LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lexington SC announced on Monday the signing of midfielder Nicolas Firmino and acquisition of midfielder Sofiane Djeffal via transfer from fellow USL Championship club San Antonio FC ahead of the 2025 season. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

Firmino joins Lexington having spent the past three seasons in the Atlanta United FC organization, where he recorded nine appearances in Major League Soccer while also recording three goals and three assists in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the Five Stripes. Additionally, the 23-year-old competed for reserve team Atlanta United 2, where he recorded 19 goals and nine assists in 47 appearances in MLS NEXT Pro.

Firmino began his professional journey with the New England Revolution II, signing a Homegrown Player contract in November 2018. He gained experience competing in USL League One with the Revolution II, where he made his professional debut on July 25, 2020, before joining League One’s Union Omaha for the 2021 season.

With Los Buhos, Firmino recorded two goals in 25 appearances as the side won the USL League One title. The following offseason the 23-year-old joined Atlanta United 2, and in 2023 earned MLS NEXT Pro Best XI honors while also being nominated for MVP as he recorded 16 goals and six assists before signing an MLS contract with Atlanta United.

“I’m very excited to be joining Lexington,” said Firmino. “I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of the team, the staff, and the fans and I can’t wait to get started.”

Djeffal arrives in Lexington having spent the past season with Orange County SC and San Antonio FC in the USL Championship, recording one goal in 21 appearances between the two clubs. A native of Nantes, France, Djeffal began his soccer journey in FC Nantes youth academy before transitioning to collegiate soccer at Oregon State University.

While with the Beavers, where he competed for current Lexington Head Coach Terry Boss, he earned accolades including the Pac-12 Player of the Year in 2021 and three consecutive All-Pac-12 First Team selections, solidifying his status as one of the nation’s top collegiate players.

In 2022, Djeffal was selected 36th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by D.C. United, where he made an immediate impact with 28 appearances in his rookie season. Following his time in Washington, Djeffal was selected as the first pick in the MLS Re-Entry Draft by Austin FC in 2023. During his stint with Los Verdes, he appeared in nine matches across all competitions, including one start in the Concacaf Champions League.

“I’m really excited about being part of this ambitious project,” said Djeffal. “Can’t wait to meet everybody and build something special that will inspire and impact the community positively on and off the field.”