Before the 2020 MLS SuperDraft on Thursday, Atlanta United FC announced a pair of roster moves.
The club has mutually agreed with Dion Pereira to terminate the midfielder’s contract and it has extended the loan of Jon Gallagher to keep him with Scottish side Aberdeen FC until the end of their 2019-20 season.
Atlanta acquired Pereira, 20, just a year ago from English Premier League side Watford via transfer. He played in 18 MLS games with Atlanta, starting in seven. He also played in two U.S. Open Cup matches and in Atlanta’s 3-2 win against Club America in Campeones Cup. Typically a left winger, Pereira notched four assists across all competitions for Atlanta.
“After speaking with Dion, we agreed that this was the best solution as he expressed an interest in returning to England for personal reasons,” Atlanta United technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a statement. “We thank Dion for his contributions to the club and wish him the best moving forward.”
Gallagher, 23, was selected by Atlanta with the 14th overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft out of Notre Dame. He has yet to make his MLS debut, but has featured in 38 matches for Atlanta’s USL Championship side, ATL UTD 2. A versatile player who has featured as a central forward, a right back, a winger and a central midfielder, Gallagher has notched seven goals and six assists at the USL level.
The Irishman was loaned to Aberdeen prior to the start of their 2019-20 season and has played for the club in the Scottish Premiership, the League Cup and in qualifying for the Europa League. Across all contests, he has appeared in 27 matches, scoring twice and dishing out four assists.
In November, Atlanta United entered into a strategic partnership with Aberdeen. Atlanta United owner Arthur Blank purchased a minority stake of less than 10 percent in the Scottish club.
In Thursday’s MLS SuperDraft, Atlanta drafted defender Patrick Nielsen of Michigan State with the No. 23 overall pick.