MIAMI – Miami FC announced on Monday the club had signed midfielder David Mejía ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Mejía joins Miami having spent the past four seasons with Atlanta United 2. He joined the side as a USL Academy signing in the 2020 season, making his debut on July 19 against Memphis 901 FC, and then signed professional terms with the club before the 2021 USL Championship season.

A native of Lima, Peru, Mejía made 47 appearances for Atlanta in the USL Championship, recording five goals and two assists over 2,310 minutes of action. Following the side’s move to MLS NEXT Pro for the 2023 season, the 20-year-old made an additional 13 appearances and recorded three goals and one assist in 239 minutes.

Mejía also brings youth international experience to Miami, having been selected to the Peru U-20 National Team to play Uruguay in international friendlies in May, 2022. Later that year, Mejía was called up again to represent Peru on home soil in their friendlies against Uruguay and Colombia.

Analysis

David Mejía’s move to Miami FC adds another interesting young prospect to the squad who already comes with almost a half-century of appearances in the USL Championship. The 20-year-old progressed year-on-year in his minutes and contributions in Atlanta United 2’s lineup but didn’t make the breakthrough to the next level.

His departure from Atlanta, however, could offer Mejía the platform to find that next step in Miami. As a potential creative midfielder – he recorded 21 chances created and two assists in 1,431 minutes in the 2022 Championship season – he will hope to jell with the more experienced players in Head Coach Antonio Nocerino’s squad.