TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Report
August 4
Jonathan Gonzalez came off the substitute’s bench for Monterrey in a 1-0 loss at Leon in the Mexican Clausura Monday night. Could it have been his last appearance in a Rayados uniform?
According to Mexican journalist Fernando Cevallos, the 21-year-old’s anticipated move to Atlanta United is entering its final stages and could be announced in the coming days. The move would be a loan with an option to buy.
July 28
On Tuesday, TUDN’s Diego Medina reported of an impending transfer of Jonathan Gonzalez to Atlanta United.
“The jewel of the Monterrey youth system, holding midfielder and Mexican-American Jonathan Gonzalez, in the coming hours will be closing his move to MLS with Atlanta United,” Medina said in a published video on TUDN.com.
Medina reported that Gonzalez’s contract buyout clause ranges between $12.5-$13 million and that based on information he has received, Jonathan would go to Atlanta United “on loan with an option to buy for $10 million.
ESPN's Herculez Gomez hinted that Gonzalez is deciding between Atlanta and La Liga side Celta Vigo, as the 21-year-old announced that his appearance in Monterrey's 3-1 win over Toluca on Tuesday night was his final on with Rayados.
July 24
Jonathan Gonzalez could soon provide midfield reinforcements for Atlanta United or another undisclosed MLS team, according to a report from ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman.
Twellman noted that the Five Stripes are looking to sign the Monterrey and Mexico national team midfielder, with the MLS Secondary Transfer Window now running from Aug. 12 through Oct. 29. Gonzalez has made 99 appearances for Rayados since making his debut in the 2017-18 season, and has also featured three times for El Tri.
Gonzalez, 21, is most famously known in American soccer circles for spurning the US men’s national team for Mexico. He was born in California to Mexican parents, and represented several US youth national teams before filing a one-time change of association.
Specific to Atlanta United, Gonzalez would represent a significant addition after the Five Stripes crashed out of the MLS is Back Tournament. While different players, Gonzalez could help to offset the loss of Darlington Nagbe in the starting XI after the latter was traded to Columbus Crew SC this past offseason.
Any swoop for Gonzalez would likely require a transfer fee, with the midfielder reportedly under contract through the end of the 2022 season. But Atlanta’s also shown a willingness to spend in their brief MLS history, and they've turned to Mexico in recent windows when landing winger Jurgen Damm and center back Fernando Meza.
Atlanta's also twice faced Gonzalez, with the midfielder starting in both legs of their 2019 Concacaf Champions League quarterfinal series.
