Atlanta United has signed its second U22 Initiative player of the winter. The club announced today that it has signed fullback Elías Báez from San Lorenzo.
The 21-year-old primary plays as a left back and could compete for a starting job immediately.
“Elías has emerged as one of the best young defenders in Argentina over the past couple of seasons and we’re pleased that he has chosen Atlanta United as the next step in his career,” Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson said. “He’s going to bring energy and toughness and fits well with our style of play. We look forward to welcoming him to the club and integrating him into our group.”
Báez becomes the second U22 player to join Tata Martino’s evolving squad after the addition of Tomás Jacob from Necaxa earlier in the offseason.
The young Argentine defender has appeared 52 times for San Lorenzo in the last two seasons. So, while he may be young, he is not inexperienced by any means.
This approach to buying U22 players presents a change in strategy as the club previously didn’t make going after these types of players a priority.
It’s clear that depth at the fullback position is something the club wanted to address this offseason and it appears to have done so.
There’s still a few weeks for the Five Stripes to make changes to its roster before the 2026 season begins. Let’s see if there are any more big moves on the horizon.
I’m happy to see the U22 slots getting put to good use again. I always thought Lagerway’s refusal to use them was a poor decision and implied a lack of confidence in his scouting department.