Gabriel Heinze quickly found how much the squad needed to be changed, and he starti..."/> Gabriel Heinze quickly found how much the squad needed to be changed, and he starti..."/> Gabriel Heinze quickly found how much the squad needed to be changed, and he starti..."/>
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Atlanta United’s most exciting signings ahead of 2021

By Alex Miller

Paraguay's U-23 football player Erik Lopez (C) takes part in a training session in Ypane, Paraguay, on January 15, 2020, ahead of the Pre-Olympic Tournament qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. - The U-23 South American Pre-Olympic Tournament will take place in the Colombian cities of Armenia, Bucaramanga and Pereira between January 18 and February 9, 2020. (Photo by NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP) (Photo by NORBERTO DUARTE/AFP via Getty Images)
Paraguay's U-23 football player Erik Lopez (C) takes part in a training session in Ypane, Paraguay, on January 15, 2020, ahead of the Pre-Olympic Tournament qualifiers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. - The U-23 South American Pre-Olympic Tournament will take place in the Colombian cities of Armenia, Bucaramanga and Pereira between January 18 and February 9, 2020. (Photo by NORBERTO DUARTE / AFP) (Photo by NORBERTO DUARTE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 25: Fans cheer during the MLS Eastern Conference Finals between Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – NOVEMBER 25: Fans cheer during the MLS Eastern Conference Finals between Atlanta United and the New York Red Bulls at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Atlanta United’s new manager Gabriel Heinze quickly found how much the squad needed to be changed, and he starting making those edits as quickly as possible. As of right now, Atlanta has had three players return from loan, bought seven players, loaned in another player, drafted two, declined options on seven players, let a player return from loan, loaned out two more, and traded two more away.

All that is to say, the 2021 season will look nothing like any season prior. With so much change in only a three-month window, here are the most exciting new players at Atlanta.

1. Ronald Hernandez (RB)

There was a growing worry around Franco Escobar when Heinze was announced, because of the lack of doubled-sided work Escobar was willing to do. Escobar’s 2020 season was worse than his 2019 season, which was worse than his 2018 season. All this opened up the door for Atlanta United to sign Hernandez on loan from partnered club Aberdeen in Scotland. The 23-year-old Venezuelan had a breakout season when Venezuelan side Zamora won the domestic title in 2016. That earned Hernandez a ticket to the Norwegian top flight at 19 years old. Hernandez has struggled since his arrival at Aberdeen, but he appears to crave first-team minutes and is willing to put in the work.

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