Atlanta United has signed Georgia international winger Saba Lobzhanidze from Hatayspor, league sources with knowledge of the deal tell The Athletic.
The winger will be added to the MLS side’s roster as a designated player, though his deal gives Atlanta flexibility to be bought down in the future to free up a DP spot. This had been Atlanta’s plan all summer following the departure of previous DP Luiz Araujo to Flamengo.
Lobzhanidze, 28, has been in the Turkish top flight for the last three and a half seasons, with 15 goals and 23 assists in 120 matches between Hatayspor, MKE Ankaragucu and Fatih Karagümrük.
Atlanta has also signed winger Xande Silva on loan from Dijon, sources say.
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Silva, 26, had six goals and three assists in 32 appearances in the French second tier last season. The former Portugal youth international began his career at Vitoria and has had stints in England at West Ham and Nottingham Forest, but didn’t break through for regular minutes at either club. Last year was the first time he played more than 1,000 minutes in a league season during his career.
Atlanta has had a busy summer, with Lobzhanidze and Silva joining midfielder Tristan Muyumba as three key additions. The club also signed center forward Jamal Thiaré, who had been a free agent after leaving Le Havre, as a rotation option behind leading scorer Giorgios Giakoumakis.
Araujo, Franco Ibarra (loan to Toronto) and Andrew Gutman (trade to Colorado) have been sent out.
The club sit seventh in the Eastern Conference with 35 points after 24 matches, led by star attacking midfielder Thiago Almada.
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