MLS apologizes for announcing wrong Japanese player had joined Atlanta

Jan 10 (Reuters) - Major League Soccer (MLS) apologized on Thursday after saying Celtic's Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi had signed for Atlanta United when in fact it was his compatriot Cayman Togashi who had joined the U.S. club.

Atlanta had previously been linked with a move for Scotland-based striker Furuhashi and on Wednesday MLS posted an article on its website saying the 29-year-old Japan international had completed a transfer.

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However, the MLS side, who had teased a new Japanese signing earlier in the week, announced it was former Japan under-23 forward Togashi who had arrived on a free transfer through the 2025 campaign.

"Major League Soccer's website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club," MLS said in a statement to ESPN.

It appears that the MLS website has posted that Atlanta United have acquired striker Kyogo Furuhashi from Celtic FC as a Designated Player signing.

However, the link to the article does not work.

⏳#ATLUTD | #WeAreTheA | #MLS pic.twitter.com/sRh7qhYAa4

— Caleb Pongratz (@CalebPongratz10) January 8, 2025

"The article was immediately removed and corrected. MLS extends its sincere apologies to the impacted parties."

MLS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford)