Pacific FC defender Georges Mukumbilwa has agreed to a new contract for 2024, with a club option for 2025, that will see him extend his stay on the Island for multiple years.

Mukumbilwa joined the Tridents ahead of the 2022 season and has grown to become a key part of Pacific’s defensive group. The 23-year-old has made 42 appearances over the course of almost two seasons with the club, and has particularly impressed with his ability to play either full-back role.

“Georges is incredibly humble in his work, he’s a consistent and versatile player,” said James Merriman, Head Coach, Pacific FC. “He has great potential and is still developing, with his best football yet to come. I believe he’s one of the most underrated full-backs in the CPL.”

During his first season with Pacific, Mukumbilwa made 11 starts and 20 appearances in all competitions playing as both a right-back in place of Kunle Dada-Luke and as an inverted left-back. Mukumbilwa started both legs of the CONCACAF League Preliminary Round tie against Waterhouse FC, and helped Pacific reach the semi-final round of the 2022 Canadian Premier League playoffs – coming on as a late substitute in the second leg against Atlético Ottawa.

In 2023, Mukumbilwa blossomed into an incredibly important aspect of Pacific’s shape both in and out of possession. Playing exclusively as an inverted left-back, the former Vancouver Whitecaps FC player is crucial to the lop-sided shape Pacific takes up when on the ball. With Dada-Luke pushing high on the right side as to become almost another winger, Mukumbilwa’s defensive instincts allow Pacific to shift into a back-three in possession and maintain the necessary numerical advantage at the back.

Mukumbilwa has so far made 22 appearances in all competitions for Pacific during the 2023 season, 17 of which were starts, and has played a major role in the Tridents boasting the second-best defensive record in the CPL.

By signing the defender to this new contract, the club has shown its belief that Mukumbilwa will only continue to grow as a player and leader for the club. With the CONCACAF Champions Cup (formerly-known as the CONCACAF Champions League) still within reach for Pacific in 2024, Mukumbilwa and the rest of the squad will look to close out the current regular season strong and prepare for the CPL Playoffs after clinching their spot on Monday.