TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Paraguayan forward Erik Lopez has signed with Atlanta United 2 and will join the Atlanta United first team on a permanent basis in January 2021, the club announced Saturday.
Lopez, 18, will join the Atlanta United 2 roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate. He joins the organization after spending his entire professional career to this point with Club Olimpia, the most successful club in the Paraguayan Primera Division.
“We’re excited to add a quality young forward in Erik to our club,” Atlanta United vice president and technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in Saturday's release. “Although only 18 years old, he already has first team and international experience playing in Paraguay’s top division and in the Copa Libertadores. He is a versatile forward with great instincts and movement. He was highly sought after and we are pleased he chose to sign with our club. We look forward to watching him flourish in the coming years.”
Lopez joined the Olimpia academy at 13 years old, working his way through their youth system before making his senior team debut in 2019. He's netted four goals in 16 career first-team appearances.
At the international level, Lopez has featured for Paraguay's U-23 team, starting one game and playing in three of four matches in the side's failed bid to qualify for the Olympics in Tokyo.
