FC Cincinnati has addressed one of the club’s most glaring roster needs, adding left wingback Lukas Engel on loan from Middlesborough. As first reported by Tom Bogert, the loan runs through December 2025 and includes a team option to buy.
Who is Lukas Engel?
Engel, a 26-year-old Danish international, spent the past few weeks training with FCC as a trialist and appeared in the team’s preseason match against the Philadelphia Union. His arrival comes after an up-and-down tenure with Middlesborough. Initially joining the EFL Championship club in 2023, he immediately jumped into the starting left back role, tallying two goals and four assists in his debut season. However, an early-season injury and the arrival of Neto Borges has relegated Engel to more of a support role this season. Before moving to England, he spent the entirety of his youth and senior career at various clubs in Denmark.
Engel and the Orange and Blue
Per The Atheltic‘s Michael Walker, Engel is a player FCC have had their eye on for some time. With the departure of Yamil Asad and uncertainty over which position Luca Orellano will play in 2025, Engel’s addition adds much-needed depth to the left wingback spot. When up to form, Engel has the tools to help FCC’s attack from the left side, albeit in a different style than Orellano and Asad. While the latter two excelled at creating plays through their dribbling, Engel is more of a pass-first playmaker who likes to use progressive passing to move the ball down the pitch. He has the tendency to be an aggressive playmaker unafraid to attempt high-risk, high-reward passes in the attacking third. Defensively, Engel is sound enough to be a reliable presence in his own third, although he is sometimes prone to conceding key fouls in dangerous areas.
Engel’s use with the Orange and Blue will likely come down to several still-undecided factors, including Orellano’s role and which formation Pat Noonan uses moving forward. If Orellano moves to a more central attacking role, Engel has the capability to be a reliable starter at the wingback position. At worst, he’s an experienced player who will provide immediate depth to a backline still on the mend.
Recommended for you
