BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Tuesday the club had acquired Cameroonian forward Tabort Etaka Preston via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Las Vegas Lights FC. The transaction is pending league and federation approval, and terms of the transfer agreement were not disclosed per club policy.  

Preston joins Legion FC having recorded a team-high five goals in 21 appearances this season for Lights FC. The 25-year-old has made 106 appearances across the regular season and playoffs in the Championship during his career, which has also included prior stops at New Mexico United, San Antonio FC and Hartford Athletic. In that span he has recorded 20 goals and nine assists and has surpassed 20 appearances in a campaign on four occasions.

“We are excited to add Preston to our roster at an important time in the season,” said Jay Heaps, Legion FC President and General Manager. “Preston is a dynamic attacking player with excellent speed and versatility with experience in our league.”

Preston’s breakout season came in his first year in the league with Las Vegas, when he recorded eight goals and three assists for the side in 31 appearances. A right-sided winger, Preston has been one of the Championship’s top one-on-one attackers this season, completing 58 of 105 attempted dribbles, which places him first in the league in completed dribbles.

Before making the move to Las Vegas for the 2019 season, he competed in the Albanian first division with KS Kastrioti Kruje during the 2018-19 season. Internationally, Preston has represented Cameroon in the U-20 level where he made three appearances at the African U-20 Cup of Nations in 2017.