ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico United announced on Tuesday it had signed defender Alexis Souahy ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season. The signing is pending league and federation approval.

A center back born in Montreuil, France, Souahy has played the last four seasons with fellow USL Championship club Louisville City FC, where he helped the side claim the 2018 USL Championship title and reach four Eastern Conference Finals in the USL Championship Playoffs. The 26-year-old made 82 regular season appearances for the club and defensively recorded 96 interceptions, 203 clearances and 325 recoveries while posting a 60.6 percent success rate in duels.

Souahy also recorded five goals and five assists in the regular season and posted a passing accuracy rate of 84.7 percent across four seasons in Louisville.

“Alexis brings a vast amount of experience while still in his prime,” said New Mexico United Head Coach and Technical Director Zach Prince. “He’s very intelligent in possession and brings a physical presence to the game that makes him a great addition to our defensive group.”

Prior to his professional career, Souahy came up through the Academy system at French club Le Havre, including playing for the side’s reserve team. He then attended Bowling Green State University, where in 2017 he earned All-Mid American Conference Second Team honors. He also played for USL League Two side the Flint City Bucks in 2016 and 2017, making 14 appearances across the regular season and playoffs in 2016 as the side claimed the League Two title.