Atlanta United lands Mateusz Klich, adding experience to boost their MLS ambitions | OneFootball

Atlanta United today announced it has acquired the experienced midfielder Mateusz Klich, 34, in a trade with D.C. United. The deal includes Atlanta's first-round pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft (23rd overall) and up to $50,000 in Conditional General Allocation Money (GAM) for 2026 if Atlanta re-signs Klich in the future. While DC United retains a percentage of Klich's salary cap hit and frees up his Designated Player (DP) spot, Atlanta sees this move as an opportunity to elevate both the technical quality and leadership in their midfield.

Mateusz Klich is an experienced professional, whose career is a hallmark of consistency and influence. Prior to his time in MLS, Klich played almost 200 games for Leeds United, a mainstay of the club's promotion back to the Premier League. In the Dutch Eredivisie, he featured for PEC Zwolle, FC Twente, and FC Utrecht, further establishing himself as a multi-purpose and dependable midfielder.

Since joining DC United in 2023, Klich has scored 6 goals and an impressive 22 assists in 63 matches. Under the tutelage of Wayne Rooney, he showed not just technical ability but also a tactical acumen for the game that will be needed at Atlanta United.

Chris Henderson, the sporting director of Atlanta United, elaborated on what the addition means: "Mateusz is a central midfielder with proven quality in this league and at the highest levels in Europe. He's a good chance creator while also dictating the tempo of a game from the midfield."

A valuable addition to Atlanta United

Coming off a ninth-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season, Atlanta United wants more than a good showing in 2025. The signing of Klich is part of a broader project to build a team that combines youth and experience, creativity and control - and the Polish midfielder fits the bill perfectly.

Klich is a new addition to the midfield, different from what Atlanta had - along with Bartosz Slisz, Tristan Muyumba, and Ajani Fortune. Klich has a way of creating opportunities and setting up the flow in the midfield to complement what this roster is looking for.

Impact on DC United

For DC United, losing Klich is not just a technical blow. Over the past two seasons, he was a key player in the field and out of it. Ally Mackay, DC's general manager, showed appreciation for Klich's services: "Mateusz has been an exceptional player for the club over the last two seasons, and we want to thank him for the commitment he's shown."

Now, DC United needs to fill in the void left by Klich, while balancing the roster for head coach Troy Lesesne. Coming off a disappointing 2024 season in which they missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker, the team will have to use the resources picked up in this trade to find new talent and refresh their midfield.

A strategic trade for both teams

Trades in MLS are never truly cut and dried. With strict financial rules and a salary cap, this kind of deal can make or break a team's success. Atlanta United gave up a draft pick-a key tool to develop young talent-in exchange for an experienced player who can make an immediate impact.

Freeing up Klich's non-DP status for DC United is huge in terms of budget flexibility and creates space for other new acquisitions. That could be a crucial type of strategy for a club hoping to build a more competitive roster this coming season.