LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington Sporting Club announced on Friday it had acquired Issac Cano on a season-long loan from the USL Championship’s Louisville City FC for the 2024 USL League One season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The 19-year-old forward joins Lexington having moved into the professional ranks in January with LouCity. A USL Academy signing with the club last season, Cano became the sixth LouCity graduate to sign professional terms with the club in its history. In 2023, he made his First Team debut in an international exhibition against Mexican club Atlante FC.

“We are excited to have local Lexington player Issac join us on loan from Louisville City,” said Lexington Head Coach Darren Powell. “Issac was a standout player in the academy game we watched in the fall. He has a lot of potential, especially on the attacking side of the game with his 1v1 skills and creativity and works hard off the ball to disrupt the opponent.”

A Lexington native, Cano graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School while also starring for the school athletically. He scored 34 goals for the Bulldogs in 2021 and led the team to victory the 2021 KHSAA State Championship. More recently with LouCity’s Academy, he helped the club’s U-19 team win the Dallas Cup last April and competed for the side in the USL Academy League.

“I’m excited to be playing for my hometown club,” said Cano. “I’m ready to help the club continue to grow and bring professional soccer to the Lexington community.”

Analysis

Issac Cano’s move on loan to League One’s Lexington SC is an ideal pathway for the 19-year-old to take his first full steps into the professional ranks and mirrors the prior outgoing loans from Louisville City FC for the young players that have graduated into the First Team in recent years. That it comes within the same state at Lexington SC – Cano’s hometown, no less – and with a Head Coach experienced in developing young talent in Darren Powell adds to the potential for both parties.

Cano will also benefit from competing for minutes with the talent that Lexington has assembled so far this offseason, with former LouCity standout Cameron Lancaster and Azaad Liadi two major new arrivals in the forward ranks. Lancaster’s presence as a role model in particular should be beneficial as Cano takes aim at a successful campaign.