Signed on loan from San Antonio for the remainder of the 2024 season
Kameron Lacey
Forwards
Alexis Cerritos
Hailing from the United States with El Salvadoran citizenship, the son of former El Salvadoran national Ronald Cerritos started his youth career with DC United’s Academy.
He then made a move to Mexico to join Pachuca U20 before making the jump up to his senior career with Loudoun United.
Appearing in one game with the USL Championship squad, he quickly made the move to AD Oliveirense, a club participating in the second tier of Portuguese soccer.
He’d make two appearances in Portugal before moving back to the United States to rejoin the USL Championship with Orange County SC.
When his time with OCSC ended, he joined fellow USL Championship side Rio Grande Valley FC, which played its last season in 2023.
He made 22 appearances with one goal in Rio Grande Valley before going to his most successful destination yet within the USL League One with Central Valley Fuego FC.
Cerritos made 50 appearances with CVFC, scoring 10 goals, including two against Lexington SC. He left Central Valley on a free transfer in January for Huntsville City FC and will now make his triumphant return to the USL League One.
Cerritos has also had an international career, starting with the El Salvador U17s and working his way up to the senior national team in 2017, debuting in a 1-0 friendly win over Canada.
Issac Cano
19-year-old forward Issac Cano joins the club on loan for the 2024 season from Louisville City FC in the USL Championship.
Hailing from the heart of Lexington, Kentucky, Cano is quite familiar with the city, attending and graduating from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School.
Cano scored 34 goals for the Bulldogs to take the team to the 2021 KHSAA State Championship, which PLDHS won. Now coming back to Lexington, Cano has the opportunity to once again showcase himself to the Lexington community.
Cano was a standout for Louisville City’s youth system, eventually signing a full academy contract and playing in preseason games for the squad, including in a draw against Sporting KC of the MLS. Additionally, he was able to sign a professional contract with Louisville that allowed him to train with the first team while remaining amateur status.
Head Coach Darren Powell
“We are excited to have local Lexington player Issac join us on loan from Louisville City,” said head coach Darren Powell. “Issac was a standout player in the academy game we watched in the fall. He has a lot of potential, especially on the attacking side of the game with his 1v1 skills and creativity and works hard off the ball to disrupt the opponent.”
Cameron Lancaster
31-year-old forward Cameron Lancaster is set to join the club after most recently playing for Louisville City FC in the USL Championship.
Hailing from London, England, the center forward started his youth career at Tottenham Hotspur’s academy, with the club’s first team being a regular top half team in the English Premier League.
He was briefly loaned to fellow English club Dagenham & Redbridge FC before returning to Spurs, where he made one Premier League appearance.
After leaving Spurs he remained in England, signing with Stevenage FC and then St. Albans City FC.
He scored two goals in 16 appearances in England but a move to America would see his career truly take off.
Moving to the Bluegrass to join Louisville City FC, Lancaster’s first stint in “The Ville” saw him score a staggering 36 goals in 79 appearances and, in 2017 and 2018, saw him help LouCity to win the USL Cup in consecutive seasons.
Finishing his first stint in Louisville, Lancaster signed with Nashville SC – at the time of the USL Championship but in the process of joining MLS – taking the pitch for the club in the USL and scoring five goals in 18 appearances.
He returned to Louisville on loan in 2020, scoring an additional 10 goals in 16 appearances before resigning with the club full time, adding 29 more goals to his total to become the all-time leading goal scorer for the club and third all-time in USL Championship regular season history.
Along with being the all-time goals leader for LouCity, he won the USL Championship Golden Boot award in 2018, is a three-time Player of the Month, and made the All-League First Team twice.
Lancaster joins Lexington SC with championship ambitions and a history of bringing silverware home in the state of Kentucky.
Head Coach Darren Powell
“We are excited to have Cameron join us, he is a proven goal scorer in USL and had a successful career with Louisville. His goal scoring records speak for themselves but he is one of the best strikers at finishing in and around the box with different types of finishes. He is also a team player who has great experiences that will be able to help and lead the younger players on the team. We are looking forward to working together and pushing this team to its full potential.”
Azaad Liadi
25-year-old forward Azaad Liadi is set to join the club after most recently playing for Huntsville City FC in the MLS Next Pro.
Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, the center forward started his career with Vardar Soccer Club in Michigan before beginning his collegiate career at Saginaw Valley State University.
