Florida State soccer star Malia Berkely chooses to begin her pro career in France

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida State soccer star Malia Berkely has signed an 18-month contract with the French club FC Girondins de Bordeaux.

“I am thrilled for Malia (Berkely), she has had a great career,” said head coach Mark Krikorian. “She leaves Tallahassee with both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA. She has done a great job in the classroom, on the soccer field and in the community. Malia has developed into one of the best center backs in the country and I hope that she continues on that same development path and she has a chance to earn her way into the US Women’s National Team while having a great start to her career with Bordeaux in France. I wish her nothing but the best of luck and I appreciate all the effort she put in to help build our team and our program.”

Berkely leaves Florida State as one of the most decorated players in Florida State soccer history. She played in 84 games in the garnet and gold, starting in all of them. Berkely recorded four goals and 14 assists from her center back position.

In her time at Florida State, she helped lead the Seminoles to three ACC Championships (2016, 2018 and 2020) and a National Championship in 2018. Berkely anchored one of the nation’s top defenses throughout her time at FSU leading the Noles to 49 shutouts in 84 games.

Malia etched her name amongst the greats at Florida State after the 2019 season when she was named a First Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches becoming the 20th Seminole to earn such honor. In 2020, she was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season becoming the first player in ACC history to win the award in back-to-back years.

Berkely graduated from Florida State in December with a Master’s in Business Administration.