PORTLAND, Maine - Portland Hearts of Pine today announced the signing of 29-year-old French defender Séga Coulibaly.

"I am really excited to join the club," said Coulibaly. "It's a new club, but there's a lot of enthusiasm around it. My ambition is to help the club grow by doing great things on the pitch with my teammates, and I can't wait to start this challenge."

After developing with the Stade Rennais FC academy, Coulibaly signed with the French club's developmental side, Rennes II, as a 16-year-old, and captained the side before signing a professional contract with Rennes' senior team shortly after he turned 20. He was an unused substitute in a pair of Rennes' Ligue 1 matches during the 2015/16 campaign.

Between 2013 and 2021, Coulibaly made 131 appearances in France with Ligue 2 side AS Nancy Lorraine and Championnat National clubs US Avranches, Rennes II, CS Sedan Ardennes and AS Nancy-Lorraine B.

In April 2021, Nancy transferred Coulibaly to Major League Soccer's LA Galaxy. Between 2021 and 2023 in Carson, the defender made 53 appearances and scored one goal - the winner against El Tráfico rival LAFC in 2022 - across MLS, U.S. Open Cup, MLS Cup Playoffs and Leagues Cup.

The six-foot-tall center back made his Galaxy debut on June 19, 2021, playing all 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Seattle Sounders FC. He went on to make 17 starts in 2021, playing a key role in shutout wins over Real Salt Lake, Minnesota United FC, and Houston Dynamo FC. 

Coulibaly made a further 26 starts for the Galaxy in 2022, scoring against LAFC and helping LA secure shutouts against New York City FC, Charlotte FC, Chicago Fire FC, Nashville SC, Austin FC, CF Montréal and Atlanta United FC, as the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs. He played the full 90 minutes in both of LA's postseason matches, including anchoring the backline in a shutout win over Nashville in the first round.

His 2023 season was limited to just two starts before a knee injury ended his campaign. The defender has spent the 2024/25 season in France with Championnat National side LB Châteauroux.

Coulibaly, who was born in Mali and moved to France as a 6-year-old, made 20 appearances with France's U-16 through U-20 sides between 2011 and 2016.