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Rising FC Signs Versatile Defender Baboucarr Njie

By USLChampionship.com Staff, 12/13/21, 12:01PM EST

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Gambian defender signs multi-year contract after competing for Toros in 2021


Phoenix Rising FC has signed defender Baboucarr Njie to a multi-year contract after this past season he helped Rio Grande Valley FC reach the USL Championship Playoffs. | Photo courtesy Christian Inoferio / Rio Grande Valley FC

PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Monday it had signed Baboucarr “Babou” Njie to a multi-year contract, pending league and federation approval. Njie joins Rising FC after a 2021 season that saw him help Rio Grande Valley FC reach the USL Championship Playoffs and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.

“I cannot wait to get to Phoenix and start working,” said Njie. “I’m excited to feel what everyone else feels like when they’re playing for Phoenix… I could see it in everyone’s eyes. Those players were all winners. They’ve all won something and that’s what I want. Next season, I see nothing but gold. I want to feel the enjoyment of winning a championship.” 

Despite playing only 1,391 minutes last season for Rio Grande Valley, Njie led the team in duels won (151) and ranked second in tackles won (36). Capable of playing several positions, he finished the 2021 season as a left back, scoring two goals and one assist, including a standout individual goal against Rising FC in the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires.

“Babou is a tremendous addition to our team,” said Rising FC Head Coach Rick Schantz. “He’s very athletic and extremely skillful. He a strong player and an amazing and humble person. The goal he scored against us in the playoffs is the type of assertive attacking play I expect we’ll see often from Babou in 2022.”

Prior to joining the Toros, Njie played in the USL Championship for Atlanta United 2 in 2020, making 11 appearances. He previously spent three seasons at North Carolina Wesleyan College from 2016 to 2019, scoring 34 goals and 19 assists in 57 appearances in the No. 10 role. In his final collegiate season, he was named USA South Player of the Year and to the NCAA Division III All America First Team.

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