Phoenix Rising have completed the signing of Senegalese centre-forward Dominique Badji on a free transfer from his unattached status, adding the experienced attacker to their USL Championship squad from 2026-04-18 on a deal running until 2027-12-31.
Badji joins Phoenix Rising after a spell without a club, with the move registered as a free transfer and no fee involved. The 33-year-old, valued at €150k at the time of the switch, arrives as a direct reinforcement for the club’s attacking options in the United States’ second tier.
The Dakar-born forward is listed primarily as an attack-minded centre-forward, with a preference for his left foot and a height of 1.83 m that gives him a physical presence on the front line. Phoenix Rising have registered him as part of their first-team squad in the USLC, confirming that the deal is fully completed rather than a rumoured move or preliminary negotiation.
Badji’s transfer marks another chapter in a career that now takes him away from his home country of Senegal to compete in North America. His move into the USL Championship places him in a competitive environment abroad, with the United States-based club looking to exploit his experience and profile at this stage of his career.
Having been officially listed as coming from “Without Club,” Badji made the switch as a free agent, which allowed Phoenix Rising to secure his services without a transfer fee. The lack of a fee contrasts with his stated market value of €150k, underlining the club’s opportunity to add a player with established professional experience at no direct transfer cost.
Born on 16 Oct 1992 in Dakar, Badji now enters what could be a pivotal late-career stint. His registration with Phoenix Rising FC also appears as his “national team” entry in the data, reflecting his current professional affiliation rather than international caps. There is no information in the provided data on his previous clubs, individual match performances, or seasonal appearance statistics, and no contract extension or earlier termination has been indicated beyond the stated expiry.
With the confirmed deal now in place, focus will turn to how quickly Badji adapts to Phoenix Rising’s system in the USL Championship and how effectively he can use his left-footed finishing and physical presence to influence matches. At 33 and playing abroad, this contract could significantly shape the final phase of his professional career, determining both his legacy at club level and his standing among Senegalese forwards competing outside their home country.
