Atlanta United Signs Anton Walkes from Portsmouth FC
January 9, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC News Release
ATLANTA - Atlanta United announced today it has signed defender Anton Walkes via transfer from Portsmouth FC. Walkes played for Atlanta United in its inaugural 2017 season on-loan from Tottenham Hotspur. He will be added to the roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
"We're excited to permanently welcome Anton back to the club," Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said. "Anton is a versatile player who will immediately bolster our backline. He has spent the last two seasons developing his game in England against tough competition and now returns with tremendous experience. We know he fits well into the locker room and are happy to have him back."
Walkes, 22, originally joined Atlanta United on January 26, 2017 on-loan from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur. Primarily deployed as a right back, Walkes made 20 appearances, 17 starts, and scored two goals in the MLS regular season. He returned to Tottenham following the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs and was then loaned to Portsmouth for the remainder of the 2017-18 EFL League One season. He made 12 appearances and scored one goal on his team debut and added one assist.
Walkes transferred to Portsmouth permanently on July 18, 2018. During the 2018-19 season, he made 24 appearances while scoring one goal and helped lead the club to a fourth-place finish in the table, earning a berth in the League One playoffs. Portsmouth also won its first EFL Trophy after defeating Sunderland 5-4 in penalties in Wembley Stadium. Walkes made 10 appearances during the 2019-2020 season and scored one goal during EFL Trophy play.
He spent his entire youth career with Spurs and ultimately made his First Team debut against Gillingham on Sept. 21, 2016, subbing on for the final 10 minutes during a 5-0 win in the Third Round of EFL Cup. Walkes also appeared in two matches during the 2016 International Champions Cup (ICC) against Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Anton Walkes
Position: Defender
Birthdate: Feb. 8, 1997 (age: 22)
Birthplace: Lewisham, England
Height: 6-2
Nationality: England
Transaction: Atlanta United signs Anton Walkes from Portsmouth FC on Jan. 9, 2020
2020 Atlanta United roster (as of Jan. 9, 2020)
Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan, Alec Kann, Brendan Moore
Defenders (9): George Bello, George Campbell, Franco Escobar, Jon Gallagher*, Brooks Lennon, Patrick Nielsen**, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Miles Robinson, Anton Walkes
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
** - unsigned SuperDraft pick
Major League Soccer Stories from January 9, 2020
- Columbus Crew SC Selects Three Players in Opening Rounds of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Columbus Crew SC
- Sounders FC Selects Two Players on First Day of 2020 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas - Seattle Sounders FC
- Houston Dynamo Select FW Garrett McLaughlin & MF Luka Prpa at 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Houston Dynamo FC
- FC Dallas Selects Three Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - FC Dallas
- LAFC Selects Two Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Los Angeles FC
- Earthquakes Select Stanford Defender Tanner Beason in First Round of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - San Jose Earthquakes
- Andre Reynolds II Called into U.S. U-20 Men's National Team Camp - Chicago Fire FC
- Chicago Fire FC Acquires $100,000 in General Allocation Money, Selects Defender/Midfielder Jonathan Jimenez in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Chicago Fire FC
- Atlanta United Selects Patrick Nielsen with No. 23 Pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Atlanta United FC
- Inter Miami CF Uses No. 1 Overall Pick to Select Robbie Robinson of Clemson Univ. in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - MLS
- Revolution Make Three Selections in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - New England Revolution
- Nashville SC Selects Four Players in First Two Rounds of 2020 MLS SuperDraft Presented by Adidas - Nashville SC
- LA Galaxy Select Defender Tom Smart in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - LA Galaxy
- Whitecaps FC Select Midfielder Ryan Raposo and Goalkeeper Daniel Gagliardi at 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Orlando City Selects Forward Daryl Dike in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Orlando City SC
- New York Red Bulls Draft Four in 2020 MLS SuperDraft Day One - New York Red Bulls
- MNUFC Selects Defender Noah Billingsley in First Round of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Minnesota United FC
- Timbers to Offer Free Axe Portrait Photo Shoot to Public Starting January 25 at Providence Park - Portland Timbers
- Toronto FC Select Four Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Toronto FC
- Atlanta United Signs Anton Walkes from Portsmouth FC - Atlanta United FC
- D.C. United Select Forward Josh Fawole with the 42nd Overall Pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - D.C. United
- Timbers Select Midfielder Aaron Molloy in First Round of 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Portland Timbers
- Real Salt Lake Selects Two Players in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - Real Salt Lake
- D.C. United Select Goalkeeper Simon Lefebvre with 21st Overall Pick in 2020 MLS SuperDraft - D.C. United
- Impact Acquires $75,000 in General Allocation Money - Club de Foot Montreal
- Inter Miami CF Selects Robbie Robinson, Dylan Nealis in 2020 MLS SuperDraft First Round - Inter Miami CF
- Philadelphia Union Acquire No. 17 Pick in the 2020 Allocation Ranking from D.C. United - Philadelphia Union
- Atlanta United Announces Roster Moves - Atlanta United FC
- D.C. United Acquire the 21st Pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft from Philadelphia - D.C. United
- Mavinga Signs New Deal with Toronto FC - Toronto FC
- New York City FC Names Nick Cushing as Assistant Coach - New York City FC
- Zac Brown Band Headlines 2020 National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction Weekend - FC Dallas
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
