CARY, N.C. – North Carolina FC announced on Wednesday it has signed goalkeeper Nick Holliday, defender Adrian Pelayo, and midfielder Kyrome Lumsden to new contracts ahead of the 2024 USL Championship season and had signed newcomer Julian Placias to a pro deal.

Holliday and Placias are both signed through the 2024 season, Pelayo is inked to a one-year deal with a 2025 option, and Lumsden signed a two-year contract with an option for 2026. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

“Our club’s mission of identifying and developing young talent does not waver with the move to the Championship. In fact, it grows even bolder,” said NCFC Head Coach and Sporting Director John Bradford. “These four young men are incredible football talents with tremendous potential. They will contribute to our first team but will also get invaluable reps in our professional training environment and opportunities to learn and grow. We’re excited to see them develop and what the future holds for each.”

Placias joins North Carolina from the LA Galaxy Academy, where he appeared in seven games for the club’s MLS NEXT Pro Team in 2023. The forward scored one goal in 160 minutes of action and completed 85.7% of his passes. The goal capped off a 4-2 win over Houston, with Placias coming off the bench to capitalize on a late counterattack with his first professional goal.

North Carolina also announced on Wednesday it had signed veteran goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald to a two-year contract, bringing the 36-year-old back to the club he had previously spent five seasons at after more recently competing in USL League One for the Richmond Kickers.

Fitzgerald competed for the club between 2012 and 2016 and arrives back in North Carolina having been nominated for the USL League One Goalkeeper of the Year three times, taking home the award in 2021. He was also named to the USL League One All-League First Team in 2021 and the Second Team in 2022.

“We are so excited to welcome Akira back to Cary. He’s a local legend, a fan-favorite, and a perfect link between the past, present, and future of our club,” said Bradford. “I’m grateful to Darren [Sawatzky] and the Richmond Kickers organization for helping to make this happen. Akira’s ability to both play and teach the position will be massive for us and I know our fans will be just as thrilled as we are to see Akira back in our kit.”

Analysis

North Carolina’s re-signing of young talents Nick Holliday and Adrian Pelayo ahead of the new season – as well as adding forward Julian Placias from the LA Galaxy Academy – continues the club’s aim to join those clubs in the USL Championship that have made player development and progression alongside on-field success a priority. With Holliday’s offseason training stint alongside Kyrome Lumsden at PSV Eindhoven – which currently sits on top of the Eredivisie in the Netherlands – the likelihood of a move akin to those such as former Louisville City FC standouts Joshua Wynder and Jonathan Gomez and Orange County SC’s Kobi Henry and Korede Osundina moves closer.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Akira Fitzgerald’s return to WakeMed Soccer Park will be welcomed by fans, and completes the starting goalkeeper room for the squad alongside another returnee in Jake McGuire. Fitzgerald still has the ability to step in when needed, and will be a positive presence in helping Holliday in his pursuit of the next level at both the club level and potentially for the next United States U-20 Men’s National Team cycle.