Lagos Kunga signs one-year deal with Charleston Battery, loaned to Atlanta United

The Charleston Battery announced on Wednesday morning that they have signed 18-year-old forward Lagos Kunga to a year-long contract. Kunga will be available for Atlanta United’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match against Miami FC as the club announced that he had signed a short-term, four-day deal. The USL allows players to sign such deals with their MLS affiliate clubs up to four times in the course of a season.

Kunga, who was born in Angola, emigrated to the Atlanta area as a child. A member of Atlanta United’s academy and the U.S. Under-20 national team, he, George Bello and Patrick Okonkwo signed professional contracts on June 17 to become Homegrown Players with United in January. With the U.S. U-20 team, he has appeared in four matches, scoring a goal; in 21 appearances with Atlanta’s U-18 academy side, he’s scored ten times.

Whether Kunga actually starts against Miami FC remains to be seen as Tata Martino appears to be rolling out a younger look against their opponent, but he will be available to come on at some point tonight. He will then head to Charleston, where he should be able to get valuable experience with a strong-performing Battery team that is six points clear of Louisville City FC for first in the USL’s Eastern Conference standings.