Atlanta United FC partner with USL’s Charleston Battery

Feb 22, 2014; Charleston, SC, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Sean Okoli (13) kicks the ball during the second half against the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. Sounders won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2014; Charleston, SC, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Sean Okoli (13) kicks the ball during the second half against the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium. Sounders won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /
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Atlanta United FC announced on Friday that the 2017 MLS Expansion team will partner with the USL’s Charleston Battery for a one-year affiliation in 2016.

With MLS action a little over a year away for Atlanta United FC, Atlanta’s new MLS expansion team in 2017 announced on Friday that the club has a USL affiliate in the nearby Charleston Battery.

Since 2015, every MLS team has had to have a USL team as an affiliate to help develop talent and aid in competition. Atlanta United FC announces its partnership with the Charleston Battery only days after the Atlanta’s NASL club the Atlanta Silverbacks folded.

Atlanta United FC team president Darren Eales clarified the reasoning behind partnering with the Charleston Battery for the 2016 USL season, beginning in March of 2016. “Partnering with the Battery as our USL affiliate makes sense for us on many levels. The affiliation gives us the opportunity to sign players in 2016 and develop them in a high-level, professional environment while adding value to the Battery’s existing roster. We also like the close proximity of Charleston to Atlanta which gives our supporters and early opportunity to attend matches and contribute to the atmosphere.”

This affiliation is key as Atlanta United FC’s staff slowly comes together. They can train and develop players while key pieces like head coach come into the fold with United FC.

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Atlanta United FC technical director and former US Men’s National Team captain Carlos Bocanegra added his opinion on what the partnership with the USL’s Charleston Battery means for Atlanta United FC in 2016.

“This is an exciting step in the development of our club. Charleston Battery is a well-respected, well-run USL club. Affiliating at this point gives us time to build a strong working relationship and allows our players time to train and compete together. We look forward to working with the Battery to develop some of our young players ahead of our opening season in 2017.”

What this affiliation means is that in the not so distant future, probably in a matter of months, that Atlanta United FC will have at least several players we can gravitate towards as our own, playing professional soccer in nearby Charleston, South Carolina.

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While Atlanta United FC expects to go after a few marquee players playing in leagues like the English Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, and Bundesliga, perhaps more than a handful may begin their tenure with Atlanta United as members of the club’s USL affiliate with the Charleston Battery. Go United!