Why Atlanta United Is Paying $18M for Embolo Despite Last Place

Atlanta United have finalized a transfer for Swiss forward Breel Embolo from French club Rennes in a deal valued at approximately $18 million. This would be one of the most expensive signings in MLS history, arriving at a time when the club sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. The Athletic's Tom Bogert reported that the $18 million transfer fee would make Embolo one of the top five most expensive players in MLS history.

Embolo scored 10 goals and provided three assists in 34 appearances last season for Rennes, his first year in Ligue 1 following three seasons at Monaco and earlier stints with Borussia Monchengladbach and Schalke 04. The signing comes after Embolo's World Cup participation, where he scored two goals and delivered two assists as Switzerland advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in history, only to be sent off for a second yellow card in the loss to Argentina.

Atlanta United are currently in last place in the 15-team Eastern Conference with a record of 3-12-3. The timing of this acquisition, despite the team's poor performance, reflects MLS front offices' focus on long-term roster construction over short-term standings. This move also marks the first major signing under Mauricio Culebro, who became Atlanta United's president of soccer in March.

Embolo is expected to play between designated players Miguel Almiron and Alexey Miranchuk, providing a more structured attacking approach for the team. However, this high-profile signing also carries risks, as Atlanta's previous $22 million investment in Emmanuel Latte Lath did not yield the desired attacking results. Fans will closely monitor Embolo's performance in the coming months to gauge the effectiveness of this investment and assess Culebro's ability to translate signings into on-field success.

This transfer highlights how MLS clubs leverage the 2026 World Cup as a scouting platform, with Embolo catching the attention of multiple clubs, including Atlanta United, before ultimately signing with the latter.