Atlanta United has signed Luiz Fernando, an Atlanta United 2 player, to a MLS contract.
Fernando, a Brazilian native, was first signed by ATL UTD 2 in November of last year and this season, he has played in 21 games with 16 starts for the USL Championship team. During his time with ATL UTD 2, he has scored one goal and has had two assists.
“When we brought Luiz in, we saw someone who fit our player profile and hoped that in our system, he could develop into a First Team player. Over the last year, he’s put in that work and has earned an MLS contract,” Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said through a press release. “He is a great example of the type of professional we strive to have at this club, as he took full advantage of his opportunity with ATL UTD 2 and has shown the work ethic to continuously improve all facets of his game.”
The 22-year-old midfielder began his soccer career with Corinthians in his native Sao Paulo and then spent six years with the Richmond Kickers before moving to Atlanta. Fernando will be eligible to play with the first team as soon as all the paperwork is completed with the league’s office.
