Young Players: Which Matchday 9 standouts stepped up?
Young players made game-winning and result-earning contributions across MLS Matchday 9.
Wiley, 18, had a breakout second MLS season in 2023 and earned his first call-up to the Senior United States Men’s National Team. The left back posted career-highs in appearances (30), starts (28), goals (four) and assists (four) during the MLS regular season and added another assist in the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs to bring his goal contributions total to nine for 2023. Wiley was named MLS Player of the Matchday for Matchday 3 after his two-goal, one-assist performance in Atlanta’s 3-0 win at Charlotte FC on March 11, becoming the sixth-youngest player in MLS history to win the award. He also became the second Atlanta Homegrown to earn a call-up with the Senior USMNT (George Bello) and made his debut on April 19, 2023 in the inaugural Allstate Continental Clásico against Mexico.Â
The Homegrown defender made the transition to Atlanta United’s First Team in 2022 where he started 18 of 26 appearances and played over 1,500 minutes between left back and left wing. Wiley recorded one goal and two assists in 2022, scoring his first career MLS goal in his league debut in a 3-1 win against Sporting KC on Feb. 27.
Wiley joined the Atlanta United Academy at the age of 11 as a member of the club’s inaugural U-12 team in 2016. He progressed through the Academy and made his professional debut on July 11, 2020 with ATL UTD 2, becoming the youngest player in club history to appear in a professional game at 15 years and 206 days. Wiley went on to play 11 games in 2020, all starts, and finished with 910 minutes played. He led ATL UTD 2 with 25 interceptions that season.
In 2021, Wiley established himself as one of the main pillars along the backline, starting all 22 matches that he played in the USL Championship. He finished with 1,877 total minutes played, giving him 2,787 combined minutes, the most of any Atlanta United Academy player in USL. He was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week on two occasions. He recorded his first career assist on June 6, 2021 in a 1-0 win against Louisville City FC. He added another assist later in the season in a 6-2 win vs. Indy Eleven. Â
2023 (Atlanta United): MLS: Posted career-highs in appearances (30), starts (28), minutes (2,338), goals (four) and assists (four). Named MLS Player of the Matchday for Matchday 3 after two-goal, one-assist performance in 3-0 win at Charlotte FC on March 11. Recorded a goal and an assist in 5-1 win vs. Portland on March 18. MLS Cup Playoffs: Started all three matches of Round One series against Columbus. Recorded one assist in Game 2. U.S. Open Cup: Started against Memphis on April 26. Leagues Cup: Started both matches against Inter Miami CF and Cruz Azul.
2022 (Atlanta United): Wiley had an impressive first MLS season in which he started 18 of 26 appearances and played 1,503 minutes between left back and left wing. Recorded one goal and two assists in 2022, scoring his first career MLS goal in his league debut in a 3-1 win against Sporting KC on Feb. 27. Recorded an assist in a 2-1 win against Seattle on Aug. 6. Recorded an assist in a 2-2 draw with Columbus on Aug. 21.
2021 (Atlanta United 2): Started all 22 matches he played in the USL Championship. Finished with 1,877 total minutes played. He was named to the USL Championship Team of the Week on two occasions. Recorded his first career assist on June 6 in a 1-0 win against Louisville City FC.
2020 (Atlanta United 2): Started all 11 matches he played in the USL Championship. Became the youngest player in club history to appear in a professional game at 15 years and 206 days old. Finished with 910 minutes played and led ATL UTD 2 with 25 interceptions that season.
International: Wiley has made six appearances with the U.S. U-20s and three appearances with the U.S. U-17s. In early 2020, the defender was called into the USMNT U-17s for three friendly matches. At the end of 2021, Wiley was called up to the USMNT U-20s for the Revelations Cup in Mexico. He played in all three matches, earning two starts. In March 2022, Wiley was called into training camp with the U.S. U-20's and played in two matches against Argentina and River Plate in preparation for the 2022 Concacaf U-20 Championship in Honduras. The U.S. side won the tournament, clinching qualification to the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup as well as the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Wiley most recently represented the U.S. U-20’s at the Revelations Cup in Mexico City, Mexico in September 2022, starting against Mexico in a 2-1 defeat.