Atlanta United add MLS-tested forward Sergio Santos

Atlanta United have added an experienced attacking piece to their roster, announcing the signing of free agent forward Sergio Santos to a contract through the 2026 MLS season with an option through December 31, 2027.

Santos arrives with seven years of Major League Soccer experience, having recorded 28 goals and 14 assists in 169 regular season and playoff appearances across his time in the league.

For Atlanta, the move is a practical one: an MLS-proven attacker with a defined skill set, a history in winning environments, and the ability to add competition and depth across the forward group.

A veteran addition with a clear role

Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson framed the signing as both a performance decision and a roster-building move.

“Sergio has been a productive forward in our league for the past seven seasons and will add competition to our group of attackers,” Henderson said. “He’s going to bring MLS experience, quality and a winning mindset to our team and we look forward to welcoming him to the club.”

That line is important context. Atlanta are not signing Santos as a developmental project. They are signing him as a known league contributor, a player whose value is tied to specific match states and tactical needs.

Career context: Built in transition and pressing systems

Santos has spent the bulk of his MLS career in environments that prioritize verticality, pressure, and direct attacking moments.

He previously played for:

• Philadelphia Union (2019–2022)

• FC Cincinnati (2022–2025)

• Houston Dynamo (2025)

His most productive stretch came with Philadelphia, where he tallied 22 goals and 13 assists in 89 appearances in all competitions, helping the Union win the 2020 Supporters’ Shield.

He then moved to FC Cincinnati, recording 10 goals and 10 assists in 102 appearances, and was part of the squad that lifted the 2023 Supporters’ Shield.

Most recently, he finished the 2025 season with Houston.

The through line is clear. Santos has consistently been part of competitive teams, often serving as an attacking depth piece with the ability to impact games in rotation.

Style profile: Pressing forward with real end product

Santos’ game starts with intensity. He is a forward who brings consistent work rate out of possession, comfortable leading pressure from the front and disrupting buildup with his running and physical edge.

But the pressing is not the whole story. Over seven MLS seasons, Santos has also proven he can deliver in the final third. His 28 goals at league level reflect a player who can finish chances, particularly when he is attacking space aggressively and arriving into scoring areas with urgency.

At his best, he offers a blend Atlanta value:

• A high-motor presser who sets the tone defensively

• A direct runner who stretches back lines vertically

• A forward who can finish chances when matches open up

• A veteran attacker who can contribute as a starter or impact substitute

That combination is what makes Santos useful. He is not simply an energy piece. He is an MLS-tested attacker whose work rate creates opportunities, and whose finishing ability allows him to capitalize on them.

What it means for Atlanta United

In practical terms, this signing gives Atlanta another reliable attacking option who can influence matches in multiple ways.

Santos adds competition to the forward group, but also tactical flexibility. He is a player who can press from the front, stretch the field in transition, and provide real production when chances arrive in the box.

For a team balancing attacking evolution with the demands of a long MLS season, those profiles matter. Depth is not just about minutes. It is about having different solutions, and Santos gives Atlanta one more.

The key variable will be availability and rhythm, but the upside is clear. Atlanta have added a proven league attacker with experience in winning environments and a skill set that fits the modern MLS game.

Santos now joins Atlanta as a veteran attacker with a clear profile and a track record in winning MLS environments. How large his role becomes will depend on health, rhythm, and how quickly he settles into the club’s attacking structure, but the rationale is straightforward. Atlanta have added an experienced forward who can press, run, and finish, giving the team another credible option as the season unfolds and the margins grow tighter.