INDIANAPOLIS – Indy Eleven announced on Thursday it had signed defender Makel Rasheed ahead of the 2026 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval and per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed.

Rasheed joins Indy having spent the past season with South Georgia Tormenta FC in USL League One. The center back led the team in blocks (26) and clearances (130) and was second in aerial duels won (49) while also contributing four goals and one assist as an aerial threat at set pieces.

A native of Rockville, Md., Rasheed had previously been selected by Nashville SC with the 65th pick of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft , and spent time with the club’s MLS NEXT Pro reserve team Huntsville City FC in MLS NEXT Pro and Asheville City SC in USL League Two before joining Tormenta.

Collegiately, Rasheed starred at Xavier University, earning All-Big East First Team and All-Tournament Team honors in 2023 after helping the Musketeers to their first Big East title, scoring the opening goal in the side’s penalty shootout victory against No. 3 Georgetown. In 2022 he was also voted to the All-Big East Second Team after serving as a key player on the Xavier squad that recorded the highest ranking in program history (No. 9), had the fewest losses in a season (2), and the longest unbeaten streak to start a campaign (14 matches).

Rasheed began his collegiate career at the University of Indianapolis, helping the Greyhounds to a 47-7-8 record in three seasons with two NCAA Division II Tournament Semifinal appearances. He earned All-America and NCAA All-Tournament accolades and he was a two-time Great Lakes Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021.