Former Manchester United defender Tyrell Malacia has ended his four-month search for a club by signing for MLS side FC Cincinnati. The Dutch left-back departed Old Trafford at the end of last season upon the expiry of his contract.
Move to Major League Soccer
Malacia, now 27, had spent four years as a United player, having arrived at the club in 2022 as Erik ten Hag's first signing. He has now opted for a move to Major League Soccer and joined Cincinnati on a free transfer.
Malacia has signed a one-year deal with his new club, plus an option for a further campaign. "We are excited to add a player of Tyrell's experience," said General Manager Chris Albright.
"He's played at the highest levels of the game and understands the demands of competing in those environments. His quality on the ball, defensive instincts, and team-first mentality is a welcome addition to the group and we're happy to have him in Cincinnati."
Career revival after difficult seasons
Malacia will now hope to revive his career following a difficult few seasons. The nine-time Dutch international made 39 appearances in his debut campaign at Old Trafford but he missed the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign through injury.
He made just a further 11 appearances for the club. A number of bizarre conspiracies grew on social media regarding his absence but Malacia broke his silence in November 2024 to dispel them.
Speaking to The Athletic, he said: "No, nothing was true. No, no. I've just been doing my rehab. Especially when I was in Holland, I was close to my family - so just training, family, sleeping; training, family, sleeping. The only thing I've done."
Family struggles and new start
Malacia then opened up on two difficult family situations that affected his career, with his dad Sanroy having grown ill, while his grandmother sadly passed away.
"It's a bit difficult, because I'm not like a guy who talks about these types of things, but my dad got sick," Malacia said. "He wasn't able to walk anymore. For my family, it was a big, big impact. It's still difficult sometimes."
"For me, she was like my mum; basically, my second mum," he added about his grandmother. "I lived there for a couple of years. I was there every day, especially when I played in Holland. After every training, I went there. Every time I go back to Holland, the first thing I did was go visit her. Always the first thing."
Malacia's new club currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference of MLS. They will be back in action this weekend as they take on Houston Dynamo.
