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The German club will cover Atlanta's former record signing's salary and holds an option to make the move permanent
Not Every Bet is a Winner: Atlanta Loans Latte Lath to Union Berlin
Less than 18 months after Atlanta United made Emmanuel Latte Lath the most expensive incoming transfer in MLS history at the time, the club is moving on without completing a permanent sale.
Atlanta announced Sunday that it loaned Latte Lath to Union Berlin for the entire 2026-27 Bundesliga season. Union Berlin will cover the forward’s full salary and holds an option to purchase him when the loan concludes.
The move opens a Designated Player position for Atlanta during the MLS summer transfer window. Chief Soccer Officer and Sporting Director Chris Henderson said the club intends to use it. After discussions with Manu, we felt this move was the right opportunity for everyone involved. Union Berlin competes at a high level in one of the top leagues in the world, and this gives him the chance to continue his development in a strong environment. We appreciate everything he brought to Atlanta and look forward to following his progress throughout the season. This move also opens up a Designated Player spot for us which we will look to fill in this summer window. - Chris Henderson 
The permanent option leaves open the possibility that Latte Lath has played his final match for Atlanta, but that decision will depend upon Union Berlin after the coming season. Atlanta did not announce the purchase price attached to the option.
Atlanta had initially appeared likely to send Latte Lath back to England. Burnley reportedly offered a loan that would have included an obligation to purchase him if the club earned promotion to the Premier League, while his former club Middlesbrough was also linked with a move.
Neither deal could be completed. According to reports in England, Latte Lath did not accumulate enough points to qualify for the work permit required to play in the United Kingdom. Atlanta then moved quickly to complete the season-long loan to Union Berlin, although the German club received only an option to make the transfer permanent rather than an obligation.
An Ideal Signing on Paper
Latte Lath arrived as the centerpiece of the biggest spending offseason in Atlanta United history. The club committed roughly $32 million in reported transfer fees to Latte Lath and returning club legend Miguel Almirón alone, rebuilding its attack around the two Designated Players.
Atlanta reportedly paid Middlesbrough $22 million plus potential additions for Latte Lath in February 2025. It was an MLS record at the time and made him the most expensive acquisition in Atlanta United history.
He was expected to provide the goals the club had struggled to replace since Josef Martínez’s departure.
Latte Lath’s debut offered exactly what Atlanta hoped to see. He scored twice against CF Montréal, including the 84th-minute winner in a 3-2 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
He never produced another MLS performance quite like it in an Atlanta shirt.
Latte Lath finished his first season with seven goals and one assist in 30 league appearances. Atlanta won only five matches and finished 14th in the Eastern Conference during one of the most disappointing seasons in club history.
The organization changed substantially around him after the season. President and CEO Garth Lagerwey departed, Atlanta brought Gerardo “Tata” Martino back as head coach, and Henderson assumed broader responsibility over the sporting operation while the organization searched for a new president.
Those changes gave Latte Lath a fresh start entering 2026. He had another coach, another season and another opportunity to establish himself as Atlanta’s leading striker.
Instead, his production declined further.
He scored twice and added two assists during the 2026 season. Atlanta’s official announcement credited him with nine goals and three assists across 44 career MLS appearances for the club.
His final appearance before the loan came July 17 against Nashville SC. Latte Lath entered in the 84th minute with Atlanta trailing 1-0 and was barely involved for the next several minutes before Almirón found him twice. The first chance was difficult, with Latte Lath surrounded and dealing with a hard pass. The second could hardly have been more inviting. Three minutes into stoppage time, Almirón put him through with room, time and a clear look at goal. He needed only to settle himself and put the shot on target. Instead, he dragged it badly wide to the left.
It may very well become the brutal final image of his time with the club.
A Return to Europe
The move returns Latte Lath to Europe, where he spent his entire professional career before joining Atlanta.
He began with Atalanta in Italy and went through a series of loans before establishing himself with St. Gallen in Switzerland. He later joined Middlesbrough, where he scored 29 goals across two seasons and attracted Atlanta’s record investment.
Union Berlin offers another opportunity in one of Europe’s strongest leagues. It also gives Latte Lath the chance to rebuild his value after his production fell sharply in MLS.
For Atlanta, Union’s agreement to cover his full salary was an essential part of the transaction. The move removes Latte Lath from Atlanta’s immediate plans without forcing the club to continue carrying the salary of a Designated Player it no longer viewed as its starting striker.
The permanent transfer option could eventually provide a cleaner conclusion. It does not guarantee one.
Union Berlin can evaluate Latte Lath throughout the season before deciding whether to purchase him. Atlanta will retain his contractual rights if the option is not exercised.
The talks with Union have been very positive from the start, and I have already had the opportunity to experience the atmosphere at the Alte Försterei. I look forward to getting to know the team, contributing to our success, and feeling the support of the fans. The Bundesliga is a great challenge that I am very excited about. I want to use the chance to prove myself at this level and to help the team with my qualities. Emmanuel Latte Lath, FC Union Berlin Striker - FC Union Berlin
Atlanta Is Already Looking Ahead
Atlanta now has an open Designated Player position, and Henderson publicly stated the club is attempting to fill it during the summer window.
That gives the front office an opportunity to reshape an attack that has relied heavily on Almirón while receiving limited production elsewhere. It also creates another high-stakes decision for a club that has repeatedly spent heavily at striker without finding a lasting successor to Josef Martínez.
Latte Lath was supposed to end that search. On paper, he looked like the ideal signing, combining speed and movement with a proven scoring record in England. Atlanta believed those qualities would translate to MLS and made the largest investment in club history to acquire him.
The investment produced nine league goals.
The loan to Union Berlin does not yet close Latte Lath’s Atlanta contract or guarantee that the club recovers a meaningful portion of its transfer expenditure. It does make Atlanta’s sporting decision clear.
Not every bet is a winner. Atlanta is looking to place another one before the summer window closes.