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Jeff Carlisle
Atlanta United is preparing to finalize a permanent transfer for U.S. youth international and Barcelona midfielder Adrian Gill, as confirmed by a source to ESPN.
Mundo Deportivo was the first outlet to break the news.
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At 20 years old, Gill is expected to occupy a supplemental roster position with Atlanta, allowing his salary to be excluded from the team’s salary cap.
Since October, Gill has been on loan to UE Cornellà, participating in Spain’s fifth division. Prior to this, he played for Barcelona’s B team in the fourth tier.
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Gill joined Barcelona’s academy in 2018, coming from Cornellà’s youth setup.
His rise through Barcelona’s youth ranks was swift, earning his first professional contract in 2022. Unfortunately, he faced a setback due to an ACL injury in September 2023, hindering his development.
Last August, Barcelona extended Gill’s contract until 2026.
Although primarily a midfielder, he has also played as an outside back.
On the international stage, Gill was part of the U.S. team at the 2023 Concacaf U17 Championships, featuring in seven matches. His knee injury, however, prevented him from being selected for the U17 World Cup squad. Gill also has the option to represent Spain.
Despite Gill’s departure, the U.S. will still have a presence at Barcelona with goalkeeper Diego Kochen. Although the 19-year-old has not yet made his first team debut, he has been included in senior matchday squads.