The 27-year-old attacker, who can play on either flank or as a striker with tremendous pace, brings Major League Soccer experience, leadership and creativity with the ball in the offensive third.

Over his five seasons, Belmar has become a decorated professional who has collected a slew of awards including the USL Rookie of the Year honor in 2015, the 2018 USL Player of the Month for March, twice has he earned USL Player of the Week honors (Week 1 – 2018, Week 6 – 2015), and he’s been selected to the USL Team of the Week a total of eight times since 2015. He’s also been nominated for the USL Goal of the Week on two separate occasions.

“Kharlton is a big acquisition for us. He brings a dynamic element to our attack and adds both power and pace to our front line,” said Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant. “Kharlton is entering his prime and will be an important veteran presence in our locker room with his five years of MLS and USL experience.”

Belmar has led two of the clubs he previously represented in goals scored during a single season. As a rookie, he netted a team-best 12 goals, four of which were game-winners. The proven playmaker also has USL Championship playoff experience, culminating with a trip to the final in 2017.

Belmar joins Republic FC following a season with Nashville SC where he made 33 appearances, 20 as starts. Last season in the Music City, he contributed three goals and three assists, elevating his career goal-scoring tally in USL play to 43. Belmar was originally drafted by the Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft with the 34th overall pick before he signed with Portland Timbers 2. In two seasons with T2, Belmar made 53 appearances (41 starts), scoring 15 goals and contributing six assists.

Belmar signed with Swope Park Rangers (recently rebranded to Sporting Kansas City II) in 2017 where he logged minutes between the USL-side and Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, who offered him an MLS contract that September. He made five appearances for Sporting Kansas City over the 2017 and 2018 seasons but spent the majority of his KC career with SKCII where he is the current all-time leading goal scorer (25). During the 2018 campaign, Belmar bagged seven goals in his first six matches.

The Virginia Beach, VA, native played collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth University where he scored 18 goals, notched five assists and was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team following his junior and senior seasons.

# # #