Chesterfield’s Johnson and Simmonds sign with USL
Fred Jeter | 7/20/2023, 6 p.m.
The Richmond Kickers have a saying that “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”
That applies to recent signees Nicholas Simmonds, 16, and Landon Johnson, 17, from Chesterfield County.
The talented duo has inked United Soccer League (USL) Academy contracts for the remainder of the current season.
Simmonds and Johnson will train and practice with the pro Kickers but will not necessarily play in USL-League One games – though that remains a possibility.
Both are rising high school juniors, Simmonds at James River and Johnson at Matoaca. Each has polished their game, coming up with the powerful Richmond United travel program.
In fact, United has become something of a pseudo farm system for the Kickers in recent years.
By signing Academy contracts, the teenage midfielders will still maintain college eligibility when the time comes.
Simmonds and Johnson each have family connections with the Kickers.
Johnson’s older brother, Ty, played with the Kickers in 2021 with an Academy contract. He is now playing soccer for the University of North Carolina.
Simmonds father, Greg, played with the Kickers in 2003. His sister, Kameron, will represent Jamaica in the upcoming Women’s World Cup.
