In advance of Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup match against Charlotte Independence (7:30 p.m. ET, WATCH HERE, 92.9 The Game, La Mejor), Atlanta United today announced the signing of Ashton Gordon and Matt Edwards to Short-Term Agreements. A club may sign a player, 25 years of age or younger, from its affiliate (MLS NEXT Pro) during the league season, up to four Short-Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) every season (maximum of 16 days), per the 2024 MLS Roster Rules and Regulations.
A single player may be included on as many as four rosters for MLS league season matches in a given season, but they may only participate in two of those games. Throughout the terms, a single player may participate in an unlimited number of non-league games.
For each MLS league season match, a club may use up to four players on Short-Term Agreements, provided that they are either homegrown players or are paid less than or equal to the MLS Senior Minimum Salary ($89,716) with their affiliate.
After the roster freeze (which includes the MLS Cup Playoffs), this amount will be lowered to one player per MLS league season match. For MLS league season games, more players may also be signed to Short-Term Agreements, but only in the most dire circumstances.
Gordon played for Atlanta United’s Academy from 2019 until signing with Atlanta United 2 on January 29, 2024. This season, he has made two appearances for ATL UTD 2. In 2023, the forward competed for Atlanta United’s U-17 team.
He scored four goals in the tournament’s playoff stages to help the U-16 club win the MLS NEXT Cup in June. Gordon has made six appearances and scored two goals for Jamacia’s youth national teams while playing abroad.
He made two appearances in the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship Qualifiers and scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 victory over Bermuda. Gordon participated in four games at the Guatemalan 2023 CONCACAF U-17 Championship. On February 12, 2023, he scored in his first game, a 4-2 victory over Cuba’s U-17 team.
On December 22, 2023, Edwards, who had played three seasons at the University of North Carolina, signed a contract with Atlanta United 2. Atlanta’s defense, which has kept three clean sheets this season, is led by the captain of ATL UTD 2, who has started all seven of the team’s games in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
At the U-17 level, Edwards enrolled in the Atlanta United Academy in 2019 and captained the U-19 team. The adaptable defender appeared in eight games for ATL UTD 2 during the 2020 USL Championship season, marking his professional debut.
Over the course of three seasons, the product of Apex, North Carolina, participated in 43 games with the Tar Heels. In his final season in 2023, he participated in 18 games—16 of which he started—and finished with two assists, aiding North Carolina in its journey to the ACC Tournament Final and the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals.
