MIAMI – Miami FC announced on Monday the club had signed goalkeeper Khadim Ndiaye ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The Senegalese shot-stopper signs with Miami after two seasons on loan in from Serie A’s Atalanta in Bulgaria’s top flight, the Efbet Liga, where he played for Tsarsko Selo and Hebar Pazardzhik. During that span he made 13 appearances across the two clubs and posted six shutouts with a goals-against average of 0.72.

Ndiaye also has experience playing in Italy having come through the Academy at Atalanta before his loan stints overseas. Competing for the club’s Primavera squad, he twice won Italian Youth Championships with Atalanta, making 22 appearances. He also made eight appearances on loan in Serie C with Vis Pesaro 1898, while also spending time on loan at Calcio Lecco 1912 and Ascoli Calcio.

Analysis

Miami FC’s acquisition of goalkeeper Khadim Ndaiye offers a fresh start for what appears on paper to be an intriguing prospect. Listed at 6-foot-7 in his TransferMarkt profile, the 23-year-old has been unable to break through consistently at the senior level so far, with his most consistent playing time coming in his 10 appearances for Tsarsko Selo in Bulgaria’s top flight, where he recorded six shutouts in a relegation battle that seemed doomed before his insertion in the 2021-22 season. 

Ndaiye is also the latest player to arrive having gained experience in the lower divisions in Italy in Miami this offseason, with new Head Coach Antonio Nocerino also having signed 19-year-old winger Mattia Gaggliardi and 19-year-old forward Rocco Genzano. With Ndaiye  the first goalkeeper to be rostered by the side this offseason, it will be interesting to see who else joins him, and whether he might be able to claim the starting spot in preseason.