{# Overlay logo in the middle of the banner, no layout shift #} 
Malmö targeted the veteran center back after reshaping its defense, while Atlanta clears a significant salary from an increasingly crowded position.
ATLUTD Transfers Stian Gregersen to Swedish Side Malmö FF
Atlanta United’s reshaped defense lost another piece Thursday when the club transferred center back Stian Gregersen to Malmö FF in Sweden.
Malmö announced that Gregersen signed a contract through December 31, 2029 and will wear No. 2. The 31-year-old leaves Atlanta after two-and-a-half seasons, with 60 MLS regular-season and playoff appearances, including 51 starts, three goals and two assists.
Why Malmö made the move
Malmö sold Norwegian centerback Colin Rösler to Danish club AGF on August 2. Rösler had established himself as a regular after joining Malmö in 2024, making 82 competitive appearances and starting 15 of the club’s 16 Europa League knockout matches during the previous two seasons.
Gregersen looks to fill the void left by Rösler. Stian is a player with a lot of experience who comes in and gives us both quality and security. He comes from an ongoing season and is physically fit to be able to come in and play straight away, which is of course a big advantage. Philip Berglund, Malmö Sporting Director
Malmö wanted a defender comfortable playing aggressively, winning physical confrontations and taking responsibility within the back line. He has the physical attributes that fit well with our style of play, is strong in duels, but above all he is a player who takes responsibility and drives those around him. We see a clear leadership profile in Stian. Philip Berglund, Malmö Sporting Director
After speaking with Malmö and head coach Gaute Helstrup, Gregersen said the club’s approach suited the way he wants to defend. Already after the first meeting with Malmö FF and Gaute Helstrup, I felt that this is exactly the way I want to play football. I like to stand high and I'm good at stepping forward up the pitch. I'm a strong and fast center back and I'm physically ready to put on the match shirt straight away. Stian Gregersen, Malmö FF Defender 
Malmö FF is the most successful club in Swedish soccer. Founded in 1910, the club has won 24 Swedish championships and 16 Swedish Cups. Its most famous European run came in 1979, when Malmö reached the European Cup final before losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest in Munich. Malmö remains the only Swedish club to have reached the final. Recent history includes Champions League group-stage appearances in 2014, 2015 and 2021 and regular participation in the Europa League.
However, However, Malmö has struggled by its usual standards this season. After 18 matches, the defending Swedish power sits seventh in the 16-team Allsvenskan with an 8-2-8 record and 26 points. Gregersen arrives after Malmö suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Djurgården on Monday. The club has been undergoing another transition under Helstrup, making the addition of an experienced defender capable of playing immediately particularly useful.
Gregersen has little time to settle in. Malmö’s next Allsvenskan match is Monday at IK Sirius, and he made clear that he already knew the date and was ready to play.
A Return to Scandinavia
Malmö sits at the southern tip of Sweden on the Öresund Strait, directly across the water from Copenhagen. The city can be reached by train in roughly 30 to 40 minutes, giving the region an unusually interconnected Scandinavian identity.
Sweden’s third-largest city grew from a fishing settlement into an industrial center before reinventing itself around technology, education and its waterfront. The city describes itself today as one of Sweden’s youngest and most international, with a compact center where walking and cycling are common.
For Gregersen, the move represents a return to Scandinavia after five years in France and the United States. It also gives him something he specifically mentioned, the chance to play in front of Malmö’s support. All Nordic football players know that there is something special about stepping out and playing here in Malmö. It will be huge. Stian Gregersen, Malmö FF Defender
What it means for Atlanta
Atlanta’s backline looks considerably different than it did at the beginning of the summer.
Júnior Alonso arrived from Atlético Mineiro in July, followed one day later by Paulo Díaz from River Plate. Tata Martino has since used the two South American internationals together, pushing Gregersen and Enea Mihaj into reserve roles.
Gregersen had been under contract through the 2027 season with an option for 2028. The MLSPA’s Spring 2026 Salary Guide listed him at an $850,000 base salary and $970,000 in guaranteed compensation. Moving him removes one of Atlanta’s larger defensive salaries and creates additional flexibility on a roster that has undergone significant changes this summer.
The choice of Gregersen is still somewhat surprising.
Mihaj remains under contract through 2028 with an option for 2029 and carries an even larger salary. The MLSPA lists him at $1.215 million in base salary and $1.557 million in guaranteed compensation. Gregersen had also shown that his speed and willingness to defend higher up the field could fit Martino’s approach.
But Atlanta could only act on the offers it received. Malmö had an immediate need at centerback and specifically targeted Gregersen. With Alonso and Díaz established ahead of him and Tomás Jacob and Matthew Edwards providing additional depth, Atlanta had enough coverage to accept the offer.