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Efrain Morales
Personal information
Full name Efraín Andrés Morales Badillo
Date of birth (2004-03-04) March 4, 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Decatur, Georgia, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Atlanta United
Number 21
Youth career
2016–2021 Atlanta United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps ( Gls)
2020– Atlanta United 2 58 (3)
2021– Atlanta United 0 (0)
International career
2023– Bolivia U20 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of January 27, 2023

Efraín Andrés Morales Badillo (born March 4, 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a defender for Atlanta United. Born in the United States, he is a youth international for Bolivia.

Career

Born in Decatur, Georgia, Morales joined in the youth academy of Major League Soccer club Atlanta United in 2016. [1] Morales began at the under-12 level but quickly progressed to the under-17 side. [1] After impressing coaches in the youth setup, Morales signed a professional homegrown player contract with Atlanta United on August 13, 2020, which will come into effect on January 1, 2021. [1]

On August 15, 2020, Morales made his professional debut for Atlanta United 2, Atlanta United's reserve team in the USL Championship, against Charleston Battery. He came on as a 22nd minute substitute for Patrick Nielsen and scored his first professional goal in the 51st minute. Despite the goal, Atlanta United 2 lost 3–2. [2]

Morales signed a contract extension with Atlanta United on November 29, 2023. [3]

Personal life

Born in the United States, Morales is the son of a Bolivian father and a Puerto Rican mother. [4]

Career statistics

As of match played June 16, 2021 [5]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlanta United 2 2020 USL Championship 4 1 4 1
2021 USL Championship 6 0 6 0
Total 10 1 10 1
Career total 10 1 0 0 0 0 10 1

References

  1. ^ a b c Bogert, Tom (August 13, 2020). "Atlanta United sign 16-year-old US youth national team defender Efrain Morales to Homegrown deal". Major League Soccer. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  2. ^ "Charleston Battery 3–2 Atlanta United 2". Soccerway.
  3. ^ "Atlanta United re-signs Efraín Morales". ATLUtd.com. Atlanta United. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  4. ^ "Club de la MLS ficha al juvenil boliviano Efraín Morales | EL DEBER". eldeber.com.bo.
  5. ^ Efrain Morales at Soccerway