LAFC announced today that the club has acquired midfielder Eduard Atuesta on loan from Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras from Brazil’s Serie A through 2024 with a club option to purchase. Atuesta will occupy an International Roster Slot and will be added to the roster pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P1 Visa.
"We are thrilled to welcome Eduard back to LAFC, a player our supporters love, and a top midfielder in our league,” said Co-President & General Manager John Thorrington. “We are well aware of the value Eduard brings to LAFC on the pitch, and we are confident that his quality and added experience will contribute to our success moving forward.”
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Atuesta, 26, returns to LAFC after a two-year stint in the Brazilian Serie A with Palmeiras, where he helped the team claim back-to-back Brazilian Championships, back-to-back Paulista titles, one Brazilian Super Cup, and one Recopa Sudamericana. Atuesta made 60 appearances (18 starts) and registered two goals across all competitions for Palmeiras, including seven appearances in the Copa Libertadores and two appearances in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Velez, Colombia native first joined the Black & Gold at the age of 21 ahead of the club’s inaugural season on Feb. 27, 2018, on an initial loan from Colombian side Independiente Medellin. Atuesta quickly became a marquee player for LAFC, registering 25 appearances (16 starts) and scoring one goal and two assists in his first season in MLS. He was named to the MLS’s 22 Under 22 list in 2018.
Atuesta served as an instrumental piece of LAFC’s midfield in 2019, helping lead the club to its first Supporters’ Shield title in 2019 and a runner-runner up finish in the club’s first trip to the Concacaf Champions League in 2020. A member of the 2020 MLS Best XI and a 2021 MLS All-Star, Atuesta made 111 appearances (98 starts) and registered nine goals and 23 assists across all competitions, including four appearances and two goals in the MLS Cup Playoffs and three Concacaf Champions League appearances.
Internationally, Atuesta received his first call-up for Colombia’s U20 team in the 2017 U20 South American Championship. In 2019 he made his U23 debut and captained Colombia in a friendly vs. Argentina on Sep. 8. The following year he registered seven appearances in the 2020 Olympic Qualifiers. In 2022, he earned two caps with Colombia’s Senior National Team, registering the game-winning assist in his debut during the 1-0 win vs. Saudi Arabia on June 5.
TRANSACTION: LAFC acquire midfielder Eduard Atuesta on loan from Brazilian club Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras through 2024 with a club option to purchase.
ATUESTA BY THE NUMBERS:
- 1X Supporters’ Shield Title (2019)
- 2X Brazilian Champion (2022 & 2023)
- 2X Paulista Champion (2022 & 2023)
- 1X Brazilian Super Cup (2023)
- 1X Recopa Sudamericana (2022)
- 2019 MLS 22 Under 22
- 2020 MLS Best XI
- 2021 MLS All-Star
- 2020 Concacaf Champions League Runner-up
- 2021 FIFA Club World Cup Runner-up
- 2 – FIFA Club World Cup Appearances
- 7 – CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores Appearances
Single Match Tickets On Sale Now
For the fifth year in a row, LAFC will kick off its MLS season with a home game. The Seattle Sounders FC visit BMO Stadium on Saturday, February 24.
