Emmanuel Latte Lath has joined Atlanta United from Middlesbrough for an MLS record $28.1million.
Ivory Coast international Latte Lath completed the move, which is also the highest fee Middlesbrough have recieved, before Monday’s transfer deadline.
The 26-year-old scored 29 goals in 67 appearances for the Championship side after arriving from Atalanta in 2023.
Latte Lath will join up with former Newcastle midfielder Miguel Almiron with the Georgia-based outfit after the Paraguayan returned for £8m in January.
The deal to bring the former Atalanta striker to the States is believed to be $21.7m up front and $6.4m in add-ons.
That $28.1m potential fee eclipses the $16.2m Cincinnati spent on Kevin Denkey last November.
Atlanta’s new striker is 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞. pic.twitter.com/TZI6XlVyX6
— Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) February 4, 2025
“We’re excited to sign Latte Lath and look forward to welcoming him to the club and the city of Atlanta,” sporting director Chris Henderson said.
“He’s a forward with excellent pace and good goal-scoring instincts. His ability to stretch the field will add another dimension to our attack.
“At 26 years old, he’s entering the prime years of his career and has already shown his goal-scoring ability in multiple leagues in Europe.”
Most expensive MLS signings
Atlanta are no stranger to spending big on signings, with the 2018 MLS Cup winners responsible for four of the five most expensive signings in the competition’s history.
Thiago Almada (2021) and Gonzalo Martinez (2018) each arrived for $15m, with Esequiel Barco also costing $13m in 2017.
- Emannuel Latte Lath (Middlesbrough to Atlanta, 2025) – $28.1m
- Kevin Denkey (Club Brugge to FC Cincinnati, 2024) – $16.2m
- Thiago Almada (Vélez Sarsfield to Atlanta, 2022) – $15m
- Gonzalo Martinez (River Plate to Atlanta, 2019) – $15m
- Esequiel Barco (Independiente to Atlanta, 2018) – $13m
- Hirving Lozano (PSV to San Diego, 2024) – $13m
- Alexey Miranchuk (Atalanta to Atlanta, 2024) – $13m
- Myrto Uzuni (Granada to Austin, 2025) – $13m
- Brenner (Sao Paulo to FC Cincinnati, 2024) – $12.6m
- Luiz Araujo (Lille to Atlanta, 2023) – $11.9m