Middlesbrough confirms Guzan sale to Atlanta United

Middlesbrough announced Wednesday the future sale of U.S. international goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who is set to join Atlanta United in Major League Soccer upon the conclusion of the 2016-17 Premier League season.

Guzan, 32, will join the expansion Atlanta United for its inaugural season on a multi-year contract after spending the last 10 seasons in England with Boro and Aston Villa, along with a short stint on loan at Hull City.

The English outfit wrote: "The chance for Guzan to return to the USA and continue his career has presented itself in recent weeks and, recognizing the opportunity for him and his family, he will depart in the summer with the best wishes of all connected with Middlesbrough Football Club."

Since Atlanta held the No. 1 allocation ranking, the club did not have to make a move to acquire Guzan, who fell under Major League Soccer's 2017 Allocation Ranking List.

Atlanta had been linked with the former Chivas USA shot-stopper for some time, and even made moves like acquiring Chicago Fire starting goalkeeper Sean Johnson and trading him immediately to New York City FC, fueling rumors of a star signing between the sticks.

Guzan, the 53-time-capped U.S. international, has backed up Tim Howard since 2006 and now follows his footsteps back to MLS from the Premier League; Howard joined the Colorado Rapids midway through the 2016 season.