FC Cincinnati complete the signing of free agent Dominique Badji
By Chris Smith
FC Cincinnati have completed the signing of forward Dominique Badji via free agency, the club announced on Tuesday.
The 29-year-old arrives in Ohio on a one-year deal with options through the 2023 and 2024 seasons and will offer Cincinnati some much-needed firepower up-front.
Badji has been in MLS since 2015 and has 37 goals and 18 assists in 158 regular-season appearances. Having previously turned out for FC Dallas, Badji left Nashville SC for the Colorado Rapids in the middle of last season and scored five goals - including three match-winners - in just 319 minutes of action, helping the club top the Western Conference.
“We’re excited to add a player of Dominique’s quality and character to the group,” said FC Cincinnati general manager Chris Albright in an official club press release. “He is a proven goalscorer in MLS, and his elite pace and work rate fit well into what we’re trying to build here.”
Badji is the third player through the door at TQL stadium alongside goalkeeper Alec Kann and full-back Alvas Powell as Albright and new head coach Pat Noonan look to turn around FC Cincinnati's fortunes.
In three seasons as an MLS club, the Orange and Blue have finished bottom of the overall standings every single time, with just 12 wins from 88 regular season matches - they've run up a goal difference of -104 during that time.
Cincy's latest arrival will join Brenner and Brandon Vazquez as the club's striker options for the 2022 season, which kicks off on February 26.