Atlanta United 2 today announced it has acquired four players ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season. Joining the club is Matías Benítez, Darwin Matheus, Connor Stanley, and midfielder Chris Allan, pending league and federation approval. Benítez and Stanley join the club on loan for the 2021 season.
Allan, 22, played collegiately at the University of Charleston in West Virginia in 2019. He played and started in all 17 games, scored three goals and recorded three assists as the Golden Eagles were crowned Mountain East Conference (MEC) season and tournament champions before going on to win the NCAA Division II National Championship. He was named to the All-MEC First Team and the Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the NCAA Tournament. Allan spent time in Sunderland A.F.C’s youth academy before coming to the United States.
Benítez, 20, has spent the last two seasons with River Plate’s reserve team. During the 2019-20 season, he played in 18 matches, nine starts, and scored five goals in Argentina’s reserve league. The forward started in two matches this season before joining ATL UTD 2.
Benítez starred during the 2020 U-20 Copa Libertadores when he scored four goals in four matches and helped lead River Plate to the final. He opened the tournament with a goal during a 3-1 group stage win over Danubio as River won Group B. Benítez then netted a brace in the semifinals during a 6-1 rout against Libertad. He scored his fourth goal when he converted a penalty in the final against Independiente del Valle.
Matheus, 19, joins ATL UTD 2 after spending three years with Zamora FC where he totaled 62 appearances and scored 13 goals across all competitions. A native of Barinas, Venezuela, he made his professional debut for his hometown club in 2018 and went on to score two goals in nine appearances as Zamora won the Primera División after beating Deportivo Lara in the Serie Final.
In his sophomore campaign, Matheus made 22 appearances, 10 starts, and scored four goals. He also scored two goals in eight appearances in Copa Venezuela Play. In 2020, he recorded five goals in 19 league matches. Matheus also made his Copa Sudamericana debut when he made two appearances in the first stage against Uruguay’s Plaza Colonia.
Stanley, 19, comes from Manchester United where he joined its academy in August 2018. He featured 11 times for the U-18s in his first season. In his second year, Stanley made seven appearances and provided three assists. The England native made the jump to the U-23s this season where he made three appearances in the Premier League 2.
PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Chris Allan
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Birthdate: Sept. 27, 1998 (age: 22)
Birthplace: South Shields, England
Citizenship: England
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 acquired Chris Allan on April 2, 2021.
Name: Fernando Matías Benítez
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 135
Birthdate: Nov. 13, 2000 (age: 20)
Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina
Citizenship: Argentina
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 acquired Matías Benítez on loan from River Plate on April 2, 2021.
Name: Darwin Matheus
Position: Forward
Height: 5-7
Weight: 135
Birthdate: April 9, 2001 (age: 19)
Birthplace: Barinas, Venezuela
Citizenship: Venezuela
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 acquired Darwin Matheus on April 2, 2021.
Name: Connor Stanley
Position: Forward
Height: 5-9
Weight: 145
Birthdate: Dec. 30, 2001 (age: 19)
Birthplace: Redditch, England
Citizenship: England
Transaction: Atlanta United 2 acquired Connor Stanley on loan from Manchester United on April 2, 2021.
2021 Atlanta United 2 roster (as of April 2, 2021)
Goalkeepers (1): Rocco Ríos Novo*
Defenders (2): Bradley Kamdem Fewo, Jack Gurr
Midfielders (3): Abdoulaye Diop, Robbie Mertz, Chris Allan
Forwards (5): Amadou Macky Diop, Phillip Goodrum, Darwin Matheus, Matías Benítez*, Connor Stanley*
*on loan for the 2021 USL Championship season