The transfer window has officially opened its doors and ASSE will be active. In sporting difficulties, the club must strengthen itself to avoid relegation at the end of the season. Several positions are targeted. In ASSE's sights, Adilson Malanda sounds like a credible prospect for the central defender position, but who is he?
Adilson Malanda, born October 29, 2001 in Rouen, is a French footballer of Congolese origin playing as a central defender. He is 1.94 meters tall and right-handed. Having left early in his life in the south of France with his sister and his mother, he joined the Nîmes Olympique training center, Malanda made his professional debut in Ligue 1 on December 23, 2020 during a 2-1 defeat against Dijon. He will play 18 minutes, his only ones in League 1 of his entire career for the moment. He will only be on the bench once in Ligue 1 during this season where he frequents the group, it is at Geoffroy Guichard (2-2, goal Moukoudi and Nordin under Claude Puel).
The American dream
In 2021, he joined Rodez Aveyron Football in Ligue 2, where he became a pillar of the defense with 33 appearances during the 2021-2022 season. A 29-time starter, he gained confidence and caught the eye of recruiters. On August 4, 2022, Malanda signed with Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer (MLS) for around 1 million euros. Since his arrival, he has established himself as a key element of the defense, wearing the jersey of his new club 79 times in two seasons. He will score a goal and deliver 2 assists during these 79 matches.
Adilson Malanda amazes with his reliability. He has only missed one game since joining the Major Soccer League due to a foot injury that will only keep him off the field for four days.
His steady progression and performances in MLS could pave the way for a promising career, possibly in Europe, in the years to come. In any case, this is what he hopes in an interview given in March 2024: “Yes, MLS allows you to be seen by bigger teams because it is followed by a lot of people. It’s important.”
A situation which is taking shape since ASSE but also Leicester are interested in the player.
The comparison between France and MLS
A question that comes up often and which was asked to the person concerned. In other words, will he be ready for a top 5 European team?
During an interview with Soccer Sheet, he judges the difference between League 2 and MLS: “It's difficult to compare them, but it's true that there are some differences. I think that, as I said before, the game here is a little more open, there is a little more space, because the teams generally press, which creates spaces In Europe, and particularly in France, it is more closed, more compact, but in terms of intensity, it is quite similar, and it takes a lot. 'invest, like everywhere.'
“In France, there is the stereotype according to which MLS is a small league, particularly in terms of level. Things are changing, there are more and more good players and they are arriving younger and younger unlike before. For me the MLS is a mix between league 1 and league 2. It's more open here than in league 2 because in league 2, the teams are very compact and leave little space.”
Any premonitory signs for a visit to ASSE?
Beyond the fact that Geoffroy Guichard is known with Nîmes as mentioned previously, Adilson Malanda knows Lamine Fomba well. They met at Nîmes Olympique.
Finally, during an interview, he lists the players he faced who caught his attention and mentions the former Stéphanois Krasso. “Among the best players I faced, I also think of Krasso from Saint-Etienne, he was really good!” Although Adilson never played against ASSE, he crossed paths with Zipé during his loan to Ajaccio where the Corsicans had won their accession to the first division at the end of the season.
Valued at 3.5 million euros and under contract until December 2026 (with an optional year), American leaders will have to be convinced to let go of one of the best defenders in MLS. Has ASSE spotted a good deal? Negotiations have only just begun…
