vs. Houston, 7:30 p.m.
June 19 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 22 at St. Louis, 8:30 p.m.
June 29 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m.
July 3 at New England, 7:30 p.m.
July 6 at Real Salt Lake, 9:30 p.m.
July 13 at Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 17 vs. NYCFC, 7:30 p.m.
July 20 vs. Columbus, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 31 at Charlotte, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 14 vs. Nashville, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 vs. Miami, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 at Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 18 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 2 vs. Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 5 vs. Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 at Orlando, 6 p.m.
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