# Josh Atencio

Joshua Ryan "Josh" Atencio (/əˈtɛnsioʊ/ ə-TEN-see-oh; born January 31, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids and the United States national team. He spent his first five professional seasons with Seattle Sounders FC from 2020 to 2024.

## Career

Atencio joined the Seattle Sounders FC academy in 2016. He made his debut for USL club Seattle Sounders FC 2 in August 2018. Atencio signed a professional contract for the 2019 season.
On June 15, 2020, Atencio signed a Homegrown Players contract with the Seattle Sounders. Since then he has played as a substitute and occasional starter, appearing in the majority of games in 2021 and 2022. On April 8, 2023, Atencio scored his first MLS goal, a long-distance strike in a 3–0 home victory over St. Louis City SC. He suffered an injury to his right adductor and spent several months recovering during the 2023 season, where he saw inconsistent playing time. By the end of the regular season, Atencio had returned to the starting lineup. He signed a four-year contract extension with the Sounders in January 2024.
In a February 15, 2025 transaction one week prior to the start of a new campaign, Atencio was acquired by the Colorado Rapids from the Sounders for $1.3 million in General Allocation Money (GAM) split evenly across two seasons and an additional $300,000 in conditional GAM based on performance.

## International career

Born in the United States, Atencio is of Mexican descent. He is a youth international for the United States having played up to the United States U17s, and was called up to the United States U23s in November 2023.
Atencio made his debut for the senior United States national team on January 20, 2024, in a friendly against Slovenia.
He was selected as an alternate for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and played after Gianluca Busio was injured.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played December 8, 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Playoffs | Playoffs | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Seattle Sounders FC 2 | 2018 | USL | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2019 | USL | 25 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25 | 1 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2020 | USL | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2021 | USL | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Tacoma Defiance | Total | Total | 31 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 2 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2020 | MLS | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2021 | MLS | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2022 | MLS | 18 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 0 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2023 | MLS | 22 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 31 | 1 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2024 | MLS | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| Seattle Sounders FC | Total | Total | 91 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 8 | 0 | 111 | 2 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Tacoma Defiance | 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 1 |
| Tacoma Defiance | Total | Total | 14 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 1 |
| Colorado Rapids | 2025 | MLS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 136 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 156 | 5 |
* ↑ Appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
* ↑ One appearance in FIFA Club World Cup, two appearances in Leagues Cup

### International

    As of match played January 20, 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| United States | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 1 | 0 |