LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC announced on Thursday the club had acquired defender Timothie Zali on loan from fellow USL Championship club New Mexico United for the remainder of the 2023 season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Zali joined New Mexico this offseason from Switzerland’s FC Wil 1900 and has made one appearance for the club in its 6-0 win against UDA Soccer Academy in the Second Round of the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The 25-year-old center back had yet to make his Championship debut for New Mexico.

A native of Switzerland, Zali had previously competed professionally in his home country. Prior to joining New Mexico, Zali had made six appearances in the current Swiss Second Division season for FC Wil 1900 and one in the Swiss Cup, while making 19 appearances for the club overall.

The 6-foot-4 center back had played most of his career in the country’s third tier, where he logged 74 appearances and six goals, primarily for FC Bavois.