NM United Bolsters Defense with Ex-Lobo Maliek Howell

ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico United announced the signing of defender Maliek Howell on Jan. 14, 2026, pending league and federation approval, adding depth to its back line for the upcoming USL Championship campaign. The 25-year-old center back, standing 6-foot-2, joins after stints with Birmingham Legion FC and Las Vegas Lights FC in 2025, where he appeared in 17 matches with 12 starts, logging 1,139 minutes. Howell recorded 13 interceptions, 12 blocked shots, 60 duels won and 40 clearances across those clubs, showcasing his reliability in high-stakes USL action.

Howell's professional resume includes 51 appearances and 3,167 minutes, with 45 interceptions, 30 blocked shots and 151 duels won. A Kingston, Jamaica native, he earned three caps with the Reggae Boyz national team, bringing international pedigree to United's roster. Crucially for New Mexico fans, Howell's college career ties him to the state: he played for the UNM Lobos in 2018 before transferring to the University of Memphis from 2019-2022, giving him intimate knowledge of Albuquerque's soccer scene and the high altitude at Rio Grande Credit Union Field.

The signing aligns with United's aggressive offseason moves to fortify its defense, including defender Kipp Keller on Jan. 9, Finnish international Niko Hämäläinen on March 9, and a trio of local academy products — forward Grady Gilchrist, defender Kyle Hofmann and goalkeeper Taren Wente — on March 11 USL Academy contracts. These homegrown talents from New Mexico United's academy have already trained with the first team and featured in preseason matches ahead of the season opener against Oakland Roots SC. Additional reinforcements like veteran Tyler Blackett and midfielder Cam Wilkerson underscore the club's push for a playoff run in 2026.