Atlanta United have signed forward Phillip Goodrum to a short-term agreement for the club's Round of 16 Concacaf Champions League matchup with FC Motagua, the club announced Tuesday.
Short-term agreements are four-day contracts that allow MLS clubs to sign players from their USL affiliates for Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, Concacaf Champions League, Canadian Championship and exhibition matches. Goodrum is currently signed to Atlanta United 2.
Goodrum, the no. 75 overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft, is coming off a standout four-year run at UNC-Wilmington where he racked up 32 goals and 15 assists in 76 appearances. The 22-year-old started every match of his collegiate career, helping lead the Seahawks to consecutive 12-win seasons in his junior and senior campaigns, when he was also named to the All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team.
Atlanta is going to into CCL with a bit of a depleted depth chart, with a collection of injuries on the back line and a group of new signings yet to secure work permit visas.
Center back Miles Robinson has been ruled out for the first leg with a quadriceps strain, while left backs Edgar Castillo (ribs) and George Bello (concussion) will also be sidelined. Midfielders Jake Mulraney, Manuel Castro and Matheus Rossetto will not be registered in time for the match due to visa issues.
Goodrum evidently performed well enough in preseason to convince head coach Frank de Boer that he can provide some depth if necessary when Atlanta kicks off its CCL journey, which starts on Tuesday against Motagua in San Pedro Sula, Honduras at 10 pm ET.
