ATLANTA — Atlanta United 2 announced on Wednesday the club had signed defenders Nelson Orji and Raimar Rodrigues Lopes, and midfielder Nick Firmino ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season. The signings are pending league and federation approval.

Firmino is a Brazilian-American midfielder most recently claimed the USL League One title with Union Omaha in the 2021 season. A graduate of the New England Revolution academy, Firmino joined the professional ranks with the club in November 2018. Two years later, he made his professional debut for the New England Revolution II in USL League One, and at the end of the campaign was voted to the League One All-League Second Team. Over the past two seasons, he has made 41 career appearances and tallied six goals and two assists.

Lopes is a left back who most recently played in his home country Brazil with Athletico Paranaense. The Manaus native was a part of the U-20 side with Paranaense. He was sent out on loan in 2021 to Clube do Remo in the Brasilero Serie B. He made 13 appearances in 2021, while adding three appearances in the Copa Verde in 2022 for Remo.

Orji is a 19-year-old Nigerian defender who joins Atlanta United 2 after being a part of the FC Porto academy where he played with the U-19’s. Most recently the center back was in Hungary with Zalaegerzegi TE FC.