Signed on loan during the 2022 summer transfer window from Tigres UANL, Juanjo Purata quickly joined the starting lineup and added experience and leadership to a young Atlanta back line. The 24-year-old center back made 16 starts in 17 appearances and made an immediate impact on set pieces, scoring six goals, including becoming just the second MLS defender to ever record a hat trick when he did so against Toronto FC on Sept. 10. Purata tied for the most goals by a defender in MLS this season with six and tied for the most headed goals with six.
The 24-year-old had previously spent his entire professional career with Tigres UANL, one of the top clubs in Liga MX. He joined the Tigres academy in 2015 and worked his way up the ranks before making the jump into the first team in 2017. He’s made 34 appearances in his career, including 26 in Liga MX play, and was part of the Tigres squad that won the 2018 Campeones Cup, 2019 Liga MX Clausura and the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League.
The San Luis Potosi, Mexico native made his professional debut on Aug. 31, 2017 when he played 90 minutes in a Copa MX match against Cruz Azul. His Liga MX debut came on Sept. 24, 2018 when he played against Monterrey. That season he made 10 appearances across all competitions. His first professional goal came in the 2020 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League when he scored against Alianza FC in the Round of 16 opening leg.
2022 (Atlanta United): Signed on loan during the 2022 summer transfer window from Tigres UANL, Purata made 16 starts in 17 MLS appearances and made an immediate impact on set pieces, scoring six goals, including becoming just the second MLS defender to ever record a hat trick when he did so against Toronto FC on Sept. 10. Purata tied for the most goals by a defender in MLS this season with six and tied for the most headed goals with six. Finished with a team-best 55 headed clearances in only 17 matches. His 3.67 headed clearances per match was the highest mark of any defender in MLS (minimum 11 matches).
