CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Charleston Battery announced on Wednesday the club had signed attacking midfielder Handwalla Bwana ahead of the 2023 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval. Bwana becomes the 18th member of the Black and Yellow for the new campaign.

Bwana arrives in Charleston having spent the past three seasons with Major League Soccer side Nashville SC. The former Nashville No. 7 had a brief loan spell with Memphis 901 FC at the end of 2022, making four appearances and scoring one goal.

“I’m looking forward to joining a club that’s rich with history,” said Bwana. “I’ve heard a lot from [former Battery players] Brian Anunga and Ozzie Alonso, who I played with, and they told me a lot of good things about the club. Most importantly, for me, is playing for Coach Pirmann again. I’m looking forward to learning under him and getting back to playing my best game again.”

Nashville acquired Bwana in 2020 from Seattle Sounders FC via trade. The 23-year-old played for Seattle from 2018 to 2020, lifting the MLS Cup in 2019. He was signed by Seattle as a Homegrown Player in 2018 from the club’s academy and made his senior debut the same year, against Liga MX side Chivas in the Concacaf Champions League.

Bwana rejoins former Memphis teammates Derek Dodson, Chris Allan and Trey Muse in Charleston. He and Muse also know each other from their time together in Seattle.

Battery Head Coach Ben Pirmann is excited about bringing aboard Bwana and working with him again.

“Handwalla is an extremely cerebral and technical player,” said Pirmann. “He has the ability to create and score chances, beat players off the dribble and has an exceptional killer pass. Handwalla has shown that he can compete at the highest of levels and he will help facilitate our attack efficiently. Additionally, he’s an incredible teammate and a high-character person to add to the squad.”

Handwalla was born in Mombasa, Kenya, and comes of Somali descent via his father, who was also a professional footballer. Bwana first arrived in the United States in 2010 in Atlanta after growing up in a refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya. Later moving to Seattle, he became a member of the Sounders’ academy in 2015 and made his professional debut with Tacoma Defiance that same year.

After a pair of seasons as a USL Academy signing for the Defiance, Bwana embarked on a college career with the University of Washington. Bwana tallied 11 goals and 11 assists across the 2016 and 2017 campaigns with the Huskies. He was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2016 and earned Pac 12 All-Conference First Team honors in 2017.