Louisville City FC has added the 2020 USL Championship’s Young Player of the Year to its roster with the signing of forward Wilson Harris, the club announced Thursday.
Harris, whose deal is pending league and federation approval, netted 25 goals across 66 appearances for Sporting KC’s USL Championship sides — first the Swope Park Rangers and then Sporting KC II. He earned a homegrown Major League Soccer deal in the process.
At age 22, Harris arrives to Louisville after spending time in preseason camp with MLS’ Toronto FC.
“We are looking forward to adding another important piece to our roster for the 2022 season,” said head coach Danny Cruz. “Wilson is a dynamic goal scorer in the USL Championship who we believe will complement our group. We’ll be implementing some different systems this year, and we’re looking forward to creating new partnerships between proven goal scorers.”
A Los Angeles native, Harris represented Real So Cal in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for most of his youth career before in 2018 committing, coincidentally, to the University of Louisville. Rather than play collegiately, Harris opted to turn professional at age 18 from the Sporting KC academy.
Harris went on to become American pro soccer’s top-scoring teenager in 2019, netting a dozen goals in 25 appearances. In 2020, he secured the Young Player of the Year recognition by leading SKC II with 8 goals in a 16-game season abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Harris — who as a youth international played from the U-15 through U-20 levels for the United States — split time between the MLS and USL Championship ranks in 2021 ahead of his move to LouCity.
“I think this is a great next step for me,” Harris said. “I’ve played at Louisville — such an amazing stadium, great fans and a tough away game. You look at the long list of players who have played at LouCity and how much quality there’s been. I’m excited to join something great.
“I look to be a finisher and provide good linkup play like a classic No. 9. It’s good to have depth like we will on this team at striker.”
Harris’ signing ups LouCity’s roster count to 22 as the boys in purple prepare for their 2022 season, which kicks off March 12 against Atlanta United 2 at Lynn Family Stadium. He’s also the third LouCity newcomer from Sporting KC joining defender Amadou Dia and forward Enoch “Matiti” Mushagalusa.
Current 2022 Louisville City FC Roster
Forwards: Jorge Gonzalez, Wilson Harris, Cameron Lancaster, Enoch “Matiti” Mushagalusa, Brian Ownby, Ray Serrano
Midfielders: Corben Bone, Tyler Gibson, Jay Tee Kamara, Napo Matsoso, Niall McCabe, Carlos Moguel Jr., Paolo DelPiccolo, Elijah Wynder
Defenders: Wes Charpie, Owen Damm, Amadou Dia, Oscar Jimenez, Sean Totsch, Josh Wynder
Goalkeepers: Kyle Morton, Parker Siegfried
