Atlanta sign Latte Lath in MLS record $22 mln transfer

Atlanta United have signed Ivory Coast striker Emmanuel Latte Lath from English Championship side Middlesbrough in a reported MLS-record $22 million transfer, the club announced on Tuesday.

Latte Lath, 26, joins the Major League Soccer franchise on a four-year designated player contract which runs through 2028, Atlanta said.

Reports have said Atlanta paid $22 million for the forward -- a figure that eclipses the MLS's previous record transfer fee of $16.2 million paid by FC Cincinnati for Kevin Denkey in November.

Latte Lath's arrival bolsters an Atlanta United attack that has already been boosted by the arrival of Newcastle's Paraguayan international Miguel Almiron.

"We're excited to sign Latte Lath and look forward to welcoming him to the club and the city of Atlanta," Atlanta's sporting director Chris Henderson said in a statement.

"He's a forward with excellent pace and good goal-scoring instincts. His ability to stretch the field will add another dimension to our attack.

"At 26 years old, he's entering the prime years of his career and has already shown his goal-scoring ability in multiple leagues in Europe."

Latte Lath arrives in MLS following a successful stint in England, where he scored 29 goals in 67 matches across all competitions after joining the club in August 2023.

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