Ronald Hernández has signed a new deal with Atlanta United through the 2025 season with an option for 2026, the club announced today.
Since joining the club in 2021 initially on loan from Aberdeen, the Venezuelan fullback has appeared in 63 matches in all competitions. He played some of the best soccer of his career in 2024, featuring in key matches in the second half of the season at a variety of positions along the backline. He played in the three postseason wins in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and the club went 4-0-2 in his last six starts.
The 27-year old has made 33 appearances internationally for Venezuela, last appearing in March 2023.
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To me, this was something that had to be done. Brooks Lennon will still be out for a few months in the 2025 season and you need someone who can fill that right back position. Ronald is a Swiss Army knife. He can play right back, center back and left back which has been useful this season when there were multiple injuries within the team. He started in 14 of the 21 appearances with the club and played 1,019 minutes across all competitions with the Five Stripes this season. The match that sticks out to me the most is the 2-1 win against Red Bulls in the last home match of the 2024 season. He opened the match early with a shot from distance in the fourth minute and in a match where Atlanta NEEDED a win, he helped keep the energy high.
He is one of the club’s longest serving players and he bleeds for this club. Having a player like Ronald will help when the team is transitioning with new players, a new head coach and a new GM. When Jason Longshore and I spoke to him earlier this year, this quote always sticks out to me.
“I just fell in love with the city, with the club. For me, Atlanta United, it's like Real Madrid. It's like the best, the best club in the world. They have given me the opportunity to develop as a professional, as a person as well,” said Hernández. “They welcome my family too, so for me, it's like a big purpose to come here every day and show my standard because this club deserves high standards. This is the way I see this club. I fell in love, not only with the facility and stuff, also, in the most important, with the people that work here.”
Really excited to see Ronald back in the red, black and gold for another season!
Preseason training for Atlanta United will start in mid-January with the 2025 MLS season kickoff the next month. Follow and subscribe to the SDH Network on all platforms for the latest coverage of Atlanta United and more.
✍️: Jason Longshore
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