On Monday morning, Phoenix Rising FC announced the signing of Gambian defender Baboucarr Njie on a multi-year contract, pending USL and federation approval.
If you can't beat 'em...sign 'em.
β Phoenix Rising FC (@PHXRisingFC) December 13, 2021
Everyone welcome @BaboucarrN05 to the squad!#RisingAsOne pic.twitter.com/IUaP8BaGc2
Njie, who had arrived to Rio Grande Valley FC in 2021 from Atlanta United 2, was originally signed as a midfielder to the club. However, in the last nine matches of the USL Championship season, Wilmer Cabrera placed him as an outside back along with the Venezuelan midfielder Juan Carlos Azocar.
While Njie only played a total of 1,391 minutes with the Toros, 776 of those as a defender, Njie led the team in duels won (151) and second in tackles won (36).
Toros fans will definitely remember him with the goal he scored in the Western Conference quarterfinals against his now current team that kickstarted their dream victory to advance to the semifinals. He was also recently selected as the Defender of the Year by the club's fanbase.
The fans have spoken! Your πππ π π π ππ πππππ ππππ Top Defender goes to Baboucarr Njie!
β Rio Grande Valley FC (@RGVFC) December 8, 2021
We received a total of 1,122 votes! Thank you to everyone who voted! #RGVFC #TorosFanAwards #ParaElValle #USL pic.twitter.com/2rngxAvG2H
With this announcement, Baboucarr Njie becomes the first player that will officially not return to RGV FC for the 2022 season.
βI cannot wait to get to Phoenix and start working,β Njie declared in the press release. βI am excited to feel what everyone else feels like when theyβre playing for Phoenix. Those players were all winners. I want to feel the enjoyment of winning a championship.β