New Mexico United and Oakland Roots announced on Friday a pair of loan agreements that will see midfielder Saalih Muhammad join New Mexico for the remainder of the 2021 USL Championship season, and a corresponding move that sees forward Brian Brown join Oakland Roots SC for the remainder of the campaign.

Muhammad was a key member of the inaugural New Mexico United roster in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, making 34 regular-season appearances for the club in its first two seasons in the Championship. His hard work and talent in the defensive midfield and back line were crucial to United’s early success and he notched one goal and one assist in addition to his work in the center of midfield. This season he has made six appearances for Roots SC.

“We are thrilled to welcome Saalih back to New Mexico and into our team,” said New Mexico United Head Coach and Technical Director Troy Lesesne. “His love for New Mexico and United, as well as his incredible talent and work ethic will be crucial to our playoff run. We are also so grateful for the effort that Brian Brown put into this season. We wish him the best of luck for the rest of this season in Oakland.”

Brown has notched two goals in 13 appearances for New Mexico this season, but has previously been one of the notable attacking figures in the Championship since first joining the Charlotte Independence in the 2016 season. The Jamaican international has recorded 38 regular-season goals in the league, including a career-high 16 tallies in the 2018 season for Reno 1868 FC, while also recording 20 assists. Brown will be looked at to add to an Oakland attack that has also recently added veteran forwards Quincy Amarikwa and Brandon Allen as it tried to drive up the Pacific Division standings.