Atlanta United has loaned Emmanuel Latte Lath to Union Berlin. The loan is through the 2026-27 Bundesliga season. Union Berlin have a permanent transfer option available at the end of the loan.
Union Berlin will pay the striker’s full salary over that period. Under MLS rules, that opens one of three Designated Player spots for Atlanta United over the course of the loan. Atlanta can now bring in another Designated Player.
While it’s great news to get an underperforming player temporarily off the books, there is a concern to keep in mind here. The loan lasts through May 2027. If there is no permanent transfer, Latte Lath will return to Atlanta United and will occupy a DP spot again. There are shades of the Edwin Mosquera U22 debacle to this.
That likely means Atlanta will need to hold on to one of its (presumably) two buyouts for next year…or however many buyouts they actually have with the weird sprint season happening in the spring…just to make sure they have a contingency plan. Latte Lath’s contract runs through 2028. He made $3.74 million this season.
Latte Lath’s performance in MLS peaked with his very first match. His drop off has been fascinating and disheartening. Atlanta United is now reportedly searching for a big-name striker to replace him. The disappointment of a failed $22 million transfer hasn’t scared Arthur Blank away from spending big.
One of the most disappointing situations we’ve seen. Started out being everything we hoped, then got injured and was never the same after. He didn’t seem to trust himself to make the runs, his teammates stopped trying to play him in, and it quickly came completely undone.
Wish him nothing but the best.
Oh and re: buyouts
The loan is through the 26/27 season, so if the purchase doesn’t happen they have the whole summer to sell so I don’t think it will be an issue.