PAPILLION, Neb. – Union Omaha today announced the signing of defender Blake Malone, pending league and federation approval. The 22-year-old featured heavily for Colorado Rapids 2 of MLS NEXT Pro last season, playing over 2,000 minutes as his side won the Western Conference and reached the Western Conference Final in the playoffs.  

Malone was born in Omaha but moved from the area at a young age. In high school, he played club soccer with Desert Oasis in Las Vegas, Nev. He joined the Seattle Sounders FC academy in 2017, where his U-16/17 team won the 2018 U.S. Soccer Development Academy national championship. He made his USL debut with Tacoma Defiance on an amateur contract in the same year. In 2019, Malone accepted a scholarship to play collegiately for the University of North Carolina, leading to his Jan. 2020 call-up by the United States U-20 Youth National Team under Head Coach Anthony Hudson. 

"Blake is a top young defender who's coming off an outstanding conference-winning season with Colorado Rapids 2," said Omaha Head Coach Dominic Casciato. "He's familiar with our club, having been part of the 2021 double-winning team, and has developed considerably in the two years since then. We look forward to welcoming the local lad back home for the 2024 season."

"I'm thrilled to be back playing for the city I was born in," said Malone. "Looking forward to the season and to, hopefully, winning another championship like we did in 2021!"