MLS Mix-Up: Apologies After Wrong Player Announced as New Signing

Major League Soccer (MLS) has issued an apology after mistakenly announcing that Celtic’s Japanese forward Kyogo Furuhashi had signed with Atlanta United. The news, which caused confusion, was quickly corrected when it was revealed that Furuhashi’s fellow Japanese player, Cayman Togashi, had actually made the move to Atlanta. The mix-up occurred after Atlanta United had teased a new Japanese signing, leading to widespread speculation about Furuhashi's potential transfer. However, it turned out that it was Togashi who had joined the MLS side on a free transfer through the 2025 campaign.

MLS’s error was promptly addressed, with the organization issuing a statement to ESPN, explaining the situation and apologizing for the confusion. “Major League Soccer’s website mistakenly posted an article that named the wrong player as having signed with an MLS club,” the statement read. “The article was immediately removed and corrected. MLS extends its sincere apologies to the impacted parties.” The incorrect announcement has stirred frustration, but the swift retraction and apology have calmed some of the upset within the fanbase.

The Mix-Up: Furuhashi vs. Togashi

In this situation, the confusion stemmed from an earlier report that linked Furuhashi to Atlanta United. Fans and media outlets were quick to jump on the news, assuming the 29-year-old Japanese international was the latest high-profile acquisition for the MLS club. However, it turned out that it was actually Cayman Togashi, a former Japan Under-23 player, who had completed the move.

Important points regarding the MLS mix-up:

• MLS mistakenly reported that Kyogo Furuhashi had signed with Atlanta United when it was actually Cayman Togashi.
• The mistake was made in an article posted on MLS’s website, which was swiftly removed and corrected.
• MLS issued a public apology, acknowledging the error and extending sincere apologies to all impacted parties.
• Togashi, not Furuhashi, joined Atlanta United on a free transfer through the 2025 campaign.
• Furuhashi had been linked with the club in prior reports, which contributed to the confusion.