Mohammed Sofo seizing his chance with New York Red Bulls: "That’s why you have to always be ready"
- Andrew Olsson
- May 28
- 2 min read
For 20-year-old Ghanaian forward Mohammed Sofo, the 2025 Major League Soccer season was meant to be a gradual learning experience but first team opportunities have come quickly for the JMG Academy graduate.
Having joined the Red Bulls in 2023, Sofo spent two seasons with the second team in MLS' developmental MLS Next Pro league but has taken his chances after Red Bulls star attacker Lewis Morgan went down with a knee injury. Having made his MLS debut as a substitute for Red Bulls in June 2024, the young forward made his first start on March 1 of this year against Nashville SC and it took less than ten minutes for Sofo to score his first MLS goal.
“It’s always been about working hard and just preparing myself,” Sofo said. “I knew this is a long season, so you never know. That’s why you have to always be ready. When the opportunity came, it happened, I was ready to go at that time. When [coach Sandro Schwarz] gave me the opportunity, I did my best," Sofo told AMNY.
After spending time with the JMG Academy at Malian club Guidars FC, Sofo moved on loan to Red Bulls midway through the 2023 season and was signed on a permanent basis a year later. He produced 8 goals and 6 assists in 31 MLS Next Pro games.
With experienced attackers in the team like former Swedish national team playmaker Emil Forsberg and Cameroon national team forward Eric Choupo-Moting, there is plenty of support and openings for Sofo to exploit with his pace. For now, the focus is on improving his finishing and off-the-ball movements.
“I just have to keep working hard, and there are a lot of aspects of my game I can also improve. So, for me, everything I’m showing so far, I don’t even think this is a quarter of what I think I can do.”
Sofo has three goals in eight MLS games this season and continues to show well in the US Open Cup, where he has scored three goals in two games and made his first strides with the senior team last season (2 goals in 2 games). The Red Bulls next host Charlotte FC on Wednesday evening where Sofo will be ready to contribute as a starter or substitute.
