Atlanta United has officially signed defender Júnior Alonso, securing his services through the 2028-29 season, as announced by the club on Monday. The Paraguayan international joins the team on a free transfer after recently contributing to Paraguay's advancement to the Round of 16 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Experience and Leadership

The 33-year-old Alonso arrives at Atlanta United following a two-season stint with Atlético Mineiro in Brazil's Série A. Chris Henderson, the club's chief soccer officer and sporting director, praised Alonso, stating, "Júnior is a hard-working defender who will help add solidity and stability to our backline." Henderson emphasized Alonso's leadership qualities, game intelligence, and extensive experience from both South America and Europe, highlighting his recent World Cup participation.

Career Overview

Throughout his career, Alonso has made 422 appearances across all competitions, contributing 9 goals and 15 assists. He has played in top leagues in Paraguay, France, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, and Russia. Most notably, he has had three separate stints with Atlético Mineiro, where he participated in 240 matches and won both the league and Brazilian Cup titles in 2021. Alonso began his professional journey with Cerro Porteño and has also played for clubs such as Celta de Vigo, Boca Juniors, Lille, and Krasnodar. On the international stage, he has recorded 3 goals and 3 assists in 76 matches for Paraguay, where he is a teammate of Atlanta United's Miguel Almirón.

As Atlanta United prepares to resume their season, they currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference with 11 points. The team will return to action on Friday evening against Nashville SC.