Adilson Malanda, born on 29 October 2001 (age 24), is a French central defender with Middlesbrough, where he wears squad number 29. At 6ft 4in (1.94m), he is an imposing presence at centre-half, with a current market value of around £7m according to Transfermarkt.
His career is still shaped most clearly by Charlotte FC. Across four seasons there, Malanda made 100 league appearances and scored two goals, becoming a steady part of their back line rather than a short-term stop on the way elsewhere. His most productive league season came in 2024, with one goal in 32 appearances.
He moved on to Middlesbrough and remained a regular first-team figure in 2025-26. He made 25 appearances in all competitions, including 21 in the Championship, one in the FA Cup and three in the Championship play-offs, without scoring.
Malanda’s career to this point is straightforward: a long, defining spell at Charlotte FC, followed by regular involvement at Middlesbrough as a tall French centre-half still in the main body of a first-team squad.
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