Atlanta United completed the signing of Lanus midfielder Miguel Almiron on Monday.
The MLS expansion club will pay a transfer fee of around $8 million to the Argentina club, according to multiple league sources, after initial reports had pegged Almiron's fee as high as $13 million.
Almiron signed a Young Designated Player contract after acquiring the right of first refusal from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for general allocation money.
The 22-year-old plays as an attacking or left-sided midfielder. He excelled for Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno before moving to Lanus in August of 2015, where he has made 34 appearances, scoring three goals.
At the international level, Almiron has made seven appearances for Paraguay and impressed at last summer's Copa America Centenario, though he has yet to score his first goal for La Albirroja.
Our playmaker is here. #ATLUTD pic.twitter.com/Zwu6GLOwcN
- Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) December 5, 2016
Last Friday, reports out of South America indicated that Almiron would head to Atlanta. Manager Tata Martino later confirmed that a deal was nearly complete on Paraguayan radio.
Almiron was then spotted at Sunday's NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs alongside Atlanta United president Darren Eales and technical director Carlos Bocanegra. United and the Falcons are both owned by Arthur Blank.
"Our club's ambition is to acquire quality players heading into their peak playing years and Miguel's youth and ability absolutely speak to that," Eales said in a statement.
"He's highly regarded as one of the top young players in South America and we couldn't be happier that he has chosen to continue his already impressive career here in Atlanta."
