January 15, 2025 – United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Las Vegas Light FC Press Release
LAS VEGAS, NV – Las Vegas Lights FC announced today that the club has signed Naite Pickering to a contract through 2025 with a club option through 2026, pending league and federation approval.
At the age of 19, Pickering has already made 70 professional appearances and scored 12 goals in the USL Championship. In 2024, he made 30 appearances for the Memphis 901 across all competitions, scoring five goals and helping the team qualify for the playoffs.
After the 2024 season, Memphis 901 FC’s franchise rights have been transferred to the Santa Barbara team, which is scheduled to compete in the 2026 USL Championship. Players previously signed to the club therefore became free agents, including Pickering.
Sporting Director Gianleonardo Neglia said: “We are very pleased to welcome Nighte to the club. He is a player with enormous potential who has already played two full professional seasons at the age of 19.” “Players of Naite’s age and ability don’t come along very often and being able to bring him to Las Vegas is a tremendous opportunity. He is a dynamic striker with an eye for goal and we look forward to helping him continue to develop. do.” “It’s a game about reaching your peak as a player.”
Pickering was the youngest professionally signed player in Memphis 901 FC history, joining the Tennessee team at age 17. He grew up at the FC Dallas Academy, where he spent five years starting in 2017.
The young forward also has United States youth national team experience after being called up to the U-19 team in March 2024 and playing in friendlies against England and Morocco. He previously participated in USYNT camps in 2022 and 2023.
Las Vegas is scheduled to open the season at home on March 8 against the Tampa Bay Rowdies at Cashman Field. For more information, including the full 2025 schedule, visit lasvegaslightsfc.com/schedule.
Lights has also signed a multi-year partnership agreement with SeatGeek as the club’s official ticketing partner. With the launch, 2025 season tickets will go on sale to the public on Thursday, January 16th at 10am. For more information, visit lasvegaslightsfc.com/tickets.
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