CARY, N.C. (Feb. 28, 2020) – North Carolina FC solidified its defense with the signing of rookie defender Malick Mbaye, the club announced on Friday. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and no further details were disclosed, per club policy.



Mbaye, a native of Dakar, Senegal, was selected in the second round of the 2020 MLS SuperDraft with the No. 33 pick by Toronto FC following a decorated collegiate career at Clemson University.



In 2019, Mbaye captained Clemson, earning ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors as he led the Tigers with 1,950 minutes played. A Third Team All-America selection, Mbaye scored three goals and added an assist for Clemson in 2019.



“Malick is obviously one of the better defenders coming out of college soccer, from a very good program in Clemson,” NCFC head coach Dave Sarachan said. “To get a young guy to begin the development process in the professional setting, I think he’ll be a good addition, and we’re pleased to have a young and capable defender to call on as we move through the season.”



Mbaye, 23, impressed early on at Clemson as a freshman in 2016. After a campaign that included two goals and an assist, Mbaye was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team and TopDrawerSoccer’s Freshman Best XI. From 2017-19, Mbaye started in 50 of the 53 matches he appeared in, becoming a key cog on Clemson’s backline.



With Mbaye now part of the squad, NCFC’s roster features the past two winners of the ACC’s Defender of the Year award. Fellow center back Alex Comsia, entering his second year with NCFC, earned the honor in 2018 with the University of North Carolina.



NCFC’s roster includes: goalkeepers Alex Tambakis, Trace Alphin and Paulo Pita; defenders Caleb Duvernay, Sam Brotherton, Conor Donovan, Alex Comsia, DJ Taylor, Akeem Ward, Adam Armour and Malick Mbaye; midfielders Ben Speas, Nazmi Albadawi, Steven Miller, Graham Smith, Pecka, Manny Perez and Luke Hille; and forwards Robert Kristo, Hadji Barry and Daniele Proch.



NCFC opens its 2020 USL Championship regular season at home on March 7 at 2:30 p.m. against Louisville City FC at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park.