PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Wednesday it had transferred defender Kevon Lambert to Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

“It has been a long ride, but I’ve loved every single moment,” said Lambert. “We won a lot of trophies. The players and coaches I shared the locker room with… The staff, the front office, everyone was incredible. I’ve had a lot of great memories here at Phoenix Rising.

“I’m going to miss it all. This is a bittersweet moment because it all went by so fast. I came here as a boy and I’m leaving here as a man. I’ve grown a lot. I’ve learned a lot. The place Phoenix Rising got me to has allowed me to go to the next level. I just want to say thank you to everyone. Thank you. I appreciate you all.”

Lambert departs Rising FC as its all-time leader in appearances with 161 across all competitions, in which span he scored 15 goals and had 10 assists while playing as a defensive midfielder and defender for the club since 2017. The 26-year-old has led Phoenix in several defensive categories each season, helping the club claim the 2018 and 2020 Western Conference Championship as well as the 2019 Regular Season Title.

“Kev is quiet off the field, but is full of character on the pitch,” said Rising FC Head Coach Juan Guerra. “He protects his own. You can see he loves his teammates and the club he his is playing for, especially when he represents Jamacia. He represents everything Phoenix Rising stands for and has given back so much to the organization. We’re going to miss him. He has left such a mark in Phoenix that we now have a clear idea of the type of character we want in new players. As long as we continue to bring in players like him, we’ll be ok.”

Lambert recently returned from international duty with Jamaica during the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup, where the Reggae Boyz advanced to the tournament semifinals. Playing as a defensive midfielder, Lambert logged 270 minutes in four appearances, moving to 23 senior international appearances with the Reggae Boyz.

So far this season, Lambert made 15 appearances and recorded one goal in 1,349 minutes. One of the top defensive midfielders in the USL Championship, Lambert ranked second in duels won during the 2022 season with 238. He was one of only eight players to surpass 200 duels won in the league overall. Lambert led Phoenix in tackles won (59) and duels won (118) in 2018 as a 21-year-old, improving those numbers each season. He has led the team in interceptions since 2019, recording a total of 260 since signing with Phoenix Rising on August 10, 2017.