BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Tuesday the club had signed Sierra Leone international Mohamed Buya Turay and veteran forward Stefano Pinho ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval. 

Turay joins Legion FC after a season with Danish Superliga club Odense Boldklub, where he recorded three goals in 16 appearances. The 29-year-old has competed previously in Scandinacia and the Far East during his career, including stints with AFC Eskiltuna, Dalkurd FC, Djurgarden, and Malmo FF in Sweden’s Allsvenskan, recording 33 goals and 13 assists in the top-flight division.

Notably with Djurgarden, Turay recorded 15 goals in 29 league appearances and won the Allsvenskan’s Golden Boot in the 2019 season. He has also appeared for Hebei FC in the Chinese Super League, and Sint-Truidense VV in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League.

Internationally, Turay made his senior international debut for Sierra Leone in 2018 during Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying and has made 13 appearances for his country overall. In 2022, he was part of the country’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, and appeared in all three group stage contests.

“We’re excited to have Mohamed join Legion FC,” said Legion FC President & General Manager Jay Heaps. “He is a dynamic attacking player with excellent speed and presence in front of a goal.” 

Pinho joins Birmingham having competed for Indy Eleven in the past two seasons in the USL Championship. The Brazilian recorded 51 appearances for the Boys in Blue and notched 13 goals and four assists, helping the side reach the USL Championship Playoffs this past campaign. Before joining Indy Eleven, Pinho spent one season with Austin Bold FC in 2021 where he registered one goal and one assist in 25 matches.

“Pinho is a proven goal scorer in the USL,” said Heaps. “We’re excited to have an excellent and versatile forward who has experience in our league come to Birmingham.”