TULSA, Okla. – FC Tulsa announced on Wednesday it had signed veteran defender Lamar Batista ahead of the 2025 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

Batista joins Tulsa having spent the past season with North Carolina FC, where he recorded 92 clearances, 27 interceptions and won 31 tackles at a 66 percent success rate while helping the side reach the 2024 USL Championship Playoffs. The 6-foot-5 center back has previously spent seven seasons in the USL Championship, recording 112 appearances and 8,476 minutes of action across the regular season and playoffs.

The 26-year-old had his strongest season in 2023 with San Antonio FC as he recorded two goals and two assists while also recording 42 tackles at a 65.6 percent success rate while also recording 46 interceptions and 182 recoveries.

In addition to his time in the USL Championship, Batista competed for North Texas SC in USL League One during the abbreviated 2020 campaign and Rochester New York FC in MLS Next Pro in 2022 before his move to San Antonio.