New York Red Bulls II have confirmed that Ugandan midfielders Ibrahim Kasule and Steven Sserwadda will spend the 2026 season on loan at MLS NEXT Pro newcomers Connecticut United FC, as the expansion side continues to assemble its inaugural squad.
Kasule arrives in Connecticut as one of the most accomplished players in Red Bulls II history. Across three seasons, the attacking midfielder made 64 appearances, scoring 28 goals and registering 11 assists to become the club’s all-time leading scorer.
His standout moment came on June 4, 2024, when he scored his first MLS NEXT Pro hat trick in a 5–2 win over Crown Legacy FC, earning Matchweek 13 honors.
The Buikwe-born playmaker was named to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Best XI and won Player of the Month awards in July 2023 and March 2024, highlighting a prolific spell that included seven goals in seven straight matches.
His form earned him a Red Bull New York first-team debut on August 31, 2023, against the New England Revolution. Before moving to the United States, Kasule featured for Wakiso Giants in the Uganda Premier League, and he has since earned two senior caps with the Uganda Cranes during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Joining him is fellow midfielder Steven Sserwadda, who departs New York after four seasons with Red Bulls II. The Kampala-born midfielder made 63 appearances, contributing four goals and four assists, with his first MLS NEXT Pro goal coming against Philadelphia Union II in April 2024.
His journey with the organization dates back to 2021, when he made his competitive debut in the USL Championship, and he has also logged two MLS appearances with the Red Bulls’ first team.
At international level, Sserwadda has earned four senior caps for Uganda, while also representing the country at U-20 and U-23 levels. He was a key figure at the 2021 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, scoring twice as Uganda finished runners-up. A graduate of KCCA FC’s academy, he collected domestic silverware before moving stateside.
With Connecticut United preparing for their first-ever MLS NEXT Pro campaign, the arrival of Kasule and Sserwadda provides the expansion club with proven quality, experience, and leadership in midfield as they look to make an immediate impact in 2026.
