TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Atlanta United have signed forward Lisandro Lopez on a free transfer from Racing Club, Atlanta announced Monday.
Lopez, 37, arrives in Atlanta in the latest step of a decorated career. The forward has scored 244 goals in more than 600 professional appearances, including stints with Racing (twice), FC Porto, Lyon, Al-Gharafa SC and Internacional. He made seven appearances with the Argentine national team.
“Lisandro is a veteran goalscorer who will strengthen our attack and we’re pleased to add a player with his experience and qualities to our club,” club VP & technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club statement. “He brings leadership and a winning mentality, having won various league and cup titles throughout his career, and we feel that he will have a positive influence on our younger roster.”
Lopez had four goals and one assist in 20 appearances over the 2019-20 season and is just two years removed from a campaign in which he led the Argentine league with 17 goals in 24 appearances, helping guide Racing to the title. All in all, he's won five league titles and five cup competitions during an 18-year career.
The forward joins Josef Martinez, Erik Lopez, Jackson Conway and Adam Jahn as options up front for new head coach Gabriel Heinze. Lopez's hasn't played with or for Heinze, though their careers overlapped a bit at points. They were each playing in France from 2009-11 while Heinze's managerial career began in Argentina as Lopez returned to Racing.
