Former Louisville City FC forward Cameron Lancaster is headed to Nashville SC on a Major League Soccer deal.

Lancaster will be loaned to the United Soccer League in 2019 for Nashville's final season in the lower level. The team is scheduled to join the MLS in 2020.

"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," Nashville MLS CEO Ian Ayre said in a statement. "We are thrilled he will be joining us on our path to Major League Soccer, and we look forward to welcoming him to Nashville."

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Lancaster, 26, is Nashville's second MLS signing, joining forward Daniel Rios, who signed in November. The contracts are similar to that of Fanendo Adi and Fatai Alashe, who joined FC Cincinnati in 2018 ahead of a 2019 move from the USL to MLS.

The London native is the fourth player to leave Louisville City for an MLS opportunity since it began play in 2015, joining midfielder Mark Anthony-Kaye, goalie Greg Ranjitsingh, and defender Kyle Smith. Anthony-Kaye left for Los Angeles FC last off-season and signed a three-year extension with the club this month. Ranjitsingh and Smith signed with Orlando City SC on Wednesday.

In a statement earlier this month, LouCity FC called Lancaster's departure a "big opportunity."

"Anytime one of our players has the opportunity to sign a contract with Major League Soccer, we are nothing but supportive," the statement said. "Louisville City is dedicated to developing our professionals into the best they can be on and off the field."

More:Louisville City FC roster tracker: Who's leaving? Who's coming back?

Lancaster joined Louisville for its inaugural season in 2015. He scored a team-record 42 goals across four seasons, including 25 in the 2018 regular season, a United Soccer League record. He also scored the game-winning goal in the 2017 USL Cup final, giving LouCity the first of its back-to-back championships.

Lancaster had announced his departure from Louisville City in an Instagram post earlier this month, calling it "the right time for me to move on."

His departure means LouCity FC will be without its two top goal-scorers from a year ago. Fellow forward Ilija Ilic, another original member of the team, signed with USL rival Indy Eleven. Ilic scored 13 goals and had 12 assists last season.

The departures of Lancaster, Ranjitsingh and Ilic, who left for USL rival Indy Eleven, mean the club only has only two players remaining from its original team in 2015 — midfielders Niall McCabe and Magnus Rasmussen. McCabe is the only player left who played all four seasons with Louisville City.

Louisville City has now announced the return of 16 players from 2018, and added defender Taylor Peay, who recently played in the MLS, forward Lucky Mokosana, who scored 11 goals for USL club Penn FC in 2018, and forward Sunny Jane, a Trinity High School alum who most recently played with Phnom Penh Crown of the Cambodian league.

Two players haven't announced their returns or departures — defender Paco Craig and midfielder Devon "Speedy" Williams.

Background:Record-breaking Louisville City FC scorer Cameron Lancaster moving on

Justin Sayers: 502-582-4252; jsayers@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @_JustinSayers. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/justins.