From playing street games in the Ivory Coast to competing in Europe, Emmanuel Latte Lath has experienced an eventful footballing journey. The 27-year-old striker, currently representing Union Berlin on loan, recently reflected on his pathway, which began when he left his birth country at eight years old to reunite with his father in Italy. Having previously played without boots in casual, competitive matches with his friends, adjusting to a new environment and organized football marked the start of what he felt was a second life.
Latte Lath joined Atalanta's youth setup in 2015, notably scoring against Juventus in the Coppa Italia during his third appearance for the club in 2017. That landmark moment, however, was his only goal and his final competitive outing for the team. Instead, he embarked on a five-year nomadic route consisting of eight loan spells across Switzerland and the second and third divisions of Italian football. The forward noted that the rigid rules and heavy tactical emphasis in Italy often limited self-expression, making it difficult to progress.
A productive loan with Swiss side St. Gallen eventually paved the way for a move to Championship club Middlesbrough in 2023. Under then-head coach Michael Carrick, whose calm approach instilled immediate belief, Latte Lath flourished into one of the division's leading forwards, tallying 29 goals in 67 matches. His form earned him a transfer to Atlanta United in 2025 for over £17m, setting a record as the most expensive acquisition in Major League Soccer history at the time.
Following an American stint that failed to match expectations, Latte Lath returned to Europe on a summer loan to German side Union Berlin. The Ivorian has quickly embraced the atmosphere around Die Eisernen, explaining that the extreme passion of the supporters provides him with extra energy to perform. Confident that growing up around diverse backgrounds prepared him to adapt, the attacker feels well-equipped to thrive within Berlin's rich multicultural setting.