USL San Diego Loyal

SD Loyal Signs Israeli-American Defender Michael Chilaka to 2023 Roster

Published on July 26, 2023 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
San Diego Loyal News Release


SAN DIEGO - San Diego Loyal SC has signed defender Michael Chilaka to its 2023 USL Championship roster, pending league and federation approval.

The club also acquired Louisville City FC forward Enoch Mushagalusa on loan and transferred Kyle Adams to Louisville for an undisclosed fee. Both additional moves are also pending league and federation approval.

Chilaka, an Israeli-American defender, joins SD Loyal for the 2023 USL Championship season, signing just prior to the club's 20th league match. The 23-year-old comes from Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C. of the Israeli Premier League, the top-flight league of the Israel Football Association. The oldest and most decorated football club in Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv purchased Chilaka as an 18-year-old in 2018 for a substantial transfer fee from lower division side Maccabi Kabilio Jaffa F.C. Along with competing in the UEFA Youth League, Chilaka played in Israel's second tier Liga Leumit and the Israel State Cup, where he spent time on the pitch as both a right-back and central defender. Chilaka was part of the Israel Under-17 squad in 2017.

Chilaka adds to the SD Loyal defensive core while Mushagalusa, who scored two goals with Louisville this season, adds another spark to Head Coach Nate Miller's explosive attacking arsenal. Mushagalusa played in 15 matches while starting in 11 this season with Louisville, recording one assist in 962 minutes played. For the 2022 season, the 23-year-old had a career-high 10 goals and three assists with Louisville.

Originally from the Republic of Congo, Mushagalusa was raised in Denver, where he progressed through the Colorado Rapids' academy program. The striker scored 53 goals in 85 U.S. Soccer Development Academy appearances from U-15 to U-19 before receiving a trial with the Rapids' first team. With an option to play at the University of South Carolina, Mushagalusa instead went on to sign with Sporting KC II ahead of the 2020 USL Championship season to begin his pro career. He made eight appearances in 2020 as a rookie.

Mushagalusa and Chilaka join SD Loyal as the club prepares for its first match in San Diego in more than a month, an international friendly match against German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund on Thursday, July 27 at Snapdragon Stadium. Tickets to the match are available now at ticketmaster.com. SD Loyal will then return to USL Championship action and begin a five-match homestand, starting against Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC on Sunday, July 30 (3 p.m.) at Torero Stadium. Tickets to that match can be purchased by visiting sdloyal.com/tickets.

Michael Chilaka

BIRTHDATE: Feb. 5, 2000

HEIGHT: 6 ft. 0

WEIGHT: 163 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel

Enoch Mushagalusa

BIRTHDATE: Nov. 13, 1999

HEIGHT: 5 ft. 11

WEIGHT: 174 lbs.

HOMETOWN: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Check out the San Diego Loyal Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 26, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central