Atlanta United announced today two roster moves ahead of the 2020 MLS season. The club extended the loan of Jon Gallagher with Aberdeen FC until the end of Aberdeen’s 2019-20 season and has mutually agreed to terminate the contract of midfielder Dion Pereira.

Gallagher, 23, was selected by Atlanta with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. He has been with Aberdeen since the summer of 2019 and has featured in 27matches in all competitions since joining the Scottish side including 16 starts. He started and played in all six UEFA Europa League Qualifiers recording three assists. In league play, he has made nine starts and scored his first goal for the club on Dec. 4 in a 2-2 draw with Rangers. Aberdeen (36 points) currently sit in fourth place in the table, one point off a Europa League qualifying spot. Gallagher has yet to make his MLS debut, but has combined to appear in 38 career matches with 35 starts and seven goals in two seasons at the USL level.

Pereira, 20, transferred to Atlanta United on Jan. 15, 2019 from English Premier League side Watford and played 18 games in his first MLS season. The midfielder started seven matches and played 663 total minutes, recording one assist. He also made two appearances (one start) in Atlanta’s run to the U.S. Open Cup title and tallied an assist in Atlanta’s 3-2 win against Club America in Campeones Cup.

“After speaking with Dion, we agreed that this was the best solution as he expressed an interest in returning to England for personal reasons,” said Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra. “We thank Dion for his contributions to the club and wish him the best moving forward.”

Transaction: Atlanta United extends Jon Gallagher’s loan with Aberdeen FC on Jan. 9, 2020.

Transaction: Atlanta United terminates the contract of Dion Pereira on Jan. 9, 2020.

2020 Atlanta United roster (as of Jan. 9, 2020)

Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan, Alec Kann, Brendan Moore

Defenders (7): George Bello, George Campbell, Franco Escobar, Jon Gallagher*, Brooks Lennon, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Miles Robinson

Midfielders (8): Mo Adams, Ezequiel Barco, Andrew Carleton, Luiz Fernando, Julian Gressel, Emerson Hyndman, Jeff Larentowicz, Eric Remedi

Forwards (4): Lagos Kunga, Josef Martinez, Pity Martinez, Tito Villalba

* - on loan with Aberdeen until end of 2019-20 Scottish season