Atlanta United signs midfielder Tristan Muyumba

Atlanta United announced today that they've signed midfielder Tristan Muyumba from Ligue 2's EA Guingamp. Muyumba is signed through 2027 and will occupy a senior roster spot and an international spot. 

Muyumba, 26, is a product of AS Monaco's youth academy. Muyumba made over 50 appearances for Monaco B, however he never made an appearance with the club's first team. In 2020, he joined EA Guingamp where he's made over 70 appearances since 2021. 

Ok, cool, what does this mean?

Can I be real with y'all on The Striker Dot Com today? I have no idea. There's next to no info on Muyumba other than what I've given you. No real stats, not a ton of footage, just not much to go on. Any thoughts about how he'll fit into the squad and what kind of player he'll be in MLS are even more based on conjecture than normal. We simply don't know how he'll translate or what's truly expected of him.

What we do know is that he won't be the last signing of what promises to be a busy summer window for Atlanta United. The team is looking to get older, get more experience and find more long-term pieces that can make the team better from top to bottom. Muyumba fits into that profile even if it's tough to make projections on what his actual impact will be. 

We'll hopefully have a better idea soon of what he brings to the table, but it will be a moment as he waits to acquire his work visa. It's likely his MLS debut won't come until after Leagues Cup. 

Ok, but, come on, is he gonna save the team?

Alright fine. I watched some clumsily edited highlight videos that have like 600 views, presumably all in the last couple of weeks. From what little we can see, he looks mobile, he looks press resistant and he seems to value progressing the ball forward. Is that because he actually is all those things? I have no idea. Ligue 2 isn't exactly top level competition. Highlight reels never tell the full story. But from the little glimpses we can see, he does appear to have some of the characteristics that have been lacking in Atlanta's midfield. 

Will that all translate? Again. No idea. None. Anyone who says they have one is lying. However, it is an exciting moment. The team is recognizing the need for change in midfield. And hopefully more is on the way. And hopefully when they do arrive Atlanta finds someone with a fully fleshed out FBref page so I can pretend I know what I'm talking about.