It’s been a well-deserved month off for the Atlanta United Academy as they gear up for the next season, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped. Here’s the latest on what’s going down in the Atlanta United Academy:
A Homegrown Joins the Ranks
Another historic day for the Atlanta United Academy this month, with the first team announcing defender George Campbell has signed a Homegrown contract with. It’s a major moment for the club, with Campbell starting with the Academy, proving himself at the professional level with ATL UTD 2, and earning his first pro contract, which starts at the beginning of 2020. It’s a sign that the pipeline to the pros is alive and well in Atlanta. “He’s just starting to scratch the surface of what he can be in the future,” said VP & Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra, “and that’s a testament to his commitment to improve, as well as the program that we have in place through Tony Annan and Stephen Glass.”
The MLS Homegrown Game
That was just the start of a whirlwind month for Campbell. Soon after putting pen to paper, he was invited to the Homegrown game as part of MLS All-Star week in Orlando. Campbell started in the back line against a strong Chivas U-20 side, shaking off the unfamiliarity with new teammates to hold them to a 1-1 draw after extra time and eventually winning on penalty kicks. It’s just another step in the development of one of Atlanta United’s most promising young prospects.
MLS Announces Development Partnership with German Football Association
Major news this month for all of MLS’ Academy teams, as the league announced a new partnership with adidas and the German Football Association (DFB). The goal is to train MLS academy goalkeeper coaches and goalkeepers through a series of immersive year-long development courses. Atlanta United Academy coaches and players took part in both classroom education and field instruction in Germany, in hopes of taking the curriculum home to continue implementation through 2020.
First Pro Goal for Atlanta United Academy Player
A nice moment at the Proving Ground for an Atlanta United Academy player, as Will Vint scored his first professional goal for ATL UTD 2. On the road against the Charlotte Independence, Vint found space outside the box and smashed a powerful effort that deflected off the goalkeeper an in.
New Academy Season Set to Start
The offseason is a short one for the Atlanta United Academy, so the next season is coming up soon. It will all start with the Atlanta United Academy dinner in August, an annual tradition where the teams for each age group are announced and celebrated in a special ceremony at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Stay tuned to our social channels and ATLUTD.com for all the coverage of one of the most special nights on the calendar for the Atlanta United Academy.
