ATLANTA — Atlanta United today announced it has sent three players on season-long loans to Atlanta United 2, with forward Erik Centeno, goalkeeper Justin Garces and defender Efrain Morales spending the 2023 season with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro affiliate.
Atlanta United selected Centeno in the first round of the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. The Generation Adidas selection spent last season on loan with ATL UTD 2 where he made 30 total appearances. The Stockton, California native made 16 starts and recorded three assists in his first professional season. He was named the Conference Freshman of the Year at the University of the Pacific in 2021 before turning professional.
Garces, 22, made 13 appearances with ATL UTD 2 last season. His first start of last season came on March 16 against New York Red Bulls II where he made seven saves. He finished the season playing a total of 1,170 minutes and 65 saves. The Miami, Florida native had an outstanding collegiate career as a four-year starter at UCLA, playing in 57 games. He recorded 21 wins and registered seven clean sheets.
Morales has been with Atlanta United since the team’s inaugural Academy U-12 team. He signed a Homegrown contract effective Jan. 1, 2021. He earned his most consistent playing time with ATL UTD 2 last season, making 24 appearances. The Decatur, Georgia native earned 17 starts and finished last season playing 1,513 total minutes. Morales has earned international call-ups to Bolivia’s youth national teams, including most recently featuring in the South American U-20 Championship held in Colombia.
2023 Atlanta United roster (as of Feb 24, 2023)
Goalkeepers (4): Clément Diop, Justin Garces^, Brad Guzan, Quentin Westberg
Defenders (10): Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, Andrew Gutman, Ronald Hernández, Brooks Lennon, Aiden McFadden, Efrain Morales^, Juanjo Purata, Miles Robinson, Caleb Wiley
Midfielders (11): Thiago Almada, Ozzie Alonso, Ezequiel Barco*, Derrick Etienne Jr., Ajani Fortune, Franco Ibarra, Marcelino Moreno**, Matheus Rossetto, Amar Sejdić, Santiago Sosa, Tyler Wolff
Forwards (8): Luiz Araújo, Miguel Berry, Erik Centeno^, Machop Chol, Jackson Conway, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Erik López, Edwin Mosquera***
*On loan to River Plate through 2023 season
** On loan to Coritiba FC through 2023 season
*** On loan to Defensa y Justicia through 2023 season
^ On loan to ATL UTD 2 through 2023 season
