Former Manchester United left-back Tyrell Malacia joins MLS side FC Cincinnati following his departure from Old Trafford.
FC Cincinnati have signed former Manchester United (1.72) defender Tyrell Malacia on a free transfer. The 27-year-old Dutch international has agreed a contract running through June 2027.
A Fresh Start In America
Malacia left Manchester United after his contract expired at the end of last season. The deal includes a club option extending his stay through the 2027-28 MLS season. Cincinnati also acquired an international roster slot from St. Louis CITY SC as part of the move.
That exchange cost the club $200,000 in 2026 General Allocation Money. General manager Chris Albright expressed enthusiasm about adding a player of Malacia’s experience.
“He’s played at the highest levels of the game and understands the demands of competing in those environments,” Albright said.
A Difficult Period In Manchester
Malacia joined United from Feyenoord for around €15 million back in 2022. He impressed during his debut season, making 39 appearances under then-manager Erik ten Hag. A severe knee injury in the summer of 2023 dramatically altered the trajectory of his career.
He required two separate surgeries and missed approximately 500 days of football in total. Malacia never fully reestablished himself following his eventual return to fitness. He made just 12 further appearances for United across his remaining time at the club. In total, he featured 50 times for the Red Devils across four seasons.
Silverware Despite The Setbacks
Malacia’s time in England was not without genuine success on the field. He won the 2022-23 EFL Cup during his debut season with United. A loan spell at PSV Eindhoven also brought further silverware during a difficult rehabilitation period.
He helped PSV secure the Eredivisie title during the 2024-25 campaign. That loan move followed collapsed negotiations over a proposed permanent transfer to Benfica. Malacia also won the Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup earlier in his career with Feyenoord.
International Pedigree And What Comes Next
Malacia has earned nine senior caps for the Netherlands national team. He featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the Dutch reached the quarterfinals. He brings more than 250 professional European appearances into his new MLS chapter.
Malacia reflected warmly on his time at Old Trafford following his departure: “I experienced beautiful things there, and less beautiful ones,” he told ESPN. “I am certainly grateful that I was able to play for such a big club,” he added.
Cincinnati currently sit ninth in the Eastern Conference with 32 points from 24 matches.
