Atlanta United made three selections in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, drafting goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert from the University of Connecticut with the No. 19 pick, midfielder Javier Armas from Oregon State University with the No. 48 pick and goalkeeper Casper Mols from the University of Kentucky with the No. 77 pick. Atlanta also received $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money from Chicago in exchange for two of its selections (No. 33 and No. 72) in this year's draft.
Hibbert, 19, played and started in all 14 games for the Huskies in 2023. The sophomore made 41 saves and picked up three clean sheets. He collected a season-high fives saves in three matches last season while earning BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week honors twice. Prior to joining UConn, Hibbert won a state and national title at St. Benedict’s Prep.
Atlanta selected Armas out of Oregon State University with pick No. 48. The La Coruna, Spain native played in 77 matches during his five-year career with the Beavers, finishing with six goals and 10 assists. He played and started in 20 matches in his final season as Oregon State advanced to the semi-final round of the College Cup for the first time in program history. Armas earned All-Pac-12 honor in each of his final two seasons, including First Team Pac-12 in 2023.
With its final pick of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, at No. 77, Atlanta selected another goalkeeper in Mols from the University of Kentucky. The sophomore from Denmark has started 34 of 36 matches he has played in his two years at Kentucky and recorded 91 saves and 14 clean sheets in his collegiate career. He had an outstanding freshman campaign earning NCAA D1 All-America First Team honors along with Sun Belt Conference Goalkeeper of the Year accolades.
Under the new rules in the MLS SuperDraft, underclassmen have the opportunity to return to college while Atlanta retains their MLS rights for two years.
Round 1, Pick 19 - Jayden Hibbert
With the 19th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Atlanta United selected Jayden Hibbert from the University of Connecticut. Hibbert is 19 years old and a goalkeeper for the Huskies.
Hibbert appeared in 20 matches over two seasons at goalkeeper for UConn, making 56 saves, with three shutouts in his second year. Hibbert had a game-high five saves three times this season against Yale (Sept. 8), Villanova (Sept. 29), and Georgetown (Nov. 9). He also had nine games with at least three saves and was named BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week twice.
Round 2, Pick 4 - TRADE
Atlanta United traded this pick to Chicago Fire in exchange for $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM).
Round 2, Pick 19 - Javier Armas
With the 48th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Atlanta United selected Javier Armas from Oregon State University. Armas is 23 years old and played as a defender for the Beavers.
Armas played 77 games including 71 starts across five seasons with Oregon State, finishing with six goals and 10 assists. He was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team and scored the game-winner on his way to Pac-12 Player of the Week honors his junior year. In his sophomore year, he scored the Beavers’ sole goal at San Diego State that secured a share of the Pac-12 title and scored one of OSU’s goals that led to a 2-0 victory over St. John’s (NY) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
Prior to Oregon State, Armas played nine years for Real Club Deportiva de la Coruna in Spain, winning multiple league titles. He scored 12 goals in the 2018-19 season, starting all 28 matches he played and helped his club finish fifth in the Honor Division Group 1.
Round 3, Pick 14 - TRADE
Atlanta United traded this pick to Chicago Fire in exchange for $50,000 in 2024 General Allocation Money (GAM).
Round 3, Pick 19 - Casper Mols
With the 77th overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, Atlanta United selected Casper Mols from the University of Kentucky. Mols is 21 years old and a goalkeeper for the Wildcats.
Mols tallied 63 saves and six clean sheets in 18 matches and starts his sophomore year, holding an 8-6-4 record. He shut out No. 2 undefeated WVU and No. 1 Marshall. He was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team, Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference and College Soccer News Men's National Team of the Week. In his freshman year, he was named NCAA DI All-America First Team honoree, NCAA DI Men's All-Southeast Region First Team, Sun Belt Conference Goalkeeper of the Year with 28 saves in 16 matches.
