A record-setting and NAIA All-American soccer career in Lawrenceville has paved the way for Georgia Gwinnett College men's soccer player Karim Tmimi to earn a professional contract to play with the nearby Atlanta United 2, the club announced on Friday, January 13.

Tmimi becomes the third former Grizzly to be affiliated with the club for the forthcoming 2023 season, joining standout player Toni Tiente and goalkeeper coach Lewis Sharpe, the holder of nearly every GGC goalkeeping school record. Another former Grizzly, Jack Gurr, was a starting defender with Atlanta United 2 before playing in the Major League Soccer with Atlanta United and United Soccer League's Sacramento Republic teams, along with Aberdeen FC in Scotland.

A native of Poitiers, France, Tmimi set program career records with 36 goals and 90 points. He capped his career with a sensational 2022 season in which he scored 18 goals and provided 10 assists across 19 matches – earning first-team All-America honors. Tmimi registered at least one point in 17 of GGC's 19 matches this past fall.

The forward collected NAIA All-America honors during all three of his seasons as a Grizzly. He also was named the 2022 Continental Athletic Conference's Player of the Year.

Atlanta United 2 now competes in the newly formed MLS Next league.

Georgia Gwinnett College advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 2022 NAIA National Championship and concluded the season ranked No. 5 in the country. The Grizzlies posted a 14-3-2 record under Head Coach Steve DeCou.