Atlanta United announced today that they’ve signed Portuguese fullback Pedro Amador to a contract through 2026 with an option for 2027. Amador, 25, arrives on a free transfer and will be available to play his first MLS minutes when the transfer window opens on July 18.
Amador has spent the majority of his first-team career with Moreirense in Portugal’s Primeira League. He made 14 starts as Moreirense finished sixth.
He joins as a backup to Caleb Wiley and a way to keep right-footed Ronald Hernandez from being the lone backup option at the position. That being said, he could get thrown into a starting role if reports of Chelsea’s interest in Wiley turn into reports of an actual deal. There’s a chance Atlanta could be seeing the year out with Amador in the starting lineup.
At the very least, Atlanta will need someone to take Wiley’s place during the Olympics. If Wiley makes the U.S. team, he’ll likely be out from the CF Montreal game through some or all of Leagues Cup.
How should you feel about that?
Well…Amador appears to be a backup-quality player.
Then again, we’ll defer to the analytics folks at the club instead of FBref charts. You never know how someone will adapt to MLS. We’ll have to wait and see. And if he ends up being just a solid backup, that’s fine. Every MLS roster could use a few of those.