“I'm very excited to start working with Blake,” said OCSC Head Coach, Braeden Cloutier. “He is an extremely talented and more importantly coachable young defender that is comfortable both with and without the ball.”

Prior to beginning his college career, Malone, 18, came up in the Seattle Sounders MLS Academy system and played in the USL for the Sounders 2 (Tacoma Defiance). Malone started for the Sounders 2 against OCSC in 2018 at Championship Soccer Stadium when current OCSC assistant coach, Richard Chaplow, chalked up his 400th professional appearance.

“I am very happy to join OCSC and I needed a new challenge to push myself to the next level,” said Blake Malone. “The USL is a very competitive league and OCSC specifically provides the professional pathway to achieve my dreams. As a defender, I'm focused on shutouts, working with my teammates and I'm ready to give everything I have for Orange County.”

Malone played high school soccer for Desert Oasis in Las Vegas and then joined the Seattle Sounders FC academy in 2017 where he won the 2018 U-16/17 championship. After 2 years with the Sounders 2 Malone accepted a scholarship to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels. Malone was called up to the U20 U.S. Men’s National Team camp in January 2020, where he played in the 2-2 draw against Mexico.

“We are delighted that Blake, a current U.S. U20 Youth International, has signed his first professional contract with Orange County,” said Oliver Wyss President of Soccer Operations. “Blake has all the attributes to have a successful career on the highest level and we feel strongly that he will develop to his fullest potential in our professional structure.”

Malone joins an OCSC team full of talented youth internationals including; Aaron Cervantes, Diego Lopez, Francis Jacobs. Malone is eligible to make his OCSC debut when the club opens the season at home on Friday, March, 6th.

Per club policy, terms of player contracts with Orange County SC will not be released.