LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC announced on Friday it had signed forward Mukwelle Akale to a multi-year contract through the 2027 USL Championship season with a club option for the 2028 campaign. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Akale joins LouCity after two seasons with New Mexico United, where he scored nine goals and registered 11 assists across 64 appearances in the USL Championship regular season and playoffs and twice scored game-winning goals in postseason victories for United.

“Louisville is known around the league for having high standards and being the best out of the players,” said Akale. “I’m excited to get to work and win a championship this coming year!”

Known for his attacking flair and dynamism, Akale's 71 completed dribbles were tied for fifth-most in the USL Championship over the last two seasons, and came at a 46.1 percent success rate, ranking seventh in the league among players with at least 50 completed dribbles.

Akale also recorded 89 chances created and a 10.98 Expected Assists mark for New Mexico in the regular season, while posting an 80.1 percent passing accuracy rate overall.

“Akale is a dynamic attacker that we believe is going to make us a better team in the final third,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “He has consistently shown how dangerous he can be in 1v1 situations and is hungry to help us achieve success. I was happy with the interview process and am confident he is going to be a great fit both in the locker room and on the field.”

A highly touted youth prospect from Minneapolis, Minn., Akale signed a pre-contract with Spain's Villareal CF in 2014 when he was just 17. Akale spent four seasons competing with Villareal's academy, including its B and C reserve teams which compete in the third and fifth tiers of the Spanish league system, respectively.

He earned a first team appearance with Villareal in a friendly against CD Leganés in 2016.

In 2020, Akale left Villareal to join Pafos FC in Cyprus — a current UEFA Champions League club. He returned to the United States in 2022, signing with South Georgia Tormenta in USL League One where he won a league title in his first season, playing the full 90 minutes in the League One Final. Overall, he made 40 regular season appearances for the third division club in the regular season, scoring 12 goals and registering five assists.