Atlanta United signed Efrain Morales as a Homegrown Player on Aug. 12, 2020, effective Jan. 1, 2021. At 16 years old, the defender was the first player to sign from the Academy’s inaugural U-12 team.
Atlanta United re-signed Efrain Morales to a contract extension on Nov. 29, 2023 through the 2024 season and picked up his option at the end of 2024.
Morales made his MLS debut for the club on April 27 on the road at Chicago Fire. The Bolivian international played the full 90 minutes. The defender finished the 2024 season with four appearances for the First Team, including three starts. Morales also started 15 matches for ATL UTD 2 in MLS NEXT Pro. He started and played every minute of Atlanta’s U.S. Open Cup run this year, helping the team keep two clean sheets in the first two matches.
Morales joined the Atlanta United Academy for its inaugural season in 2016-17, playing for the U-12s. He made 22 appearances and scored four goals. He quickly jumped age groups the following season, splitting time equally between the U-15s and U-14s and appearing in 16 matches for each team.
He broke through during the 2018-19 season, where he was called-up to the U.S. U-15 National Team for camps in August 2018 and January 2019. Although he was only 14 years old at the time, Morales again jumped age groups for the USSDA 2018-19 season, joining Atlanta’s U-17s for 10 matches, in addition to appearing in 10 matches for the U-15s. During the 2019-20 season, Morales mostly played for Atlanta’s U-17s and was called into the U.S. U-17 National Team camp in February 2020, a key camp for the 2021 U-17 FIFA World Cup.
Morales made four appearances with Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship in 2020. He scored in his professional debut on Aug. 15, 2020, coming on as a substitute against Charleston Battery.
Morales was loaned from Atlanta United to Atlanta United 2 for the entire 2021 season. The defender made six total appearances in the USL Championship with two starts. Injuries cut his season short as Morales played 151 total minutes. Morales continued with Atlanta United 2 in 2022, setting career-bests in USL in appearances (24), starts (17) and minutes (1,513).
The 19-year-old Homegrown spent the 2023 season on loan with Atlanta United 2 in the club’s first season in MLS NEXT Pro. The center back started 20 games while also leading the team in aerial duel percentage (69.2%) in 1,722 minutes of play, setting new career-highs in starts and minutes played. The Bolivian American finished second on the team in passing accuracy at 91.4% and completed passes with 1,091. Morales also added one goal to his 2023 campaign on May 14 versus Crown Legacy FC.
2024 (Atlanta United) MLS: He made his MLS debut in April against Chicago Fire and went on to make four appearances, including three starts, during the MLS season. His finished the season with 234 total minutes played in MLS, and recording eight clearances while winning 66.7% of his aerial duels. U.S. OPEN CUP: Morales started and played every minute of the team’s Open Cup run this season. He helped the team to two clean sheets, including playing all 120 minutes against Charleston Battery. (ATL UTD 2) MLS NEXT Pro: The defender started and played in 15 matches for ATL UTD 2. He scored two goals and played 1,259 total minutes. He finished the NEXT Pro season with 90.8% passing accuracy.
2023 (ATL UTD 2): The 19-year-old Homegrown spent the 2023 season on loan with Atlanta United 2 in the club’s first season in MLS NEXT Pro. The center back started 20 games while also leading the team in aerial duel percentage (69.2%) in 1,722 minutes of play, setting new career-highs in starts and minutes played. The Bolivian American finished second on the team in passing accuracy at 91.4% and completed passes with 1,091. Morales also added one goal to his 2023 campaign on May 14 versus Crown Legacy FC.
2022 (ATL UTD 2): Morales continued with Atlanta United 2 in 2022, setting career-bests in USL in appearances (24), starts (17) and minutes (1,513).
2021 (ATL UTD 2): Was loaned to ATLUTD 2 in the USL Championship for the entire 2021 season. Made six appearances with two starts. Totaled 151 minutes in the USL Championship in 2021.
2020 (ATL UTD 2): Morales made four appearances with Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship in 2020. He scored in his professional debut on Aug. 15, 2020, coming on as a substitute against Charleston Battery.
International: On the international stage, Morales has earned call-ups to Bolivia’s youth national teams, earning six caps with the Bolivia U-20 side, including participating in the Conmebol U-20 Championships earlier this year. Most recently, the defender earned a call-up to join Bolivia’s senior national team camp for the first time for 2026 World Cup Qualifiers in September.
