PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Friday the club had signed defender Mohamed Traore, bringing aboard one of the key players from the club’s USL Championship title-winning side on a permanent deal for the new season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Traore joined Rising FC on loan from Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer ahead of the 2023 Championship season and made 24 appearances for the side, including starting each of the club’s contests in the 2023 USL Championship Playoffs.  Traore recorded 20 interceptions, 65 clearances and 131 recoveries while posting a tackle success rate of 68.9 percent on 31 tackles.

“Rising is a great team and I loved being part of the team last season,” said Traore. “It’s a very good group of guys that had a great season and really made me feel like Phoenix was the right place for me. We’re young. We still have room to grow. The coaching staff is very good at helping us reach our full potential.

“At the beginning of the season it was kind of rough, maybe some injuries or inconsistent play got in the way but with the help of the coaches and my teammates, I found my confidence. I know I can do my job well. Towards the end of the year, like everyone else, I was just focusing on bringing my A game every time I stepped on the field.”

A native of Senegal, Traore has made 76 appearances and logged 5,729 minutes overall in the USL Championship across the regular season and playoffs, having spent two seasons on loan with Las Vegas Lights FC during the 2021 and 2022 season.

Analysis

Securing the services of Mohamed Traore on a permanent deal after his emergence on the left side of Rising FC’s back line while on loan from Los Angeles FC ensures the defending title holders will return all three of their starters from their run through the playoffs, with the 21-year-old having the potential to continue his emergence in the new season alongside Alejandro Fuenmayor and John Stenberg.

Traore showed himself to be a solid defender overall, but his ability on the ball was also key to Phoenix in possession. He logged an overall passing  accuracy rate of 80.1 percent and his ability to deliver accurately at distance helped teammates shift into gear through the midfield and final third. Those qualities should make Traore a young player to watch in 2024.