Report: Atlanta United to transfer Bartosz Slisz to Danish club Brøndby for $3 million
Atlanta United moves on from the Polish midfielder in a move that opens up space for signings.
Atlanta United has reportedly agreed to transfer midfielder Bartek Slisz to Danish club Brøndby by The Honorable and Esteemed Thomas Bogert. Bogert says Atlanta recoups roughly $3 million in the deal, which is a similar amount for which he Slisz was bought by Atlanta two years ago.
How much space does this offer Atlanta to maneuver in the current transfer window? In addition to the roughly $3 million that converts to allocation money, it also clears Slisz’s significant $870k salary. It essentially offers Atlanta a shot at acquiring at least one starting caliber player with upside, just as Slisz was when he arrived in January 2024.
To write the obituary (as it were) on Slisz, opinions may vary. Slisz certainly gave a shit about Atlanta’s misfortune and lack of competitiveness his final season just as fans did, and for that reason garnered affinity for the passion he showed consistently on the pitch. He was one of Atlanta’s most fit players and carried a tremndous amount of water for a struggling midfield. HAVING SAID THAT,
Atlanta United, and especially a Tata Martino-led Atlanta United, was never going to reach the mountaintop with Slisz. He showed himself to be one of the most respectable players on the second-to-worst teams in MLS. For Atlanta United to be as dominant as they envision, they will need midfielders that can do more on the ball than Slisz could perform. The Pole’s challenge coming to Atlanta was to improve his progressive passing a distribution in possession — something which never came to pass. He too often dawdled on the ball with too many touches, slowing the team down and limiting his own opportunities to find outlets up the field. Sadly, he will be remembered most by some for having his pocket picked by Lionel Messi, conceding what proved to be a points-losing goal because of a lack of awareness on the ball.
With the sale, Atlanta loses a pugnacious midfielder with an attitude that will need to be replaced — because it’s a real loss. But if there’s one thing I’m personally confident Tata Martino can find, it’s a central midfielder with a nasty streak that can do the job he needs (and the job Martino himself did as a player). For Atlanta fans, players like Carlos Carmona and Eric Remedi can be found for much cheaper than what Slisz was costing Atlanta. In fact, both of the U-22 players Atlanta is acquiring appear to have this exact sense of defensive aggression and bite in the tackle — though not at the same position as Slisz.
Now, the question becomes: What does Atlanta do with this opportunity to spend? Do they replace Slisz with another midfielder? Do they go after a creative winger, which we discussed as part of the report linking Atlanta to Elias Baez? Time will tell, but in the meantime, give us your thoughts in the comments. And what did you think about Slisz? Right move? Wrong move?
I think it’s a bit harsh to say that’s how Slisz will be remembered. The header to ice Miami in the playoffs sticks out far more prominently in my mind, at least
I'll be sad to see him go, but probably the right move. I wish him the best of luck and thank him for the give-a-damn he gave the team.