OFFICIAL: Atlanta United signs veteran Argentine goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos
Atlanta United solidifies its goalkeeping position after losing club captain Brad Guzan to retirement.
Atlanta United announced the signing of Argentine goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos on a free transfer to add to Tata Martino’s options between the sticks in 2026. Hoyos’ contract is a one-year deal with an option to extend 1.5 more years (something that will likely become the norm this year with MLS’s schedule set to change in 2027 that will take the competition into Spring 2028).
Hoyos joins Atlanta’s promising young keeper Jayden Hibbert as players for Tata Martino to choose from for the starting job. While Hoyos is familiar with Tata Martino’s preferred system and requirements from the position, the Argentine is coming off of an ACL tear suffered in December 2024 and could have some rust having been out of action for the past calendar year.
Hoyos was under contract at Newell’s during Martino’s tenure as the club’s head coach from 2012-2013, though Hoyos never made a senior appearance under Martino in his early 20’s. Instead, he was loaned around the second division in the early 2010’s, where he cut his teeth up until a move to Velez Sarsfield in 2018. Hoyos became a regular starter at Velez for four years before doing the same for the past two in his return to Newell’s. After suffering the ACL injury, Newell’s let Hoyos’ contract expire at the end of the current year.
From what we can tell through research, Hoyos profiles as a ball-playing goalkeeper, a trait Martino values highly at the position. Through his career, he was known as a solid shot-stopper, but as he enters his late-30s his athleticism between the sticks will be in question.
It’s a sensible signing for Atlanta and Martino in the short term. With the signing, Martino acquires someone with experience at the position who can help organize the back line and build up play the way Tata likes. But the signing doesn’t totally block Hibbert’s development and path to the first team eventually. The youngster showed promise during his starting stint late this season, and with continued improvement (especially on the ball) can potentially earn Martino’s trust for a bigger role. While we don’t know the exact finances of the deal, Hoyos being a free transfer who’s signed to a 1+ 1.5 option deal is likely to be a manageable expense.
I disagree with Joe, I don't think he's gonna be the starter
I have no opinion on the matter