Atlanta United sign 18-year-old Ghanaian forward Jeffrey Otoo

Carlos Bocanegra at Atlanta United FC event

Atlanta United signed the third player in club history on Wednesday, announcing that they’ve added 18-year-old Ghanaian striker Jeffrey Otoo.


Otoo comes to Atlanta from Ghanaian club Charity Stars FC, where he scored 21 goals in 13 appearances since joining the second-division club in December 2015. He’ll spend the remainder of the 2016 season on loan to the Charleston Battery, Atlanta’s USL affiliate.


Atlanta will join MLS as an expansion club next year.


“Jeffrey is a talented young player who we identified through our international scouting network,” Atlanta technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a club statement. “Having him signed with us at this time enables him to play with the Charleston Battery and get familiar with US soccer ahead of our inaugural season in 2017.”


A 5-foot-9 left-footer, Otoo joins goalkeeper Alexandros Tabakis and midfielder Junior Burgos on Atlanta’s 2017 roster.