COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC announced on Thursday the club had signed winger Maalique Foster, previously of fellow USL Championship club Sacramento Republic FC, ahead of the 2023 season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

“If you are faithful with little, you are faithful with much,” said Foster. “Later will be greater!”

Foster joined Republic FC in 2021, and despite sustaining an early-season injury made an impact in 15 appearances over the second half of the season. This past campaign, Foster tallied eight goals and one assist, as well as completing 16 key passes and recording a passing accuracy rate of 79.8 percent. Foster’s season highlight, however, came in the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal when his Panenka penalty kick against Sporting Kansas City helped Republic FC advance to the Final after a penalty shootout. 

“Maalique is a player that has struggled with injuries at times but really exploded onto the scene this year,” said Switchbacks Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “We are looking forward to watching him find the next level over the next few years in Colorado Springs.”

The Portmore, Jamaica native joined Republic FC from the Israeli Premier League club Ironi Kiryat Shmona, having previously been on loan from Santos de Guápiles FC of the Costa Rican Primera División. With Santos de Guápiles FC he recorded five goals in 12 appearances. 

Foster’s previous experience in the USL Championship includes a stint with Rio Grande Valley FC in 2019, where he netted three goals and four assists in 11 matches. He earned Championship Team of the Week honors for Weeks 7 and 11 while with RGVFC. 

The 26-year-old has also received multiple call-ups to the Jamaican Men’s National Team, for which he has recorded three goals across eight appearances. In his international debut for the Reggae Boyz, Foster recorded the game-tying goal in a 2-2 draw against South Korea. He was also part of the country’s 2019 Concacaf Gold Cup squad that advanced to the tournament’s semifinals and competed in Concacaf Nations League.