Plus and minus: United adds forward Archimède as Fernando departs

New Mexico United picked up one proven scorer Wednesday while officially losing another.

On the plus side, United acquired 25-year-old forward Luther Archiméde via transfer from Monterey Bay FC. Archiméde also squared off against New Mexico while playing for Sacramento Republic FC in 2022-23.

On the minus side, NMU bid farewell to forward Luiz Fernando, who was transferred to Vietnamese top-flight side Hanoi FC for an undisclosed fee.

Fernando, 28, joined United to start the 2025 season and had a productive-if-brief tenure in Albuquerque. He shared the club lead with four goals over 16 appearances but was not on the active roster for NMU’s last two matches as rumors of his imminent departure swirled.

“It’s bittersweet to say goodbye to Luiz,” United Sporting Director Itamar Keinan said in a club statement. “In a short time, he captured the hearts of our fans and became an integral part of our team and our club.

“However, in football, when opportunities like this arise, they must be respected — especially when it’s something the player truly wants to explore,” Keinan said.

United, which has struggled to score during a recent 0-4-2 skid, adds size and athleticism in the 6-foot-3 Archiméde. (Fernando is 5-9). A native of Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, Archiméde played collegiate soccer at Syracuse before being selected by the New York Red Bulls in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He played with USL Championship New York Red Bulls II in 2021.

Archiméde signed with Sacramento in 2022 and enjoyed two productive seasons, scoring 12 goals over 61 appearances. He moved to Monterey Bay last season but suffered a season-ending knee injury in May and made just 14 appearances with the club.

Archiméde logged 99 minutes over four appearances with MBFC this season with his last USLC match coming May 10 against Rhode Island. But Archiméde can bring a physical presence to an undersized United front line that has been decimated by injuries.

“I’m excited to be here and ready to fight alongside my teammates to give the fans and the city the love they deserve,” Archimède said in a statement.

NMU visits USLC Eastern Conference leader Louisville FC on Saturday.