Rodrigo Neri, a forward, has joined Atlanta United 2 on a free transfer, with a deal that runs through the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season. Neri joined Valencia CF in February of this year and has since played for the Juvenil A (U-19) team. On July 18, when the MLS Secondary Transfer Window begins, he will be qualified to play.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rodrigo to the club and are eager to watch his development and impact on the squad during this next year and a half,” said Director of Methodology Javier Perez. “Rodrigo has great potential and a wealth of experience through his time in Spain and with the United States Youth teams that will help lift our Second Team and the players around him.”
The last few years have been spent by 19-year-old Neri growing in various LaLiga and LaLiga 2 Academy programs. When he joined Atletico Madrid in 2021, he started his professional career by working his way through the academy there. Prior to joining Valencia in February, Neri had the chance to train with the First Team multiple times and finished his rookie season with 20 goals and 11 assists.
Neri has represented the US at the U-19 and U-23 levels on the international scene. Neri was chosen in 2023 to be one of the eighteen athletes representing the United States in Chile for the Pan American Games.
After playing in all five games and scoring a goal against Colombia to advance the U.S. to the quarterfinals, Neri assisted in leading the team to a fourth-place finish in the competition. Neri has scored seven goals overall in 13 games with the U. S. National Youth Teams. Neri is qualified to represent Venezuela and Spain as well.
