ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico United announced on Wednesday the club had signed forward Mukwelle Akale ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Akwale posted a career-best 11 goals for South Georgia Tormenta FC in the 2023 USL League One season, while also adding five assists to earn Tormenta FC’s Player of the Year award.

“Mukwelle is a terrific attacker with a nose for goal and a winning mentality,” said United Sporting Director Itamar Keinan. “His football intelligence is off the charts, and we’re excited for the impact that he will undoubtedly make in the Black & Yellow.”

The 26-year-old came through the youth Academy at La Liga club Villareal before moving into the club’s reserve side. During that time, he completed for the United States U-20 Men’s National Team, having previously seen action at the U-17 and U-18 levels. He joined Tormenta FC ahead of its USL League One title-winning campaign in 2022 before his breakout campaign this past season.

Analysis

Mukwalle Akale had a breakout campaign for Tormenta FC this past season, somewhat living up to the promise he had shown in the youth ranks while coming through Villarreal’s system. He was among the most versatile forwards in League One a season ago, with his four assists being underserved by his teammates’ finishing as he ended the campaign with a 5.66 Expected Assists mark.

Akale posted a Goals Added mark of 7.56 per American Soccer Analysis, comfortably the highest on Tormenta FC and No. 10 overall in the league. Now he’ll hope to translate that performance into a New Mexico attack that is looking for a player with his type of skillset to help fill the gap left by the departure of Amando Moreno.