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USL North Carolina FC

North Carolina FC Signs Defender Lamar Batista Through 2025

December 22, 2023 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
North Carolina FC News Release


CARY, N.C. - North Carolina FC today announces the signing of defender Lamar Batista to a two-year contract through the 2025 USL Championship season, pending league and federation approval.

The 6'5" left-footed center back brings seven seasons of experience across the USL Championship, USL League One, and MLS Next Pro. He most recently put together a solid 2023 campaign with San Antonio FC, helping the club to a fourth-place finish in the USL Championship's Western Conference.

"Lamar is a welcome addition to our roster. He possesses top qualities on both side of the ball and will fit in tremendously well with our style of play. His ability to win balls in the air, strength in possession, and awareness on the field make him a perfect fit for our back line. He has strong experience in USL Championship and is also a prime example of a player that we believe can continue to develop to push to higher levels in his career. We're excited about Lamar's addition as we make the jump in 2024," said NCFC head coach and sporting director John Bradford.

Batista, 25, will play alongside his adopted brother, Garrett McLaughlin, who has re-signed with North Carolina FC after captaining the USL League One Champions in 2023.

"I'm excited to bring all my energy and heart to NCFC. I'm a passionate player who wears their emotions on my sleeve day in and day out! I can't wait to play with my brother and make something special of this 2024 season," Batista said.

Batista appeared in 24 games for San Antonio in 2023, including 18 starts, playing 1,848 minutes with two goals and two assists. The defender made 95 clearances, 46 interceptions and won 57 aerial duels.

Batista played one season of college soccer for UC Santa Barbara before turning pro with Portland Timbers II in 2017.

Apart from spending 2022 with Rochester New York FC in MLS Next Pro and 2020 with North Texas SC in USL League One, Batista has played the bulk of his professional career in the USL Championship, maintaining duel and tackle success rates above 55% and 60%, respectively, across 6,426 minutes of league play.

In addition to Portland and San Antonio, Batista has played for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks, OKC Energy and Phoenix Rising.

Batista is the 13th new signing for North Carolina FC this off-season. Combining with 12 returning players, the roster now stands at 25 players for the 2024 campaign, which begins Saturday, March 9, when NCFC hosts the Charleston Battery at WakeMed Soccer Park.

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