Luiz Araújo transferred to Flamengo - Atlanta United receive top 3 record fee

It is rare that a player transfer goes from a rumor to a transfer announcement in just a few hours. But that was the case on Thursday when Globo Esporte reported that Brazilian side Flamengo were in advanced talks to sign winger Luiz Araújo from Atlanta United. Just a few hours later, the transfer was confirmed by both clubs. Atlanta United will receive €9 million for Araújo—the third biggest in club history—for whom they paid €11.5m (including bonuses) in the summer of 2021. Araújo has signed a contract until 2027 with the Brazilian giants and will join his new club on July 3, when the window opens in Brazil. 

Market Value

Luiz Araújo Right Winger

€6.00m

“We signed Luiz two years ago from the French champions and are sending him to the reigning Copa Libertadores champions,” Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club statement. “Ultimately, this was an opportunity that suits both parties well and gives us enough time to plan and evaluate as we’ll be actively seeking reinforcements in the Summer Transfer Window. We wish Luiz the best of luck at Flamengo and in his future endeavors.”

Since joining the MLS club, Araújo has scored just 11 goals and ten assists in 56 games across all competitions for Atlanta United. This season the winger has managed three goals, and two assists in 13 games. Although not a total bust, Araújo's market value has dropped in recent years from €10m when he was first signed from Lille to just €6m following the recent MLS market value update. Furthermore, Araújo is a Designated Player with the Five Stripes, earning $4,483,333 guaranteed compensation according to the recently released MLSPA Salary Guide—which makes him the eighth highest-paid player in MLS.

Luiz Araújo joins Flamengo - What is next for Atlanta United?

With Araújo set to leave for Brazil, Atlanta United will have an extra DP slot available when the club goes shopping in the summer transfer window. But Araújo might not be the only player leaving this summer. Superstar and World Cup winner Thiago Almada has been heavily linked with a move to Napoli and could command a transfer fee of around €40m. With that in mind, the decision makers in Atlanta will have significant room to restructure the team. That is the upside, the downside is that the club will have to do the retooling on the fly and in the middle of an ongoing MLS season.