FC Cincinnati Sign Former Academy Player Malik Pinto to First Professional Contract
January 6, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
FC Cincinnati News Release
FC Cincinnati have signed Malik Pinto, the club announced today. The midfielder joins the club on a deal through 2024 with club options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Pinto, 20, joined FC Cincinnati's Academy in 2020, after enrolling at Princeton University. The Durham, N.C. native spent 2020-21 at FC Cincinnati, where he played for the U19s and trained with the first team while the NCAA season was cancelled. He returned to FC Cincinnati in the summers of 2021 and 2022 to train with the club.
"Malik is a promising young player that we feel can develop quickly in our environment," said Chris Albright, FC Cincinnati General Manager. "From his time within our Academy to his time at Princeton, he's shown great work ethic, ability to cover ground, and game understanding. I'd like to welcome him back to Cincinnatias he begins his professional career."
In his two seasons with the Tigers, Pinto has played in all 34 games, starting 30. The versatile midfielder scored two goals and added two assists in 2021, his sophomore year, scoring a brace at Dartmouth which included a 102nd minute OT winner. He added four more assists in 2022 for Princeton.
Pinto was named Second-Team All-Ivy in 2021 and an All-Ivy Honorable Mention in 2022, and he was named the Ivy League Player of the Week and Ivy League Rookie of the Week following his brace against Dartmouth.
TRANSACTION: FC Cincinnati sign Malik Pinto to a contract through 2024 with club options for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
MALIK PINTO
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5' 11''
Birthdate: Aug. 9, 2002 (20)
Birthplace: Durham, N.C.
Nationality: American
How Acquired: signed to a contract through 2024 with club options for 2025 and 2026.
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