Forward Madison FC has signed forward Claudel N’goubou for the 2026 season, pending league and federation approval.
N’goubou, a 6’5″, 24-year-old center forward originally from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, holds Ivorian and French citizenship. He grew up in Auray, France, where he played for Auray FC before joining Vannes Olympique Club in 2021. During the 2022 Coupe de France, Vannes OC advanced to the Round of 16, where the club fell to Paris Saint-Germain.
In 2023, N’goubou moved to the United States to play collegiately at Limestone University in South Carolina. Over two seasons, he appeared in 40 matches, scoring 18 goals and recording 12 assists. He also played for Lionsbridge FC in USL League Two in 2024, helping the club win the Chesapeake Division title and reach the Eastern Conference Final.
Ahead of his senior year, N’goubou transferred to the University of Central Florida, where he started 17 of 19 matches, logging 1,294 minutes with four goals and six assists. His collegiate honors include selection to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team and two All-SAC First Team honors.
N’goubou joins Forward Madison FC as the club prepares for the 2026 season in USL League One. The team is scheduled to host its 2026 home opener on May 16 against Detroit City FC at Breese Stevens Field as part of the USL Cup. Forward Madison’s first league match of the season is set for May 29 against Corpus Christi FC.
