Atlanta United official welcome home announcement for Miguel Almiron – Deal done | OneFootball

Miguel Almiron has returned to Atlanta United.

A day short of six years since he arrived at St James’ Park, Miggy returning to the MLS club.

Atlanta United issuing a big official welcome home announcement (see below) to the 30 year old.

Good luck to Miguel Almiron and Atlanta United.

Atlanta United official welcome home announcement for Miguel Almiron – 30 January 2025:

Welcome back, Miggy: Miguel Almirón returns to Atlanta United

Atlanta United welcomed midfielder Miguel Almirón back to the club on a designated player deal through 2027 with an option for 2028, making official the highly anticipated homecoming of a key member of the club’s inaugural season and historic championship run in 2018.

Almirón spent two seasons playing for Atlanta United from 2017-2018, so this will be Almirón’s second stint with the club.

In two seasons playing for Atlanta United, Almirón was on top of the MLS world. He achieved the pinnacle when he and his team won the MLS Cup in 2018. Almirón then made the move overseas. At the beginning of 2019, the club transferred him to Newcastle United in the English Premier League.

The deal with Newcastle was massive. It broke MLS’s record for a transfer fee at the time.

He went on to have a strong career in the top-flight European league. In six seasons at Newcastle, the winger made 186 appearances in the English Premier League and finished with a total of 23 goals and six assists. His best season was arguably 2022-2023 when he recorded 11 goals.

His career at Newcastle pit Almirón with and against some of the most talented soccer clubs in the world. In 2023, he scored the opening goal for Newcastle in the club’s 4-1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Summer’s homecoming preview at ‘un gran estadio’

Almirón actually played in Newcastle colors at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Two summers ago, Newcastle United was one of the teams to compete in the Premier League series. The summer tour brought Newcastle to Miggy’s old fortress at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a match against Chelsea.

Almirón scored the goal for Newcastle in the 1-1 draw. The finish reminded Atlanta fans of the wonderful memories he gave them. The crowd went wild, and Miggy was welcomed back warmly with chants of his name and a standing ovation.

The reception was a look into what Almirón’s homecoming will be like, as well as the city’s love for him, which will be on full display at the club’s season opener on February 22, 2025.

This is what he told the reporter after the match in Spanish:

“Para mí es muy importante el cariño de la gente. Yo también siento un cariño enorme hacia ellos y siempre es especial volver a jugar aquí en un gran estadio. Tambien es bueno que la gente disfrute de esta clase de partidos.”

“I feel so much warmth from the fans, and I have so much love for the fans as well, so I’m so happy they were able to enjoy a game as good as this one.”

An ambitious midfielder with technique and vision

That night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during that Premier League summer game was just a glimpse into the love and respect Atlanta and soccer fans alike have for Miggy.

During his time in Atlanta, he developed a deep connection for his city, which he speaks about directly in his piece in The Players’ Tribune. Almirón was a key piece for Atlanta United in the club’s inaugural season in Major League Soccer. Atlanta United first signed Almirón on December 5, 2016, making No. 10 the 10th player to join the club.

“Quiero contar contigo,” he wrote in 2017, a phrase that brought him to Atlanta. I want to rely on you. I want to win this together.

He was described as an ambitious midfielder capable of playing centrally or out wide. And he proved his ambition on the pitch. With his incredible speed, exceptional energy, creative playmaking and relentless pursuit forward, Almirón quickly became the symbol of the dynamic style Atlanta United was known to play.

Individually, the midfielder enjoyed rapid success. In 2017, he finished with nine goals and eight assists for Atlanta United. He got even better in 2018, and his production and energy contributed greatly to Atlanta United lifting the MLS Cup in only the club’s second season.

Almirón scored 12 goals and added 14 assists that season. He finished second in MLS MVP voting behind only Josef Martínez, who broke the league’s scoring record at the time in 2018. The teammates scored 48 goals combined, playoffs and regular season included, and formed a formidable and productive pair, coming together with the fusion to celebrate their goals.

“MLS is a really beautiful league, with great teams and facilities and supporters,” Almirón wrote in the Players’ Tribune. “It’s just different, is all. And that is good.”

Almirón arrived ahead of the 2017 MLS season as a player on the rise. At 22 years old, he was already regarded as one of the best players in Argentina’s top league with Club Lanús. His skill was admired by Atlanta’s head coach at the time, Tata Martino. The club’s scouting report alluded specifically to Almirón’s impressive skill, excellent technique and great vision.

He experienced success playing professionally in South America, winning titles for Lanús in the Argentina’s top division. Internationally, he had already made his debut with the Paraguay men’s national team prior to joining MLS. He started in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers for his home country in 2018.

His success and prestige continued in Atlanta. With his attractive play and joyful smile, Almirón became one of the most popular players in MLS. He ranked No. 1 in the league’s list of 24 players under 24. His quality set an example, for the club and the league, of the kind of talent American soccer could attract and set up for success.

Miguel Almirón’s notable MLS accolades:

Creating more moments of joy together

This time around, Atlanta United looks a little different for Almirón. He’s now 30 years old and joining a club that isn’t brand new and starting from scratch. The 2025 season marks a unique point in the club’s history. Atlanta United has a new president & CEO, a new sporting director and a new head coach compared to when Almirón left several years ago.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Miguel back to Atlanta United and know we’re getting a top player and someone with excellent character,” Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson said.

The roster looks very different too. Only goalkeeper Brad Guzan remains from the squad Almirón left. Thinking about Almirón playing alongside fellow speedster Saba Lobjanidze, a creative passer like Alexey Miranchuk, and young spark plugs like Luke Brennan, it will be exciting to see the product Atlanta United puts on the pitch.

Almirón will be integrated quickly and part of fulfilling head coach Ronny Deila’s vision of an attacking and aggressive team. The midfielder is expected to begin training with the group during the trip to Florida in preseason.

Miggy also brings with him a winning mentality. He will be part of the club’s goal to compete for trophies on a consistent basis and add that second star above the badge.

“I’m very happy to return to Atlanta United, a club and a city that has always held a special place in my heart,” Almirón said. “I’m grateful to Arthur M. Blank and the entire organization for the opportunity and I’m looking forward to reuniting with the fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and creating more moments of joy together.”