Nashville’s Major League Soccer (MLS) team announced the signing of free agent forward Cameron Lancaster to an MLS contract on Thursday. Lancaster is fresh off of setting a single season scoring record with Louisville City FC of the USL Championship with 25 regular season goals. He is the second player signed to Nashville’s MLS team.
Lancaster grew up a product of the Tottenham Hotspur Academy in London and made his English Premier League debut in 2012 against Wigan Athletic under legendary English manager Harry Redknapp. He also appeared in the squad but was an unused substitute for the Spurs in a Premier League game against Liverpool and a Europa League group game that same season.
“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,” said Nashville MLS CEO Ian Ayre. “We are thrilled he will be joining us on our path to Major League Soccer, and we look forward to welcoming him to Nashville.”
After multiple injuries derailed his career in England, the 26-year-old striker moved to America and joined Louisville City in its inaugural season in 2015, becoming a foundational piece of Louisville’s two USL Cup championship-winning teams in 2017 and 2018.
“Cameron set new standards as a goal scorer in the USL this past season and compares quite favorably to other strikers that have transitioned from USL to MLS,” said Nashville MLS GM Mike Jacobs. “His instincts around the goal, coupled with his unique ability to finish during the run of play and on set pieces, makes him someone the opposition has to constantly be worried about.”
Last season, Lancaster won the Golden Boot for the USL Championship as the league’s highest scorer with a record-breaking 25 goals. He appeared in 30 games, scoring in 17 of them. A USL Championship All-League First Team honoree, Lancaster was always a threat to score with two or more goals in seven games, including a hat trick against New York Red Bulls II in a 6-4 win.
Lancaster finished as the runner-up for the USL Championship Most Valuable Player while being named as Player of the Month three times in 2018. He appeared on the USL Championship Team of the Week five times and was named the Player of the Week twice.
Until Nashville joins MLS, Lancaster will be loaned to Nashville Soccer Club of the USL Championship.
Player Release Bio
Name: Cameron Lancaster
Position: Forward
Height: 5’10”
Weight 192
Date of Birth: November 5, 1992
Age: 26
Birthplace: Camden, London, England
Hometown: London, England
Citizenship: England
Last Club: Louisville City FC
How Acquired: Signed on December 20, 2018
Roster Designation: International