Leandro Gonzalez Pirez’s sale from Atlanta United to Tijuana finally is complete.
The Five Stripes announced the sale, reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jan. 3, to the Mexican club Friday.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.
Gonzalez Pirez twice in the past three seasons finished in the top five in MLS Defender of the Year voting while helping the club win the MLS Cup in 2018 and the Campeones Cup and U.S. Open Cup in 2019. He made 95 starts in league games.
Atlanta United Vice President Carlos Bocanegra declined to comment why the team was selling Gonzalez Pirez on Thursday. The Argentine had a guaranteed salary of $810,008 in 2019, making him one of the higher-paid centerbacks in MLS.
“We appreciate what Leandro has contributed to the club over the last three years and we wish him the best of luck in his future,” Bocanegra said in a statement announcing the sale.
Atlanta United opens training camp Monday.
The team’s centerback pool includes Miles Robinson, Anton Walkes, George Campbell, Franco Escobar and Jeff Larentowicz.
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