Atlanta United 2 today announced that it has signed forward Rodrigo Neri on a free transfer with a contract through the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. Neri most recently played for Valencia CF’s Juvenil A (U-19) side after joining in February of this year. He will be eligible to play when the MLS Secondary Transfer Window opens on July 18.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rodrigo to the club and are eager to watch his development and impact on the squad during this next year and a half,” said Director of Methodology Javier Perez. “Rodrigo has great potential and a wealth of experience through his time in Spain and with the United States Youth teams that will help lift our Second Team and the players around him.”
Neri, 19, has spent the past few years developing in multiple LaLiga and LaLiga 2 Academy systems. He began his professional career when he joined Atlético Madrid in 2021, where he worked his way through Atlético’s Academy system. Neri scored 20 goals and tallied 11 assists in his first year with the club, while also getting the opportunity to train with the First Team numerous times before he joined Valencia this February.
On the international stage, Neri has represented the United States at the U-19 and U-23 level. In 2023, Neri was selected to the 18-man roster to represent the USA at the 2023 Pan American Games in Chile. Neri helped lead the United States to a fourth-place finish in the competition, where he appeared in all five matches and contributed a goal against Colombia to send the U.S. to the semifinals. In total, Neri has netted seven goals in 13 appearances for the U. S. Youth National Teams. Neri is also eligible to represent Spain and Venezuela.
Player Profile
Name: Rodrigo Neri
Position: Forward
Birthdate: May 12, 2005 (19)
Birthplace: Miami, Florida
Citizenship: Spain, United States, Venezuela
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 signs Rodrigo Neri from Valencia CF through the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Atlanta United 2 Roster (As of July 11, 2024):
Goalkeeper (2): John Berner, Jayden Hibbert
Defenders (3): Ethan Dudley, Daniel Russo,* Ramzi Qawasmy
Midfielders (7): Javier Armas, Alan Carleton, Erik Centeno^, Matías Gallardo, Noble Okello, Cooper Sanchez, Jacob Williams
Forwards (3): Ashton Gordon, Rodrigo Neri, Karim Tmimi
* On season-ending injury list
^ On loan from Atlanta United through 2024 season
