HOW ACQUIRED: Signed as a Homegrown Player on Aug. 12, 2020, effective Jan. 1, 2021

The 16-year-old defender is the first player to sign from the academy’s inaugural U-12 team. Morales is the club's eighth Homegrown signing.

OUTSIDE MLS: Made four appearances with Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship in 2020. He scored in his professional debut on Aug. 15, 2020, coming on as a substitute against Charleston Battery. Morales joined the Atlanta United Academy for its inaugural season in 2016-17, playing for the U-12s. He made 22 appearances and scored four goals. He quickly jumped age groups the following season, splitting time equally between the U-15s and U-14s and appearing in 16 matches for each team.He broke through during the 2018-19 season, where he was called-up to the U.S. U-15 National Team for camps in August 2018 and January 2019. Although he was only 14 years old at the time, Morales again jumped age groups for the USSDA 2018-19 season, joining Atlanta’s U-17s for 10 matches.

INTERNATIONAL: Was called up to the US U-15 national team for camps in August 2018 and January 2019 and was called into the most recent US U-17 national team camp last February, a key camp for the 2021 U-17 FIFA World Cup.