Adilson Malanda, born on 29 October 2001 (age 24), is a French central defender now with Middlesbrough, where he wears squad number 29. At a commanding 6ft 4in (1.94m), he is built for the middle of a back line, and his market value is around £7m, according to Transfermarkt.
The real substance of his career so far came at Charlotte FC. Across four league seasons there, Malanda made 100 league appearances and scored two goals, giving him the sort of week-to-week grounding defenders tend to need rather than merely discuss. His busiest attacking return came in 2024, when he scored once in 32 league appearances.
At Middlesbrough in 2026-27, he has made seven Championship appearances and scored once, with further outings in the FA Cup, League Cup and Championship play-offs. Across all competitions for the club, he has 13 appearances and one goal.
Malanda’s career to this point is a straightforward one: developed into a regular at Charlotte FC, then moved into the English game with Middlesbrough. The Charlotte spell remains the main body of work, with his Middlesbrough period still taking shape.
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