PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Friday it had acquired Cameroonian defender Ascel Essengue on a season-long loan from LA Galaxy. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Essengue signed a first-team contract with the Galaxy ahead of the 2025 season. The Galaxy retain the right to recall Essengue.

The 22-year-old has recorded five goals in 79 appearances (66 starts) across all competitions with the LA Galaxy's second team (LA Galaxy II, Ventura County FC) in the USL Championship (2021-22) and MLS NEXT Pro (2023-24). He most recently found the back of the net with a precise header against the Portland Timbers2 on April 24.

“From day one we liked [Essengue]," said Rising Head Coach Pa-Modou Kah. “We liked his profile and we liked his potential. We thought he could be somebody who could help us and flourish under us, so we're very happy to have him.”

A product of Kadji Sports Academy, based in Douala, Cameroon, Essengue arrived in the United States ahead of the 2021 USL Championship season where he signed a contract with LA Galaxy II. The defender initially joined the LA Galaxy Academy at the age of 15, before making the decision to return to Cameroon until the age of 18.

Essengue broke out for Ventura County FC in 2024, scoring his first three goals and starting in 29 of a possible 30 matches across all competitions. Notably, Essengue completed 94% of his passes (2nd-highest) while his 2,365 minutes in the regular season were the third-most on the team in 2024. Those performances helped the Cameroon international earn a two-year MLS contract.

“My goal in Phoenix is to help the team go forward,” said Essengue. “I’m here to do my best and to protect the back line. I’m happy to be here and think it will be a good experience.”