Atlanta United confirm signing of Jamal Thiare from Le Havre

Atlanta United have completed their second signing of the summer with the addition of striker Jamal Thiare from recently promoted Ligue 1 side Le Havre.

The 30-year-old joins the Five Stripes on a free transfer on a contract through the 2024 MLS season. Thiare is expected to provide depth for the back-up role for the striker position in Atlanta with Miguel Berry, who has scored just once in 2023.

Atlanta's starting striker, Giorgos Giakoumakis (who joined the club this past winter from Celtic), has scored 10 goals and shined in MLS, but the Eastern Conference team has needed a back-up to push their starting striker for quite some time now.

"Jamal’s profile is one that translates well to this league and will complement the group of players that we’ll have for the final stretch of the season," Atlanta United technical director and vice president Carlos Bocanegra said.

"He’s a veteran striker who has been a proven goal scorer throughout his career and we’re looking forward to having him bolster our attack."

Thiare spent the past five seasons with Le Havre, scoring 31 goals and 18 assists across 129 games for the French side. In the 2022/2023 season, the Senegal international tallied nine goal involvements to help his side gain promotion back to Ligue 1.

Atlanta head coach Gonzalo Pineda will have plenty of time to integrate Thiare into his team as the Five Stripes don't play another game until their August 20 showdown with Seattle Sounders. The 2018 MLS Cup Champions were knocked out of the Leagues Cup after being thumped by Inter Miami, having narrowly lost on penalty kicks to Cruz Azul.

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