By: Alex Jenkins (@acjenkins17, @1788sports)

Photo: https://www.timbers.com/players/darlington-nagbe

What!?! You read that title right folks. Atlanta United has acquired now ex-Portland Timber and current USMNT midfielder Darlington Nagbe. Nagbe, 27, has played with the Timbers since he was drafted 2nd overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. In his 214 appearances, 203 starts, he has scored 27 goals to go along with 30 assists.

Rumor of Atlanta acquiring Nagbe started just a few days ago and caught many people, including myself, by surprise. So people are probably wondering what all did United have to give up to get Nagbe? The answer… nothing outrageous. Atlanta acquired Nagbe and Gbenga Arokoyo in exchange for $750k in General Allocation Money, $300k in Targeted Allocation Money, and a 2018 international roster spot. I haven’t heard exactly what United plans to do with the latter but I heard speculation Arokoyo will join the USL team or have his contract bought out.

Nagbe usually played on the left wing while in Portland but he did also play at a center/holding midfield position as well. He has been one of the most skillful players in the MLS for the past couple of seasons but people are quick to criticize him due to the lack of goals and assists he has provided. No need to fret or be worried though, because Nagbe is an incredible talent. Check out his highlights here. He possess great vision, excellent passing, the skillfulness to beat opponents 1v1, and the ability to maintain possession of the ball in tight quarters.

The main question now is where will Nagbe play? With the decision on whether or not Atlanta will acquire Ezequiel Barco happening tomorrow, it seems there is a fortitude of attacking options for United. I mentioned early that Nagbe can play both wide and central midfield position. I personally would like Nagbe to play out wide at a left wing but allow him to have the freedom to roam towards the middle of the pitch in the attacking third. I feel like Nagbe is at his best with the ball at his feet and acres of open field to run at. Once in the final third, he has the creativity to cut inside and the passing abilities to find the feet of Josef Martínez, Miguel Almirón, Héctor Villalba, etc.

Where Nagbe fits into the already lethal attack that United possess is up in the air. I am confident that the front office knows exactly what they want to do and will execute it perfectly. Hats off again to the FO for bringing another huge talent to Atlanta!