Atlanta United FC signed the second Homegrown Player in club history on Thursday, when the 2017 expansion club announced that they have inked US Under-17 national team midfielder Chris Goslin to a contract.
Goslin’s fellow 16-year-old US youth international Andrew Carleton became the first player to sign a Homegrown deal with Atlanta in May.
Currently in residency with the U-17 national team in Bradenton, Florida, Goslin has been a regular part of the US team currently preparing for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He’s participated in every tournament the team has played in over the last year, most notably playing four games and starting three as the US won the Montaigu international tournament in France.
“This is another proud signing in the history of Atlanta United,” club technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a statement released by the team. “Chris’s progression through the youth system has been particularly impressive and he’s shown that he’s ready for the next level in his development. It’s our priority to cultivate a pathway that consistently progresses the best youth players in the area to the next level.”
Goslin joined the Atlanta United academy, which began play in the US Soccer Development Academy last month, from local youth club Georgia United. He played for Georgia United’s U-18s in the 2015-16 USSDA season, scoring three goals in 11 appearances as he split time between the club and the US U-17 residency program.
A native of Atlanta suburb Locust Grove, Georgia, Goslin is the eighth player signed by Atlanta United and the first to join the club since they hired former Argentina and Barcelona manager Gerardo Martino as head coach last week.
“I’m very excited for Chris and the future of our club,” Martino said in the statement. “I was able to see Chris play with the U-17s and he has huge potential. I look forward to working with him."
