LAFC sign rookie defender Mamadou Fall

LAFC announced on Friday they have signed defender Mamadou Fall to his first professional contract, claimed off MLS Waivers system. The 18-year-old joins on a two-year deal with options to extend through 2024. The Senegal native will occupy an international slot on the club’s roster.

Fall previously played at Florida’s Montverde Academy, where LAFC also signed defender Mohamed Traore, a fellow Senegalese compatriot. A member of Senegal’s U-17 national team, he’s also trained with Europa League champion Villarreal’s youth teams in the past.

There is another Mamadou Fall plying his trade in the world of professional soccer, but the other one is 29 years old and a midfielder at Belgian club Charleroi, so there’s not a ton in common with the players aside from the name. Curiously, LAFC seem to like signing “namealikes,” with the team previously signing the less-known Joao Moutinho and also signing one of the Jesus David Murillos kicking around the soccer world.

I imagine like Traore, Fall is a project for the club and someone they hope to send to Las Vegas Lights to play on loan and get experience, and hopefully eventually make his way to the first team. Given the team has been struggling so far this season, I imagine some fans want to see some more immediate contributors, but you never know what the future holds for a player like Fall.

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