Sports

Silverbacks Sign Defender Klute

The former U.S. youth international adds depth and competition to the team's back line.

The Atlanta Silverbacks have signed defender Chris Klute, the club announced Thursday, pending USSF approval.

Klute, 22, comes to the Silverbacks first team after spending the last two seasons with the Silverbacks Reserves, who compete in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). The 6-foot-1 defender also played two college seasons, spending one season each at Furman University and Clayton State University.

"I'm so happy for Chris to have the opportunity to sign with our professional team," Reserves Head Coach Ricardo Montoya said in a statement. "Since the first time I saw him play, I knew that he had the ability to compete at the highest level."

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A native of Grand Prairie, TX, Klute was a standout in high school, earning the opportunity to attend IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. He would go on to play for the U-17 and U-20 U.S. national teams, helping the U-17 team qualify for the 2007 FIFA World Cup in South Korea.

Along with new , Klute will hope to add depth and competition to a Silverbacks back line that has conceded the most goals in the league. Silverbacks Head Coach Alex Pineda Chacón said Klute's international experience and technical abilities will go a long way in helping the team solidify its defense.

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"Chris is someone who has impressed us a lot this year, and he's yet another Reserves player that has shown us that he has what it takes to play for the first team," Chacón said. "He is a smooth defender that can play several different positions in the back, so we're thrilled to have him."

Klute is in Atlanta with the team and could feature in Saturday's matchup against the Puerto Rico Islanders. Kickoff is at 7:30pm at Atlanta Silverbacks Park.


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