HARRISON, N.J. – Red Bulls II have added midfielder Lamine Conte to a USL Championship contract pending U.S. Soccer Federation and league approval, the club announced Thursday.

Conte, 22, was a three-year starter at the University of Louisville. He made 31 appearances.

The Conakary, Guinea native was named to the 2018 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship all-tournament team.

“We are excited to add Lamine to our 2021 roster and we think that he can be a big piece for the group,” NYRB II head coach John Wolyniec said in a statement. “We think he really helps stabilize our team on the defensive end.”

Prior to Louisville, he played two seasons at the University of Mobile. He was named an NAIA second team All-American in 2017.

The 5-10 Conte played three seasons for Reading United A.C. in USL League Two. He was named 2019 USL League Two defensive player of the year, with his team conceding 11 goals.

“I am extremely excited to join this great club and start my professional career with NYRB II,” Conte said. “This is a dream come true and I cannot wait to get started and play in front of our incredible fans.”

Conte was selected 40th overall by the Red Bulls in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.