Season end roster announcements can be an anxious time as fans await the list of who remains with the club and whose time with LouCity has come to an end. For those of you who enjoyed the 2024 team, you’re in luck. “We are looking forward to returning a core group of players that put together a great regular season,” said Coach Danny Cruz.
The following are already under contract and will be with Louisville City for the 2025 campaign: Wes Charpie, Amadou Dia, Phillip Goodrum, Wilson Harris, Aiden McFadden, Jake Morris, Arturo Ordóñez, Adrien Perez, Manny Perez, Sean Totsch, and Elijah Wynder.
The next listing is those who had their option picked up and will also be on the 2025 roster: Isaac Cano, Evan Davila, Sam Gleadle, Carlos Moguel Jr., Ray Serrano, and Ryan Troutman.
Unfortunately, not all players will be returning. Here are those who will be out of contract: Owen Damm (end of contract), Damian Las (end of loan period), Dylan Mares (end of contract), and Sebastian Sanchez (end of contract).
Both Sanchez and Damm are academy-developed players who will no longer be in the fold. Sanchez is the son of Mario Sanchez, who held a number of roles within Soccer Holdings before becoming the head coach of Tulsa. He was a loanee with Tulsa last season, so it’s not too big of a leap to speculate he may be on his way to Tulsa permanently. Damm, meanwhile, is a Lexington native who was also loaned to Tulsa. Between the Mario Sanchez connection and Lexington joining the USL Championship this upcoming season, his future landing spot is a little more opaque.
Las was always just going to be a one-year guy. The promising young keeper is under contract with Austin FC in the MLS. At the time his loan was announced, several Austin fans commented online with their disappointment he wasn’t going to have a shot in the MLS that year. A promising vote of confidence.
Dylan Mares will be 33 before the 2025 season begins and saw less than 300 minutes of action in the past season. Between that and his inclusion in Open Cup play for Southern Indiana FC (which would cup-tie him and not allow him to play for another team in the 2025 edition of this tournament), it seemed clear that things are beginning to wind down on his career.
Best wishes to all those departing the club!
There are names missing from the above lists. LouCity remains in negotiations to sign other returning players with more announcements expected in the coming days. If one of your favorites is one of the unannounced players, take this as a good sign that the club is working to officially bring them back. “We are looking forward to returning a core group of players that put together a great regular season,” said Coach Cruz.