Why Atlanta United’s Loan of Edwin Mosquera Feels Like a Step Backward

Loaning out young talent isn’t always a bad thing — but when it starts to feel like a pattern, fans are right to be skeptical.

Atlanta United have officially sent Edwin Mosquera on loan to Colombian giants Millonarios FC, with the deal running through June 2026 and including an option to buy. It’s a bold decision — not because Mosquera was lighting up MLS, but because of what it symbolizes.

Mosquera, 22, was signed under the U22 Initiative in mid-2022 and touted as a high-upside winger with raw pace and attacking flair. But in 56 MLS appearances (just 10 starts), he managed only 5 goals and 2 assists. That’s a low output for someone Atlanta reportedly spent a seven-figure fee on.

Still, this move feels like a shortcut. Instead of investing in his development, giving him consistent minutes, and shaping him into the kind of player the system needs, Atlanta has chosen to reset. Again.

Yes, Millonarios is a respected club, and yes, Colombian football is competitive. But this loan doesn’t project upward momentum — it feels like parking a project until he’s someone else’s success story (or problem).

And unfortunately, this is becoming a trend in Atlanta.

• Luiz Araújo arrived with promise, underdelivered, and was quietly sold to Flamengo.
• Thiago Almada was developed well — but even he stagnated for a season before his high-profile sale to Botafogo.
• Santiago Sosa never fully fit in and also left on loan.

Mosquera now joins the list of young international signings who couldn’t find their footing in Atlanta — not entirely their fault, but part of a broader failure to build a structure around them.

If Atlanta United want to be viewed as a serious development club — one that truly nurtures young talent — they need to stop outsourcing growth. The adaptation period is hard. So is sticking with a player through inconsistent form. But that’s what separates long-term project clubs from short-term thinkers.

Because fans didn’t sign off on buying potential just to rent it out again. They believed in a plan — and right now, it looks more like a shrug.

Mosquera’s loan isn’t just a player move. It’s a red flag about a system that needs rethinking.