Senegalese defender Mamadou Mbacke Fall has left FC Barcelona to return to Major League Soccer, joining St. Louis City on a permanent transfer.
The move, which had been the subject of several days of speculation, was confirmed by both clubs via their official channels. Fall, 23, previously played for Los Angeles FC, making 36 MLS appearances before moving to Barcelona.
While he played 60 games for Barcelona’s reserve side, he did not feature for the first team during his time in Catalonia.
“FC Saint-Louis has officially announced the permanent transfer of 23-year-old Senegalese central defender Mamadou Mbacke Fall from FC Barcelona.
His contract runs until June 30, 2028, and includes options for the 2028-2029 and 2029-2030 seasons. Fall will occupy a foreign player position in the squad, subject to the successful completion of his medical examination and the obtaining of his P-1 visa and his International Transfer Certificate (ITC),” the club’s website stated.
Sporting director Corey Wray highlighted the player’s qualities and expected impact on the team. “When we started looking at ways to strengthen our defense, Mamadou’s profile stood out, and we believe he addresses some of our immediate needs.
He’s comfortable on the ball, has excellent game awareness, and combines mobility with defensive solidity. His experience with top-level teams, both in MLS and Europe, will bring stability to our defense.”
Fall is expected to play alongside his compatriot Fallou Fall at St. Louis City, offering additional defensive depth and familiarity within the squad. The move marks the end of a chapter in Europe for the Rufisque-born centre-back and a return to a league where he has previously established himself.
With this transfer, Fall now has the opportunity to secure regular first-team football and continue his development at St. Louis City.
The permanent deal underscores the club’s ambition to reinforce their defence while leveraging the experience of players who have competed at high levels both in Europe and in MLS.
