LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville City FC announced on Wednesday it had acquired forward Phillip Goodrum from FC Tulsa after activating the release clause in the player’s contract Goodrum, 27, has signed a multi-year contract with LouCity.

The transfer fee paid by LouCity under the release clause sets an intra-USL Championship transfer record.

Goodrum will be available for selection in Louisville’s top-of-the Eastern Conference contest against the Charleston Battery this Saturday night at Lynn Family Stadium. Both sides are strong contenders for the USL Championship Players’ Shield this season.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Louisville City for the rest of the season and years to come,” Goodrum said. “After being around the USL for a while, it is clear that Louisville is the premier club in the league, and when they came calling, I felt the match would be perfect. The players and staff have already been very welcoming, and that’s something that I really appreciate amongst the chaos of a midseason transfer. I’m looking forward to pushing forward with this group and seeing if we can end this season with some silverware!”

Goodrum has been one of the USL Championship’s most prolific goalscorers in the past three seasons, during which time he has recorded 38 goals in 79 appearances in the league, tied for second most since the start of the 2022 season alongside new teammate Wilson Harris and former Orange County SC star Milan Iloski, who was transferred to Danish SuperLiga club FC Nordsjælland this past offseason.

Goodrum was a USL Championship All-League First Team selection in 2022 while with Memphis 901 FC as he finished second to Iloski in the Golden Boot race with 21 goals. He joined FC Tulsa via a mid-season transfer in 2023 and tied the club’s single-season scoring record with 12 goals in 21 appearances.

“We are happy to welcome Phil to Louisville City,” said LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “When you look at his track record of scoring goals, but more importantly his consistent work ethic, we feel his mentality matches that of our group. This season we have lost a couple players higher up the field due to some difficult injuries, and we felt it was important to acquire another player that would fit in well with the culture and represent our community with pride.

“Phil is a player who leaves everything on the field no matter what the scoreline is, and I know that he will do everything he can to help us achieve our goals. We are looking forward to getting him here and acclimated with the group.”

Goodrum’s transfer marks the latest major intra-USL Championship transfer. Previous high-profile moves include the acquisition of forward Manuel Arteaga by the Tampa Bay Rowdies from Phoenix Rising FC, and Rhode Island FC’s acquisition of forward JJ Williams from the Rowdies in advance of its inaugural season in the Championship.

“As we’ve seen in the past 18 months, the market for talent within the USL Championship has risen markedly, just as it has with players making the move overseas from clubs in the Championship,” said USL Head of Global Football Development and Sporting Director Oliver Wyss. “This record intra-Championship transfer will reset the bar for future transactions between the league’s clubs. It also illustrates how the league itself is changing when it comes to each club’s approach to player evaluation and willingness to spend to acquire premium talent within the Championship.”