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BEHIND THE STRIPES

Adyn Torres

By Atlanta United FC

July 22^nd, 2024

The famous Ralph Waldo Emerson quote goes, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

But for some, it is about both.

There can be equal parts joy found in the process as there is in the success that comes from it. Often in sports there is an emphasis put on the ‘process’ – how achievements are not made overnight, but instead created by a series of moments and lessons combining into something special. Into something great.

No one knows that better than 16-year-old Adyn Torres, who started in Atlanta United’s Regional Development School and recently was selected to play in the 2024 MLS NEXT All-Star Game.

From RDS to playing on the Academy’s under 17 squad to making appearances with Atlanta United 2, his rise has been just one of the success stories to come out of the Atlanta United pipeline.

For Torres, the first player to start in Atlanta’s Regional Development School and make an appearance for the first team, the journey only makes the destination sweeter.

From Maryland to the fields of Atlanta

The beginning for Torres starts like it does for a lot of kids – playing recreational soccer. Despite coming from a family that focused on football – the American kind – it was clear the skill was there with Torres. His earliest soccer memories are back in Maryland, where he was born, playing on designated teams aptly named after some of the best soccer countries in the world like Spain and France.

“I remember I was playing like every position. It was the first thing I started, sort of just to see if I enjoyed it,” recounted Torres.

There was a big emphasis on fun for him. It is a type of jubilation that he has brought with him with all the stages of soccer he has experienced.

After moving to Atlanta, he quickly found another avenue to pursue soccer. Since its inception in 2014, Atlanta United has been committed to cultivating homegrown talent. The Regional Development School is the first step in that development. RDS is a tryout-based program that is open to girls and boys, ages 7-14.

Programs like RDS have a positive impact on growing the game of soccer, especially in the South.

“When I went through RDS, I was just expressing myself and not too focused on what is going on,” said Torres. “It helped me enjoy the game a lot more and I didn’t feel pressure to play well. I was just going out there and playing against kids and making new friends. I feel like soccer is probably the easiest sport in the world, where you can just go and kick a ball. I feel like if helped me and if anyone wanted to do it (RDS), they should.”

"Soccer is probably the easiest sport in the world, where you can just go and kick a ball."

Atlanta United’s rise as a top franchise in MLS has a trickledown effect, and because of that the future is bright. Just this season, Atlanta United became the first MLS team to ever field five homegrowns at the same time. Luke Brennan, Noah Cobb, Ajani Fortune, Efraín Morales and Caleb Wiley all played for the first team during their June match against D.C. United.

Much like Torres, their journey also started working their way up the ranks of the Atlanta United system.

Making his mark for Atlanta United

It is sometimes hard to believe that Torres is only 16 considering all the things he has achieved.

His development was split between RDS and his time with the Gwinnett Soccer Academy. Then in 2020, he joined Atlanta United’s Academy. His meteoric rise did not stop there as he continued to impress at each level he was placed into.

In 2022, he was named to the U-15 Best XI at the Generation adidas Cup. The Generation adidas Cup is the pinnacle for youth competition as far as MLS is concerned. The main goal being to foster growth and opportunities for homegrown and international clubs through competition. In total, 80 teams are equally split between U-15 and U-17.

Along with other Atlanta United Academy players like Ashton Gordon, he has caught the attention of youth national teams. In May of 2023, Torres signed his first pro deal with Atlanta United 2 to officially become an Atlanta United Homegrown.

Despite the amount of change in a short period of time, Torres always takes a good mentality with him as he climbs the ranks. No matter what team he is making appearances for, he knows what he must do to get the job done.

“I wouldn’t say the mindset changes. I feel like everybody wants to play and be professional,” said Torres. “But it definitely takes a different kind of mentality. I wouldn’t say it is negative or positive, but it is different with each team. If you play in your age group, you probably will not have the same mentality with the first team.”

Torres got his taste of playing with the 2s back in June of 2023 against Columbus Crew 2. He made 10 appearances all together with them for the 2023 season. For the 2024 season, he has already made 11 appearances with Atlanta United 2.

It all culminated with his debut for the first team back in early May of this year when Atlanta United played in the Round of 32 of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The night exemplified the growth of the young players in the system. Fellow 2s alum Nick Firmino scored a brace while Ashton Gordon and Matt Edwards were available off the bench.

The young guns of Atlanta United’s future have influenced each other as much as they have the direction of the club.

“Obviously, I am supportive of everyone on the team, and I want the club to do well. Even when the under 15s went on their run, I was cheering them on from at home,” said Torres when asked about if the growth of other Homegrowns inspires him. “For the Homegrowns, speaking for all of us, it is definitely inspiring to see somebody that is on the same wavelength do that.”

"It helped me. If anyone wanted to do RDS, they should."

Torres is a success story in his own right and much like those who came before him and succeeded with the club like Caleb Wiley, a fellow Homegrown whose transfer to Chelsea in the English Premier League was announced this week. Like Wiley, Torres will be looked upon as the example to follow.

His passage from rec league player just having fun to one of many young players at the forefront of Atlanta United’s future brings him to where he is now, playing in his first All-Star game. At Historic Crew Stadium, he will be accompanied by 43 others of young players from across the country and play in an East vs. West match.

“For me, it was exciting,” said Torres about being named to the MLS Next All-Star team. “Honoring obviously. I look forward to meeting some of my teammates that I played with on the national team and some of the guys I have never played with before. I am super grateful and thankful for the opportunity, and I am just excited to go.”