Detroit City Football Club (DCFC) announced today the signing of forward Cheikhou Niang. The 19-year-old Dakar, Senegal native joins DCFC on loan from FC Cincinnati 2 for the remainder of the 2026 season, and will wear No. 19 for Le Rouge. The transaction was completed prior to the USL Championship Roster Freeze on Monday, Sept. 7, and is pending league and federation approval.
Niang joins Detroit City after signing an MLS NEXT Pro contract with FC Cincinnati 2 in April 2026, scoring six goals in 977 minutes of play so far this season. The 6-foot-6 forward arrived in Cincinnati following his development with Rise Academy in Thiès, Senegal, an institute centered on both sport and education.
After joining Rise Academy at age 14, Niang began with the academy’s U17 side, where he led the team in goals. He later represented the academy at its U20 and Elite levels, recording 16 goals and seven assists before earning a place with Université Club de Thiès (UTC), the academy’s top side.
The Senegalese international has also represented his country in U20 camps and trained with French Ligue 1 club Stade Brestois 29.
Niang will add size, physicality and finishing ability to Detroit City FC’s attacking group as Le Rouge enters the final stretch of the 2026 campaign.
For more information about Detroit City FC, visit detcityfc.com and follow @DetroitCityFC on X, Facebook, and @detroitcityfootballclub on Instagram.
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Detroit City FC acquires Cheikhou Niang on loan from FC Cincinnati 2
