If there’s been a specialist scorer for hire in the USL Championship over the last couple of seasons, it’s been Haitian forward Ronaldo Damus.

There are a couple of key reasons for that.

First, Damus’ track record in the league is one of the best when it comes to finishers. He’s bagged three seasons with double-digit goals at three different clubs, the last two on loan at San Diego Loyal SC (2023) and Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (2024).

With the Switchbacks, he won his second USL Championship title in November to go with the League One title he claimed with North Texas SC when playing up front alongside current U.S. Men’s National Team forward Ricardo Pepi.

Second, his parent club GIF Sundsvall has been struggling mightily. Acquiring Damus via transfer from Orange County SC early in 2022 for its arrival in Sweden’s top-flight, the side was relegated and more recently almost dropped to the third tier, needing a win in extra time of the second leg of a relegation playoff last month.

That makes Damus’ arrival at Birmingham Legion FC on loan, but with an option to buy for Legion, a logical one for all parties.

And for Legion, it gives the side a centerpiece it could build around if Damus continues to fire as he joins up with the likes of Enzo Martinez, Tabort Etaka Preston and Tyler Pasher.

• MR. CONSISTENT: Damus has scored 47 goals in 99 appearances in the USL Championship across the regular season and playoffs. His average of a goal every 157 minutes ranks eighth all-time in the league among players who have recorded at least 40 goals across the regular season and playoffs, and that’s been while getting used to new teammates each year.

• SUSTAINABLE PERFORMANCE: The biggest thing that strikes you about Damus’ underlying numbers is how standard they seem. His shooting accuracy rate of 57.9 percent and shot conversion rate of 23.9 percent are slightly above average, but easily replicable for a player of his caliber. The 47 goals he’s scored have come on an Expected Goals mark of 43.7xG, practically in line with expectation.

• FOX IN THE BOX: Damus is a classic No. 9, with 44 of his goal having come inside the penalty area and four on a fast break opportunity. His consistency in getting into good positions for shooting opportunities or to put opposing defenses under pressure can thrive with the support he should get from Legion’s midfield and wingers.

There was a knock on Damus this season, repeated this week on USL All Access, and it’s true that half of his goals this season came from the penalty spot. What might get overlooked in that conversation is that Damus won four penalty kicks himself – tied for the most in the Championship alongside New Mexico United’s Mukwelle Akale – so it’s probably fair he gets the chance to score from the spot.

His overall resume, though, is one of a player that can make Legion better immediately. For a team that was cursed by slow starts in 2024 – Birmingham scored only four goals in the opening half-hours of games last season – getting Damus on board is one of the first big moves of the offseason.