Atlanta United has signed winger Hector "Tito" Villalba from Argentina league side San Lorenzo as the Major League Soccer team's first young designated player ahead of its inaugural season.
The compact, explosive winger will spend the rest of 2016 on loan before joining the expansion team for the preseason in 2017. The 21-year-old is likely headed out on loan to Liga MX club Tijuana, according to a report on MLSsoccer.com.
"Hector is an exciting player, and one of the top young talents in Argentina," Atlanta United technical director Carlos Bocanegra said in a statement. "He is a powerful, pacey attacking player who can play out wide or up top. We really like his competitive and industrious style.
"He has a high fitness capacity and an eye for goal. We think he will fit in perfectly within our system and within the MLS style of play."
#ATLUTD signs Argentine forward @TitoVillalba15 pic.twitter.com/yaMYa76zBT
- Atlanta United FC (@ATLUTD) July 22, 2016
Villalba, of Buenos Aires, has played his entire career for San Lorenzo. He featured on the team that won the 2014 Copa Libertadores, along with Montreal Impact playmaker Ignacio Piatti and New York Red Bulls attacker Gonzalo Veron.
He has also won Argentina Primera Division and Supercopa titles in his four-year career.