OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Roots SC announced on Tuesday the club had acquired versatile midfielder Baboucarr Njie via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Phoenix Rising FC. In a corresponding transaction, Oakland transferred forward Dariusz Formella to Rising FC.

A native of The Gambia, Njie has made 81 appearances in the USL Championship across the regular season and playoffs, recording four goals and two assists in 4,305 minutes of action. The 28-year-old began his career with Atlanta United 2 in the abbreviated 2020 season before joining Rio Grande Valley FC for the 2021 campaign. With the Toros, Njie recorded two goals and one assist in 28 appearances and helped the side reach the Semifinals of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs.

“We have been tracking Njie for some time now as someone who we believe fits with our idea of football,” said Oakland Roots Technical Director Jordan Ferrell. “We are excited to get him into the mix and wish Darek Formella all the best as a player and person who represented our club well over the last two seasons.”

Njie signed with Phoenix prior to the start of the 2022 season and has made 42 appearances for Rising FC over the past season and a half. Prior to his professional career, he competed collegiately for North Carolina Wesleyan University.