There will be two of Atlanta United’s academy products representing the red, black and gold at MLS All-Star weekend. Midfielder Chris Goslin has been added to the MLS Homegrown squad, joining Andrew Carleton in the display of the best young talent in Major League Soccer. The 2017 Homegrown Game, presented by Energizer®, is the fourth annual edition of the event leading up to the MLS All-Star Game. The match will take place Aug. 1 at Chicago’s Toyota Park when a roster of MLS Homegrowns take on Chivas de Guadalajara’s Under-20 team.
Chris Goslin – a native of Locust Grove, Georgia – became the second homegrown player in Atlanta United history when he signed with the club as a 16-year old in October of 2016. Goslin has been a fixture with the US National Team since 2012 when he made his debut with the U-14 team. A product of Atlanta United’s academy after joining from Georgia United, Goslin spent part of the 2016 season with USL side Charleston Battery. Goslin has represented the U.S. National Team at the U-15, U-16 and U-17 levels. He has been a regular part of the U.S. team gearing up for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Goslin played four games and started three as the U.S. won the 2016 Montaigu International Tournament in France.
The MLS Homegrown Game will feature some of the most talented young players in North America, as the Homegrown Team will take on famed U-20 side Chivas de Guadalajara, the defending Liga MX U-20 champions, which features a roster with five players who represented Mexico at the U-20 World Cup. Several of the players have also received time with the Chivas reserve team along with the first team side that captured its record 12th Liga MX title in May. The Chivas U-20 travelling roster will be named at a later date.
The MLS Homegrown Game provides an annual platform in which to showcase MLS’ burgeoning young talent and demonstrate the growth of the league’s youth development system. MLS academies continue to attract and cultivate topflight prospects and have now produced over 170 Homegrown Players who have signed professional contracts with MLS clubs.
