ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico United announced on Friday the club had signed defender Abdi Mohamed to a 25-day contract ahead of the club’s contest against Las Vegas Lights FC on Saturday night at Cashman Field.

Mohamed joins New Mexico having spent the past two seasons with Columbus Crew 2 of MLS NEXT Pro, where he helped the side claim the 2022 MLS NEXT Pro Cup while making 54 appearances overall. While in Columbus, the 27-year-old recorded two goals and six assists in 3,904 minutes while posting a passing accuracy rate of 85.4 percent.

A native of Nairobi, Kenya, Mohamed had previously spent two seasons with Greenville Triumph SC of USL League One. In 2020 he helped the side win the league title, while in 2021 Mohamed was voted to the All-League Second Team as he made a cumulative 33 appearances and logged 2,621 minutes across the two campaigns.

He spent his first season in the professional ranks in the Championship, making 21 appearances for Memphis 901 FC in the 2019 season.

Analysis

With more than 100 professional appearances in his career, Abdi Mohamed is an interesting pickup for a New Mexico side who can provide depth at right back or left back. More accustomed to playing on the right side, he arrives in New Mexico already familiar with Head Coach Eric Quill after his time in Columbus, and with two league titles to his in USL League One and MLS NEXT Pro has an understanding of what it takes to succeed.

Whether Mohamed’s 25-day contract will get extended further will be worth watching. The club’s upcoming run of four games in the Championship and Open Cup before the end of the month will effectively provide an audition for Mohamed to show he’s capable of being a part of the squad moving forward.