Racing Louisville FC has agreed to a trade sending forward Cece Kizer and defender Addisyn Merrick to the KC Current, the clubs announced Thursday.
Both Kansas City-area natives will return home thanks to the deal, which in turn netted Racing Louisville $150,000 in allocation money, an international roster slot for the 2022 and 2023 seasons as well as up to an additional $25,000 should Kizer meet certain performance-based criteria with the Current.
Kizer and Merrick both represented Racing from its beginnings after they were selected by Louisville during the 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft.
“We would like to thank Addie and Cece, who joined us from the start and worked hard to help us launch Racing Louisville,” said the club’s president, James O’Connor. “We wish them every success as they continue their careers closer to home.”
From Overland Park, Kansas, Kizer scored seven goals last year in 26 appearances across all competitions. That includes the first goal in club history in Racing’s inaugural NWSL Challenge Cup match. Kizer again rang up the club’s first goal of a campaign when she opened the scoring in this year’s Challenge Cup.
Merrick, from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, missed much of the 2021 season due to injury. The University of Kansas graduate returned this year to make seven appearances across the Challenge Cup and regular season.
“Both players have asked to be back closer to their families, and in these cases we always want the best for the player,” said Racing’s head coach, Kim Björkegren. “We thank both for what they’ve done for the club.”
This trade gives Racing two international slots to work with during the NWSL’s current transfer window, which opened June 1. The club — at 2-3-2 — continues play Saturday when hosting Angel City FC at Lynn Family Stadium.
