Union Berlin signs Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath on season-long loan from Atlanta United

The deal

Union Berlin secured Ivorian striker Emmanuel Latte Lath on a season-long loan from Atlanta United for the 2026-27 campaign, the clubs announced on Sunday. The agreement includes an option for the German side to purchase his contract outright, with Union taking on his full salary. Atlanta United chief soccer officer Chris Henderson framed the move as beneficial for all parties.

“After discussions with Manu, we felt this move was the right opportunity for everyone involved. Union Berlin competes at a high level in one of the top leagues in the world, and this gives him the chance to continue his development in a strong environment.”

Henderson added that the departure opens a Designated Player spot for Atlanta, which the club intends to fill during the summer window.

A well-traveled career

Latte Lath, 27, has played for eleven clubs across nine years, a journey that took him through Italy, Switzerland, England, and the United States before landing in Berlin. He spent much of his early career in Italy's third-tier Serie C on a series of loans before a productive stint at FC St. Gallen in the 2022-23 season, where he scored 16 goals in 34 appearances. That form earned him a permanent move to Middlesbrough in the English Championship in summer 2023, and his performances there prompted Atlanta United to pay a reported $22 million (21.25 million euros) transfer fee, a league record at the time.

Atlanta struggles

Latte Lath's time in MLS fell short of expectations. Across all competitions, he recorded 11 goals and four assists in 48 matches. In the 2026 regular season, he managed two goals and two assists in 14 games, 10 of them starts. Atlanta sits at the bottom of the league with a 3-12-3 record and 12 points. The Berliner Zeitung described the US adventure as a costly misunderstanding.

What Union Berlin gets

Union Berlin manager Horst Heldt pointed to the striker's pace, mentality, and goal-scoring instinct as qualities the squad needed. Latte Lath speaks English, Italian, French, and Spanish fluently and has earned four caps for the Ivory Coast national team. He joins a forward group that includes Andrej Ilic, Ilyas Ansah, Marin Ljubicic, and Oliver Burke, though Burke will miss the upcoming training camp in Austria due to injury.

“Emmanuel has worked his way up step by step at a high level and proven his quality in different countries. With his pace, his mentality and his goal instinct, he fits the profile we were looking for in our attack very well. He brings qualities that will give our game additional options.”

What's next

Latte Lath travels with the team on Monday to a seven-day training camp in Austria. He is expected to feature in a friendly against Aris Limassol on Sunday at 15:30. The striker said he had already experienced the atmosphere at the Alte Försterei and looked forward to contributing.

“The Bundesliga is a big challenge that I am very much looking forward to. I want to take the chance to prove myself at this level and help the team with my qualities.”