LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC announced on Friday the club had signed forward Tola Showunmi ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Showunmi joins LouCity after spending his first professional season with fellow USL Championship club Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC, where he recorded four goals and three assists in 28 appearances across the regular season and playoffs. The 23-year-old had a shooting accuracy rate of 55.6 percent and a shot conversion rate of 22.2 percent for the Hounds.

“We have been on the market looking for a forward that fits the profile that we need at the 9 position," said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. "Tola is a player that checked every box when we went through our process. He is a young, dynamic forward who in our opinion has all of the tools he needs to score a lot of goals for our team.

“We are getting a forward that has good movement in the box, a good ability to hold the ball up to link with his teammates and, most important, the mentality that we are looking for on both sides of the ball. We are looking forward to having Tola here in Louisville and believe he will be a great addition to our group.”

A native of London, England, Showumni competed collegiately for the University of New Hampshire, where in 2021 he was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America Third Team and the America East Conference’s Striker of the Year.

Analysis

Tola Showumni showed positive signs in limited time for Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC in his first season in the Championship, and Louisville City FC is hoping the 23-year-old can take the next step forward as he joins its forward contingent for the new season.

Showumni made only nine starts for Pittsburgh in the Championship campaign as he backed up Golden Boot winner Albert Dikwa for most of the campaign but made the most of his 1,057 minutes of action. He averaged a goal contribution every 157.6 minutes across his four goals and three assists and should provide solid backing for Wilson Harris, who figures to start the season as LouCity’s primary No. 9 after re-signing with the club this offseason.