SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Republic FC announced on Thursday the club had acquired forward Mayele Malango via transfer from fellow USL Championship club Monterey Bay FC via transfer and signed him to a new contract with Republic FC ahead of the 2026 USL Championship season.

The transaction is pending league and federation approval and per club policy, the terms of the transfer and contract will not be disclosed.

“Mayele is a dynamic attacker with a diverse and impressive journey through multiple levels of U.S. soccer,” said Republic FC Head Coach Neill Collins. “His pace, strength and finishing ability give us more options in the final third, and we’re excited to integrate him into our system.”

Malango joins Republic FC after recording five goals and two assists in 29 appearances across all competitions in the 2025 season for Monterey Bay. The 28-year-old also logged 23 chances created and completed 27 dribbles at a 40.9 percent success rate across 1,275 minutes of play in the USL Championship.

“I would like to thank God for this opportunity, and also thanks to all the coaching staff and front office members for believing in me, and for making this transfer to happen. I'm super excited to join the team and can't wait to contribute to the team's success on and off the field,” said Malango. “I can’t wait to meet all the fans and play in front of you all. I will give everything I have for the team. Let’s make memories together as we fight for another championship.”

Prior to joining Monterey Bay FC, Malango built a productive professional career in the United States. He began his pro journey with New England Revolution II in 2020, where he recorded one goal and one assist in 575 minutes in USL League One.  appeared in 14 matches. In 2021, he signed with New Amsterdam FC of the National Independent Soccer Association and recorded nine goals in 14 appearances to earn All-League First Team honors before joining Albion San Diego, where he helped the club reach the NISA Final with three goals in 20 appearances.

Malango then join USL League One’s Chattanooga Red Wolves SC, where he recorded 12 goals and 5 assists in 68 appearances across all competitions before signing with Monterey Bay.

A native of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malango and his family spent 10 years in Malawi as refugees before coming to the U.S. and settling in Massachusetts. He made a name for himself on the local soccer scene before moving on to the collegiate level. He began at Salem State University, where he scored 17 goals in 19 appearances and earned both MASCAC Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors on the way to a conference title. He then transferred to UMass Lowell, competing at the Division I level before turning professional.

Mayele earned his first call up to the Malawi National Team for World Cup Qualifiers in September 2025, and recorded an assist in his debut. He later joined The Flames for two international friendlies in November, scoring his first goal against Lesotho on November 18.