LANCASTER LED LOUISVILLE CITY FC TO BACK-TO-BACK USL CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS

NASHVILLE – Nashville’s Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise now has its second player. The club announced Thursday morning that record goal scorer Cameron Lancaster has been signed to an MLS contract. Lancaster is fresh off of setting a single-season scoring record with Louisville City FC of the United Soccer League (USL) Championship, netting 26 goals last season.

“Cameron’s pedigree in English soccer and goal scoring ability here in the U.S. make him an ideal target at this stage of building our club,” said Nashville MLS CEO Ian Ayre. “We are thrilled he will be joining us on our path to Major League Soccer, and we look forward to welcoming him to Nashville.”

Lancaster, a 26-year-old England native, is coming off back-to-back USL Cup championships with Louisville City FC. In 2018, the forward won the USL Championship Golden Boot as the league’s top scorer, setting the single-season record in the process. The 25 regular season goals, along with a playoff goal, gave Lancaster 26 total goals, six more than any other USL Championship player as Louisville City claimed a second consecutive USL Cup.

“Cameron set new standards as a goal scorer in the USL this past season, and compares quite favorably to other strikers that have transitioned from USL to MLS,” said Nashville MLS GM Mike Jacobs. “His instincts around the goal, coupled with his unique ability to finish during the run of play and on set pieces, makes him someone the opposition has to constantly be worried about.”

Starting as a youth at the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, Lancaster eventually worked his way to the senior club at Tottenham. He made his Premier League debut in 2012, a 3-1 win against Wigan Athletic as a substitute, under legendary English manager Harry Redknapp.

With the announcement, Nashville’s MLS team has now signed the top two scorers from the USL Championship last season to its roster. Lancaster led the league with 26 goals while Daniel Ríos was just behind him with 20.

Lancaster will join Ríos on loan to Nashville SC of the USL Championship.