LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington SC announced on Tuesday it had signed midfielder Yannick Yankam and winger Azaad Liadi to new contracts ahead of the club’s entry to the USL Championship for the 2025 season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

Yankam returns after recording two goals, three assists and 21 chances created across 17 regular season appearances in his first season with Lexington in USL League One. The 26-year-old also recorded 23 interceptions and won 79 duels at a success rate of 52.3 percent while logging 1,267 minutes of action.

A native of Qormi, Malta, Yankam has been a regular for the Maltese Men’s National Team during his career. He has made 14 appearances for the country overall and scored his first senior international goals in a UEFA 2024 Qualifier against North Macedonia in March, 2023.

Liadi, meanwhile, will return to the USL Championship having previously competed for Loudoun United FC during the 2022 season. The 26-year-old made 24 appearances for United, logging 1,105 minutes of action while recording nine chances created. This past season with Lexington, Liadi recorded two goals and one assist over 767 minutes in the regular season.