Machop Chol

Atlanta United signed Machop Chol as a Homegrown Player on Jan. 19, 2021. Chol was an original member of Atlanta United’s U-18s during the Academy’s inaugural 2016-17 season and went on to play four seasons at Wake Forest University.

In his first season with Atlanta United, Chol made nine MLS appearances with four starts in 2021 for the Five Stripes. He played 426 total minutes and recorded his first career assist on July 21 against FC Cincinnati. His first career MLS start came on July 8 against Nashville SC in a 2-2 draw. Chol also made three appearances and starts for ATL UTD 2 in the USL Championship in 2021. He scored one goal on Aug. 28 against FC Tulsa. Chol earned his first international call-up to play for South Sudan during the November 2021 international window and made his national team debut on Jan. 27, 2022 in a friendly against Uzbekistan.

Chol, 24, was born in Sudan and emigrated with his family to the United States in 2000. He grew up in Tucker, Georgia and began his youth career playing for Decatur-DeKalb YMCA (DDYSC). He joined the Academy for the inaugural 2016-17 season and helped lead the U-18s to the Southeast Division title, scoring 11 goals in 28 games. He then committed to national powerhouse Wake Forest.

A four-year letterman at Wake Forest, Chol played in 65 games with 42 starts and scored 13 goals and added 17 assists. During the shortened 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chol played and started in eight games, scoring three goals with two assists. After playing in 13 games without a start as a freshman, Chol broke through during the 2018 season as a sophomore. He played in all 21 games, started 14, and scored a career-high five goals while adding seven assists as Wake Forest finished the regular season as the No. 1 team in the country. The following year, Chol played in 23 games, started 20 and scored four goals with a team-high eight assists, leading Wake Forest to the national semifinals. 

2022 (Atlanta United / ATL UTD 2): MLS: Made six appearances for a total of 73 minutes. ATL UTD 2: Made two starts: against Birmingham Legion FC on Aug. 7 and against Miami FC on Aug. 14.

2021 (Atlanta United / ATL UTD 2): MLS: Made his professional debut in the MLS season opener against Orlando City SC, coming off the bench. His first career start came on July 8 in a 2-2 draw vs. Nashville SC. Chol recorded his first career assist on July 21 in a 1-1 draw at FC Cincinnati. Finished the MLS season with 426 total minutes played. ATL UTD 2: Played and started three matches in the USL Championship. Scored one goal on the season against FC Tulsa on Aug. 28.

International: Chol earned his first international call-up to play for South Sudan during the November 2021 international window and made his national team debut on Jan. 27, 2022 in a friendly against Uzbekistan.