Brennan signs Homegrown contract

18-year-old Atlanta native set to join Atlanta United 2.

Luke Brennan, an Atlanta United academy player, signed a Homegrown contract with the MLS club that will go into effect on Jan. 1.

Brennan will join Atlanta United 2, which plays in MLS Next Pro, for the 2023 season.

Atlanta United announced both signings Thursday.

“Luke has continued to progress through the ranks over the past few seasons,” club vice president Carlos Bocanegra said in a statement. “He’s a talented player that can play off either wing. He got some experience with our first team during preseason, and we are looking forward to seeing him continue to develop with our MLS Next Pro team this season.”

Brennan, an 18-year-old forward, is native of Atlanta who has received a call-up to the U.S. Under-19 team.

Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda consistently praised him for his runs and work rate after exhibitions this season. Pineda said he likes Brennan’s physicality and his ability to consistently make sprints behind defensive lines, and that he can play from box-to-box.

“So we see that potential, but ultimately, it depends on their development, it depends on how good we are at coaching him and how good he is receiving that coaching and applying it in his game,” Pineda said.

Brennan, after scoring a goal Feb. 15 against Toluca, said he hoped to earn a Homegrown contract. He had committed to play at South Carolina, now coached by Tony Annan, Atlanta United’s former academy director.

“I just want to keep working hard, show myself off as much as I can,” Brennan said.

Brennan scored two goals in 27 appearances for Atlanta United 2 last season.

Atlanta United has six Homegrown signees on its roster this season: Noah Cobb, Ajani Fortune, Machop Chol, Caleb Wiley, Jackson Conway and Tyler Wolff.

Leagues Cup dates announced

Atlanta United’s dates for its Leagues Cup games against Miami and Cruz Azul were announced by CONCACAF on Thursday.

The Five Stripes will play at Miami on July 25 and will host Cruz Azul on July 29. Game times haven’t been announced.

The top two teams in each of the 15 groups will advance to the knockout rounds of the tournament, which features all 47 teams from MLS and LIGA MX.

The tournament will take place from July 21 to Aug. 19.

Each team in a group will play two matches. Matches can’t end in a tie. If regulation ends with a draw, a penalty-kick shootout will determine the winner. A team that wins in regulation earns three points. A team that wins in the PK shootout earns two points. A team that loses in the PK shootout earns one point.

The Round of 32 (LAFC and Pachuca received byes into the knockouts) will consist of 16 matches with the winning teams advancing. The secondand third-place teams will qualify for the 2024 CONCACAF Champions League. The tournament winner will be placed in the Champions League round of 16.

Games will be broadcast on Apple’s MLS platform.

Presales for tickets to Atlanta United’s match against Cruz Azul began Thursday.

Rossetto ‘questionable’

Atlanta United midfielder Matheus Rossetto is questionable for Saturday’s MLS game at Charlotte because he felt something in his hamstring, Pineda said Thursday.

Rossetto has scored one goal in two starts this season. Pineda described the potential injury as very minor. Rossetto was to undergo tests to determine whether he will be available.

If Rossetto is ruled out,

Pineda has options.

Santiago Sosa is eligible because his suspension is over. Amar Sejdic and Ajani Fortune also are options, Pineda said. He likes Sejdic’s ability to hit long passes. Fortune is a Homegrown signee in his first season with the club.

Pineda has used Franco Ibarra as a defensive midfielder and Rossetto as a central midfielder in the first two games. Pineda said he sees Sosa as more of a defensive midfielder. Pineda also said he could use two defensive midfielders Saturday, which would give Thiago Almada more space.