Union Berlin sign Emmanuel Latte Lath on season-long loan from Atlanta United

Union Berlin have completed the season-long loan signing of Emmanuel Latte Lath from Major League Soccer side Atlanta United, the Bundesliga club confirmed on 3 August 2026. The 27-year-old Côte d’Ivoire international arrives as a direct attacking reinforcement ahead of the club’s eighth consecutive Bundesliga campaign.

The move was announced through the Bundesliga’s official channels, with Union sporting director Horst Heldt describing the striker as a player who “fits the profile” the club wanted in attack.

The deal at a glance

Latte Lath will spend the 2026-27 season at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei before returning to Atlanta United, unless the two clubs agree on a permanent transfer later. The announcement does not state whether a purchase option is included.

| Item | Detail |
| Player | Emmanuel Latte Lath, 27, Côte d’Ivoire international |
| Move | Season-long loan from Atlanta United to Union Berlin |
| Announced | 3 August 2026 through Bundesliga official channels |
| Previous club | Atlanta United: 15 goal contributions in 48 appearances |
| Possible debut | 29 August vs Eintracht Frankfurt at home |

A route through Atalanta, St. Gallen and Middlesbrough

Latte Lath’s path to the Bundesliga has passed through four different countries. He came through Atalanta’s academy in Italy before his breakthrough at Swiss club St. Gallen in 2022-23, where he scored 14 league goals and added four assists in 31 appearances.

That form earned him a move to Middlesbrough in the English Championship. Across all competitions, he scored 29 goals in 67 appearances for the Teesside club, including 16 goals in his debut league season.

In early 2025, he crossed the Atlantic to join Atlanta United in MLS and recorded 15 goal contributions in 48 appearances. The four-time Côte d’Ivoire international now gets his first opportunity in one of Europe’s top five leagues.

Why Union Berlin made the move

Union Berlin entered the summer needing more firepower, and the club’s leadership is clear about what Latte Lath brings. “Emmanuel has worked his way up step by step and proven his quality in different countries,” sporting director Horst Heldt said. “With his pace, mentality and eye for goal, he fits the profile we were looking for in attack. He will give us additional options, and we are convinced he will quickly integrate into the team.”

The player himself says he was sold on the move early in negotiations. “The talks with Union have been very positive from the start, and I have already had the opportunity to experience the atmosphere at the Alte Försterei,” Latte Lath said. “The Bundesliga is a great challenge that I am very excited about. I want to use the chance to prove myself at this level and help the team with my qualities.”

A debut date is already on the calendar

Latte Lath could make his first Bundesliga appearance on 29 August when Union Berlin open their eighth consecutive top-flight season at home to Eintracht Frankfurt. The match gives him a full preseason to settle into the squad before competitive football begins.

What remains unclear

The official announcement does not clarify several commercial details of the deal. There is no public information on a loan fee, whether Union Berlin have an option or obligation to buy, or how his wages are split between the two clubs. Atlanta United’s own statement on the departure has not been published through the same channel, so fans should wait for either club to confirm the full contract terms before assuming a permanent deal is already in place.

What to watch next

Union Berlin supporters can track two things over the coming weeks: whether Latte Lath is named in the squad for the season opener on 29 August, and how quickly he forms a partnership with the club’s existing forwards. The club’s official channels and the Bundesliga’s matchday lineup announcements will confirm his first minutes in Germany.

Source: https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/emmanuel-latte-lath-union-berlin-loan-atlanta-united-38452

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