Forward Madison FC has signed defender Jahlane Forbes for the remainder of the 2026 season, pending league and federation approval.
The 24-year-old Florida native joins the ‘Mingos after spending the first half of the season with USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights FC, where he made five appearances. The Lights announced on social media today that they had transfered Forbes to Madison for an undisclosed fee.
“He’s a very solid left-sided player who can play multiple positions and will bring high-level experience to our group,” said Forward Madison FC Head Coach & Technical Director Matt Glaeser.
Sporting Director Matt Cairns, who tracked Forbes for several years before the signing, said in a recent interview on the 608 Soccer Show that the club didn’t expect him to be available.
“He’s a player that truly we didn’t believe would be an option for us, and wasn’t in the off season,” Cairns said. “He was someone we inquired about and at that time was going staying in USL Championship. (He) was drafted in MLS a couple of years ago, someone I’m familiar with from going up against him during my time at Huntsville.”
Forbes was selected No. 38 overall by Charlotte FC in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. He made 26 appearances for Charlotte’s MLS NEXT Pro side and one appearance with the first team, debuting against Carolina Core FC in May 2024 and scoring his first professional goal a month later in a brace against New England Revolution II.
A product of Orlando City’s academy system from 2016 to 2020, Forbes earned a call-up to the U.S. U-17 National Team for a pair of friendlies against Costa Rica in 2018. The Clermont, Florida, native was ranked the top prospect in the state and No. 32 nationally out of high school before a four-year career at Wake Forest, where he tallied nine goals and 19 assists in 68 matches and helped the Demon Deacons to an ACC Championship quarterfinal and an NCAA Tournament quarterfinal.
The Mingos return to action against Spokane Velocity FC at 9 p.m. on July 1 at One Spokane Stadium.
