With immediate effect through the 2025 season and options through 2027, Atlanta United announced today that it has signed defender Matt Edwards as a Homegrown Player. “Matt returned to the club after playing three seasons at North Carolina, and he has been patient with his development process, joining our Academy at the U-17 level and earning his role as captain for Atlanta United 2,” stated Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra.
“He’s been a reliable performer this year, and his on-field performance has earned him this Homegrown deal. He is an exemplary teammate who exemplifies the various routes players might pursue to secure a spot on the First Team.
After spending three seasons at the University of North Carolina, Edwards signed a contract with Atlanta United 2 on December 22, 2023. At the U-17 level, he 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.
During the team’s U.S. Open, the 21-year-old defender made his Atlanta United debut. He contributed to the team’s 3-0 victory in the Open Cup Round of 32 match against Charlotte Independence, playing 64 minutes and collecting an assist. Before Atlanta moved forward on penalty kicks, Edwards started in Atlanta’s U.S. Open Cup match against Charleston Battery and contributed to keeping another clean sheet.
Atlanta’s defense, which has kept three clean sheets this season, is led by the captain of ATL UTD 2, who has participated in ten games, nine of which have been starts, in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro league.
