HERRIMAN, Utah (Tuesday, September 1, 2026) - Real Monarchs acquire midfielder Handwalla Bwana from USL Championship side Las Vegas Lights FC via loan for the remainder of the 2026 MLS NEXT Pro season.
Bwana, 27, and former Seattle Sounders FC academy product has appeared for Las Vegas twice throughout the 2026 season after inking a deal with the Lights in February. Prior to his professional days, the Somali midfielder appeared for Seattle Sounders FC 2, now known as Tacoma Defiance as an academy call up notching 16 professional appearances with the reserve side.
In 2016 Bwana enrolled at the University of Washington donning the Husky badge for two years, a 39-match era highlighted by 12 goals. Following his collegiate career, Bwana signed an MLS Homegrown deal with Seattle Sounders FC in 2018 where he spent two years prior to being traded to Nashville SC in 2020. In 2022 Nashville sent Bwana on loan to USL Side Memphis 901 and has since made stops at PDX Football Club, South Georgia Tormenta FC, and Las Vegas lights.
Real Monarchs now travels to North Texas SC to kickoff its final road trip of the season visiting newly minted Mansfield Stadium on Friday, September 4th. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:45p MT with broadcast available on OneFootball. Following the match against North Texas Real Monarchs will travel to San Jose Earthquakes II for its final road match of the season.
