Report: Atlanta United to sign veteran Argentine goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos
Atlanta United solidifies its goalkeeping position after losing club captain Brad Guzan to retirement.
Atlanta United is set sign Argentine goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos on a free transfer to add to Tata Martino’s options between the sticks in 2026, according to Cesar Luis Merlo. Hoyos’ contract is reportedly 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, though it stands to reason that Hoyos is signing with the understanding that the starting job is his as he unites with Martino, both whom have histories with Newell’s Old Boys.
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. Newell’s decided to let Hoyos’ contract expire at the end of the current year.
From what we can tell through research, Hoyos profiles as a skilled 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 next season. 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.