Atlanta United 2 sign striker Rodrigo Neri

Atlanta United 2 announced today that it has signed forward Rodrigo Neri on a free transfer with a contract through the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. Neri most recently played for Valencia CF’s Juvenil A (U-19) team after joining the team in February of this year. He will be eligible to play when the MLS secondary transfer window opens on July 18.

“We are delighted to welcome Rodrigo to the club and look forward to seeing his development and impact on the team over the next year and a half,” said Methodology Director Javier Perez. “Rodrigo has great potential and a wealth of experience gained during his time in Spain and with the U.S. youth teams that will help to advance our second team and the players around him.”

Neri, 19, has spent the last few years playing in a number of academy systems in LaLiga and LaLiga 2. He began his professional career by joining Atlético Madrid in 2021, where he rose through the ranks of Atlético’s academy system. Neri scored 20 goals and made 11 assists in his first year with the club, while also having the opportunity to train with the first team on numerous occasions before joining Valencia in February.

Internationally, Neri has represented the United States at the U-19 and U-23 levels. In 2023, Neri was selected to the 18-man roster to represent the United States at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile. Neri helped the United States finish fourth in the competition, where he appeared in all five games and scored a goal against Colombia to send the United States to the semifinals. Overall, Neri has scored seven goals in 13 appearances for the United States youth national teams. Neri is also eligible to represent Spain and Venezuela.

Player profile
Name: Rodrigo Neri
Position: Before
Date of birth: May 12, 2005 (19)
Place of birth: Miami, Florida
Citizenship: Spain, United States, Venezuela
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 signs Rodrigo Neri from Valencia CF through the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.

Atlanta United 2 Player Roster (as of July 11, 2024):
Goalkeeper (2): John Berner, Jayden Hibbert
Defenders (3): Ethan Dudley, Daniel Russo,* Ramzi Qawasmy
Midfielders (7): Javier Armas, Alan Carleton, Erik Centeno, Matías Gallardo, Noble Okello, Cooper Sanchez, Jacob Williams
Attackers (3): Ashton Gordon, Rodrigo Neri, Karim Tmimi

* On the end-of-season injured list
^ Loaned by Atlanta United until the 2024 season