Giakoumakis joins Atlanta United from Celtic - Greek striker replaces Martínez

Major League Soccer giants Atlanta United have found a replacement for Josef Martínez. On Wednesday, the Five Stripes announced the arrival of Greek striker Georgios Giakoumakis from Celtic FC. Giakoumakis has signed a Designated Player (DP) contract until 2026. According to various reports, Celtic FC will receive €4 million initially, with up to €800,000 in performance-based add-ons. 

"Giorgos is a player who's been on the club's radar for a while, and we're excited to bring him to Atlanta," Atlanta United technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club statement. "He's a powerful striker who loves to get in the box and score goals. He plays with a high intensity, works hard and is someone we think will help the team both in the attack and leading the line defensively. We're excited to welcome him to the club and integrate him into the squad."

The transfer announcement on Wednesday ends Atlanta's week-long pursuit for the 28-year-old striker. Atlanta United identified Giakoumakis a few weeks ago as a potential replacement for former superstar striker Martínez. But the Greek forward was already in advanced talks with J1 League side Urawa Red Diamonds, and Atlanta United had to work hard to hijack the deal. 

Giakoumakis to Atlanta - Urawa Red Diamonds lose out

Signed for €2.45m from Venlo in the summer of 2021, Giakoumakis has managed 26 goals in 57 games across all competitions for Celtic. But despite being extremely productive, Giakoumakis started to struggle for playing time under Australian coach Ange Postecoglou, who preferred Kyogo Furahashi. As a result, Giakoumakis wanted out, and with the window closed in most major European leagues, Atlanta United and MLS offered an attractive escape route.