Monterey Bay Inks Montenegrin Defender Luka Malešević to Multi-Year Deal
SEASIDE, California (Thursday, January 22, 2026) – Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay FC) announces today that the club has signed Montenegrin defender Luka Malešević to a multi-year deal, pending league and federation approval.
“I’m very excited to sign with Monterey Bay FC and be part of an organization that has impressed me from the beginning,” said Malešević. “Since my very first impressions, I fell in love with the stadium and its facilities. I hope that my performances on the field can help the Club reach the playoffs and create special moments for the loyal fans of Monterey Bay FC.”
Malešević, 27, brings a wealth of international and domestic experience to the Monterey Bay back line having competed professionally across Europe and the United States. A dual-citizen of Montenegro and the United States, the defender began his career with Montenegrin top-flight club Budućnost Podgorica before establishing himself with FK Iskra Danilovgrad, where he logged 87 appearances and competed in UEFA Europa League qualifiers in August 2020. Malešević then signed with Serbian SuperLiga club FK Radnik Surdulica in 2021 before making the jump to the USL Championship with Rio Grande Valley FC (RGV) in early 2022. While with RGV, he made 13 starts in 18 appearances and added 89 duels won, 26 tackles, and 13 interceptions in 1,118 minutes. He made his debut on U.S. soil and contributed to a clean sheet in RGV’s home-opening win over Oakland Roots SC on March 12, 2022.
“We’re delighted to add Luka Malešević to our group at Monterey Bay FC, coming to us from the Montenegrin league as an experienced professional,” said Monterey Bay FC Head Coach Jordan Stewart. “Luka brings a strong defensive foundation, especially with his ability to defend 1v1, and that reliability is something we really value. From the right back position, his capacity to get up and down the flank consistently will be a huge advantage for us in the attack, giving us width, energy, and balance. His top work rate and competitive mentality allow him to contribute on both sides of the ball, and we believe those qualities will fit perfectly with the demands of this league and the way we want to play.”
Following his stint in the United States, Malešević returned to Montenegro, where he enjoyed spells with OFK Petrovac, FK Dečić, and FK Otrant-Olympic before most recently spending the 2025 season with FK Mornar Bar. On the international stage, the right-back has represented Montenegro at the U-17, U-19, and U-21 levels, earning 15 youth caps. Now, Malešević arrives on the Central Coast eager for a successful return to the USL Championship.
NAME: Luka Malešević
PRONUNCIATION: ma-le-se-vick
POSITION: Defender
AGE: 27
HEIGHT: 6’0
DATE OF BIRTH: August 1, 1998
HOMETOWN: Podgorica, Montenegro
NATIONALITY: Montenegro
PREVIOUS CLUB: FK Mornar Bar (Montenegro)
TRANSACTION: Monterey Bay has signed Luka Malešević to a multi-year deal on January 22, 2026.
The current roster heading into the 2026 season as of January 22 is listed alphabetically as follows:
Goalkeepers: Fernando Delgado
Defenders: Kelsey Egwu, Joel Garcia Jr., Nico Gordon, Luka Malešević, Stuart Ritchie
Midfielders: Eduardo Blancas, Ethan Bryant, Facundo Canete, Belmar Joseph, Johnny Klein, Giorgi Lomtadze, Adrian Rebollar
Forwards: Wesley Leggett, Youssou Ndiaye, Ilijah Paul
Monterey Bay FC Communications – @MontereyBayFC
SEASIDE, California (jueves, 22 de enero de 2026) – El Monterey Bay Football Club (Monterey Bay FC) anunció hoy que el club ha fichado al defensa montenegrino Luka Malešević con un contrato multianual, pendiente de la aprobación de la liga y la federación.
“Estoy muy emocionado de firmar con el Monterey Bay FC y formar parte de una organización que me ha impresionado desde el principio,” declaró Malešević. “Desde la primera impresión, me enamoré del estadio y sus instalaciones. Espero que mi rendimiento en el campo ayude al Club a alcanzar los playoffs y a crear momentos especiales para la fiel afición del Monterey Bay FC.”
Malešević, de 27 años, aporta una amplia experiencia internacional y nacional a la defensa del Monterey Bay, tras haber competido profesionalmente en Europa y Estados Unidos. Con doble nacionalidad montenegrina y estadounidense, el defensa comenzó su carrera en el club de primera división montenegrino Budućnost Podgorica antes de consolidarse en el FK Iskra Danilovgrad, donde disputó 87 partidos y compitió en las eliminatorias de la UEFA Europa League en agosto de 2020. Malešević firmó después con el FK Radnik Surdulica de la SuperLiga serbia en 2021 antes de dar el salto al USL Championship con el Rio Grande Valley FC (RGV) a principios de 2022. Durante su etapa en el RGV, fue titular en 13 partidos y sumó 89 duelos ganados, 26 tackles y 13 intercepciones en 1,118 minutos. Debutó en suelo estadounidense y contribuyó a que el RGV no encajara goles en su primera victoria en casa contra el Oakland Roots SC el 12 de marzo de 2022.
“Estamos encantados de incorporar a Luka Malešević a nuestro grupo del Monterey Bay FC, quien llega procedente de la liga montenegrina como un profesional experimentado,” declaró el entrenador del Monterey Bay FC, Jordan Stewart. “Luka aporta una sólida base defensiva, especialmente con su capacidad para defender uno contra uno, y esa fiabilidad es algo que realmente valoramos. Desde el lateral derecho, su capacidad para subir y bajar por la banda con regularidad será una gran ventaja para nosotros en ataque, brindándonos amplitud, energía y equilibrio. Su alto rendimiento y mentalidad competitiva le permiten contribuir en ambos lados del balón, y creemos que estas cualidades encajarán perfectamente con las exigencias de esta liga y con nuestra forma de jugar.”
Tras su paso por Estados Unidos, Malešević regresó a Montenegro, donde disfrutó de una etapa en el OFK Petrovac, el FK Dečić y el FK Otrant-Olympic, antes de pasar la temporada 2025 con el FK Mornar Bar. En el ámbito internacional, el lateral derecho ha representado a Montenegro en las categorías sub-17, sub-19 y sub-21, disputando 15 partidos internacionales con la selección juvenil. Ahora, Malešević llega a la Costa Central con ganas de un regreso exitoso a la USL Championship.
