LEXINGTON, Ky. — Lexington Sporting Club announced on Wednesday the club had signed midfielder Luís Felipe Fernandes to a multi-year contract ahead of the 2026 USL Championship season. The transaction is pending league and federation approval.

The central midfielder spent the past five seasons with fellow USL Championship club Sacramento Republic FC, making 168 appearances across all competitions and amassing more than 12,500 minutes of action. The 29-year-old recorded 15 goals and eight assists for the side in the USL Championship and was one of its key players when Republic FC reached the 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final, scoring three goals during the run.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining Lexington SC and am ready to get to work,” said Felipe. “This was a no-brainer for me. I’m hungry to win a championship and bring a trophy home.”

Before his time in the Indomitable City, Fernandes had initially competed for Reno 1868 FC. The Brazilian recorded 27 appearances in the 2017 season for the club, scoring five goals and adding three assists, which earned Fernandes a move to the club’s Major League Soccer affiliate the San Jose Earthquakes for the 2018 campaign. He went on to make 22 appearances for the Quakes before signing with Sacramento for the 2021 season.