During his collegiate career Liadi also played for National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) turned USL League Two outfit AFC Ann Arbor in Michigan and the Cincinnati Dutch Lions, also of the USL League Two. He scored five goals in 28 appearances for both squads.
During his career with SVSU he scored 11 goals in 56 appearances before transferring to Georgia Southern – competing at the Division-I level – for his senior year. Liadi scored three goals in 16 appearances with the Eagles.
With his collegiate career wrapped up, Liadi joined FC Tucson in 2020 at the USL League One level, joining Lexington SC goalkeeper Amal Knight, who was also signed with the Arizona-based club at the time.
He scored three goals in 15 appearances in Tucson before moving to Tormenta FC, also in the USL League One.
In Statesboro, Georgia, Liadi scored nine goals in 27 appearances before moving to Loudoun United at the USL Championship level.
He made 24 appearances for Loudoun before being called up to MLS outfit DC United – which was, at the time, the parent club of Loudoun United – on an emergency loan.
Liadi left Loudoun in early 2023 to join Huntsville City FC in the MLS Next Pro. Huntsville City is the feeder club of MLS outfit Nashville SC. In his 2023 campaign, Liadi scored 12 goals in 22 appearances across the season.
Head Coach Darren Powell
“Azaad will add to our dynamic front attacking unit. He is a direct forward that forces opponents back. He is able to play both as a CF on his own or in a front 2 in addition to be able to play on either wing. His pace is a threat and he is able to score different types of goals. Out of possession he is able to press opposition defenders so they are not able to play productive passes. We are looking forward to developing Azaad as one of the top attacking threats for LSC and the USL 1, we are pleased he is joining us this season.”
Nico Brown
Nico Brown, a native of Baltimore, joined Lexington Sporting Club in 2023 with an impressive soccer resume dating to his youth days.
The experience translated for him with Brown becoming another fan favorite with eight (8) goals, making him the club’s second all-time leading scorer. He also scored in Lexington SC’s first ever win on April 15.
In his youth, while at McDonogh School, he was a two-time USYSA National Championship and MVP, and claimed the USYSA National Championship Golden Boot in 2015.
He also spent time with Baltimore Celtic club and was in the D.C. United academy during his senior season and represented Jamaica at the U17 level due to his Jamaican heritage.
In 2016, Brown began his colligate career at NCAA Division-I Loyola University Maryland, totaling nine goals in 62 matches across three years. It was there that Brown would be named All-Patriot League Second Team in 2018 and All-Patriot League Third Team in 2019.
Brown’s professional debut came with the National Independent Soccer Association’s Maryland Bobcats during the 2021 spring season. He soon joined Greenville Triumph of USL League One, where he played in 24 matches through the 2022 season, scoring three goals.
“I’m very grateful the staff and club have faith in me to give me this opportunity,” Brown said before the 2023 season. “Being a signee of the inaugural team bringing professional football to the city of Lexington is an honor for me, and I am motivated and cannot wait to grow my career.
Sporting Director Sam Stockley
“Nico has electric pace and is a tricky player who loves to beat players with his dribble,” said LSC Head Coach Sam Stockley. “He works very hard and brings high level playing experience from the professional and international side. We think he has massive potential and is a perfect fit for our player profile.”
Ates Diouf
Ates Diouf joined Lexington from USL Championship side San Antonio FC, starting five matches and appearing in 11 total as the team won the league title for the first time in club history in 2022.
Donning his new colors, Diouf excelled, becoming the club’s leading goal scorer with 15 goals. He was also the first player to ever record a hat trick and brace for the club, with his hat trick giving the club its first ever road win.
For his efforts Diouf was named to the USL League One All-League Team for 2023.
Originally from Rufisque, Senegal, Diouf made his way to the States after being recruited to play for SIMA Águilas, then of USL League Two. In 2019, he was signed to Orlando City B as the club entered USL League One, playing in 17 matches while scoring his first professional goal against South Georgia Tormenta.
During the 2020-21 seasons, Diouf was a member of USL Championship’s Austin Bold, scoring five times in 38 total appearances ahead of his move to San Antonio.
“I’m very honored and grateful to be among the first signings of this great club,” Diouf said ahead of the 2023 season. “I can’t wait to get started by setting the standards and bringing my years of professional experience to help the club reach new highs.”
Sporting Director Sam Stockley
“Ates has fantastic pace and is flexible within multiple positions. He was part of the San Antonio squad that is coming off a championship, so he was in an excellent environment. Ates is a high character person and a player we believe we can develop and progress.”
