HARTFORD, Conn. – Hartford Athletic has announced the club had signed Senegalese striker Mamadou Dieng to a long-term contract ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Dieng comes to Hartford as a free agent having competed for Sahel Academy in Senegal during his youth career. The 19-year-old has already made an impact for the side in preseason, finding the net in Hartford's 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer in an exhibition on Wednesday afternoon. 

“We are thrilled that we found Mamadou, another promising young player to bring to Hartford,” said Athletic Head Coach and General Manager Brendan Burke. “Mamadou is a big and very energetic forward who is willing to defend from the front, stretch the last line and compete in the air. He has great potential and we can't wait to integrate him with Romario [Williams], which we think will accelerate his development.”