RICHMOND, Va. - Ahead of its league match against the Charlotte Independence on Saturday and its international friendly against Comunicaciones FC, the Richmond Kickers signed 16-year-old midfielders Landon Johnson and Nicholas Simmonds to USL Academy contracts. Both local products with experience with Richmond United, Johnson joins after a year with the Atlanta United Academy and Simmonds joins following his first international appearance with Jamaica in the 2023 Concacaf Men’s U-17 Championship.

"We are gradually starting to see early glimpses of the benefits of our recently established partnership with Richmond United to have a full pathway for players to get after their goals and pursue their dreams right here in Richmond,” Richmond Kickers Head Assistant Coach and Richmond United Technical Director Mika Elovaara said.

Johnson joins his brother Ty – who signed a USL Academy contract during the 2021 season – as the third pair of brothers to play for the Kickers since Evan and Vaughn Fowler in 2013 and Derrick and Darrell Etienne from 1998-2001.

The Chesterfield, Va. native is the fourth player with Richmond United pedigree to sign a USL Academy contract with the Kickers during the 2023 season. He is also the second local player this season to return to the Kickers from an MLS Academy after Gabe Cox joined from the Columbus Crew Academy ahead of the preseason.

"In my experience, young players in their home environment with their families, their friends, and the familiarity of everyday life, thrive if given the best overall opportunity to grow as young people and as players," Richmond Kickers Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach Darren Sawatzky said. "We want the Richmond Kickers professional team to be the showcase of the great player development in Richmond and we are working every day to make this a destination for young players in that development cycle.

"Landon is a player that sought a higher level but has returned to Richmond to continue his development and work for the highest level of the game. We see Landon competing for time with the professional team and his attacking qualities and his humble nature fit with our culture here."

"Nicholas is a talented young player with a big ceiling," Darren Sawatzky said. "We feel he is ready for the day-in, day-out rigors of training with professional players. He is a gifted player with good passing range and the ability to unlock defenses. He comes from a strong soccer family and we are very happy to add his acumen to the ranks here. 

"The next couple years are going to be exciting with young talented players chasing the game with the Richmond Kickers. If you are good enough, you are old enough. We expect Nicholas to challenge for minutes after he returns from the national finals with Richmond United."