Atlanta United defender Anton Walkes was selected by Charlotte FC with the second pick in the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft on Tuesday. Each club that had a player selected will receive $50,000 in General Allocation Money.
Walkes, 24, initially joined Atlanta before the club’s inaugural campaign in 2017 on loan from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and started 17 of his 20 MLS appearances that season. He returned to Tottenham following the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs and was then loaned to Portsmouth for the remainder of the 2017-18 EFL League One season, later joining the club on a permanent transfer. Walkes signed with Atlanta in January of 2020 and spent the past two seasons with the club. In total, the center back made 70 MLS appearances and 64 starts over three seasons and tallied four goals and three assists.
2021 Expansion Draft Selections
McKinze Gaines (Austin FC)
Anton Walkes (Atlanta United)
Joseph Mora (DC United)
Tristan Blackmon (LAFC)
Ismael Tajouri-Shradi (NYCFC)