Séga Coulibaly joins Portland Hearts of Pine following three seasons with LA Galaxy, bringing with him a wealth of experience and defensive leadership. Originally from Bamako, Mali, and raised in France, the 29-year-old arrives as a major addition to Portland’s growing identity on and off the pitch.
Coulibaly began his professional career at just 16 with Rennes II, where he captained a squad that included future international stars like Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé. He went on to make 143 appearances across French clubs—including Rennes, Sedan, Avranches, and Nancy—before signing with the Galaxy in 2021.
Coulibaly made his Major League Soccer (MLS) debut on 2021 with LA Galaxy, and quickly established himself as a starter, making 49 appearances over three seasons. In 2022, he scored the game-winning goal in a 2-1 El Tráfico victory over LAFC and played a key role in helping the Galaxy reach the MLS playoff quarterfinals. That season, he anchored a backline that posted multiple clean sheets, including a shutout win over Nashville in the postseason.
Internationally, Coulibaly represented France at the U16 through U20 levels, earning 20 caps and playing alongside talents like Kingsley Coman, Serhou Guirassy, and Jonathan Bamba. Now following a knee injury that limited his 2023 campaign, Coulibaly is ready for his next chapter in Portland.
“It’s a new club, but there’s a lot of enthusiasm around it,” he said. “My ambition is to help the club grow by doing great things on the pitch with my teammates.”
Head coach Bobby Murphy added:
“It’s a credit to the club and the league that a player of his quality and experience would choose to come here. He’s going to be a huge addition and he’s already fit right in with the group.”