RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers today announced the signing of Grenada international and USL Championship veteran Kharlton Belmar ahead of the 2023 USL League One season, pending league and federation approval.

“Kharlton is an explosive, attacking weapon that started his career here at VCU after growing up in Virginia Beach,” Richmond Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach, Darren Sawatzky said. “His career has seen him suit up in MLS and the USL Championship, scoring goals and wreaking havoc on opposition defenses. 

“We work to play an exciting, attacking brand here in Richmond, and adding Kharlton to the arsenal makes our team more dangerous. Kharlton has experience and this will serve our young players well as he helps lead the group into the USL League One season.”

Belmar, 30, joins the Kickers following a successful collegiate career at VCU and an expansive professional career across the USL Championship and MLS as well as earning call-ups to the Grenada national team.

The forward most recently played for USL Championship's Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in 2022 where he made 24 appearances. The club finished third in the USL Championship Western Conference with the conference’s second-most goals scored.

“Darren has a vision for the team and club that would make anyone want to join the group which made making this decision a no-brainer,” Belmar said. “Looking at what the group was able to accomplish last year and the excitement they were able to bring back to the community really made this an undeniable prospect along with the added bonus of playing back ‘home.’”

Belmar is the third former VCU Ram to sign to the Kickers’ 2023 roster alongside Dakota Barnathan and second-year pro Simon Fitch. He reunites for a second time with Barnathan after the pair played together at VCU from 2012-14 and Swope Park Rangers from 2017-18.

A member of VCU Head Coach Dave Giffard’s side from 2011-14, Belmar developed as an underclassman, appearing in 36 total games while scoring 6 total goals and tallying three total assists. 

Entering his junior season, Belmar led the forward line, starting 20 of 21 matches and unleashing his attacking skills with eight goals – including three game-winners – and two more assists. He was named to the All-Atlantic 10 First Team and the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Second Team. Belmar finished his senior season with 17 starts in 19 appearances along with four more goals and his second-straight All-Atlantic 10 recognition.

“Coming back home to play with the Kickers means a lot to me,” Belmar said. “I grew up playing youth tournaments at Striker Park and Ukrop Park and played college ball at VCU, so to finally come back as a well-traveled pro has been nothing less than a full-circle experience. I’m looking forward to being able to have my friends and family at games and just being closer to them in general.”

Belmar was selected 34th overall by the Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He would then sign with Portland Timbers 2 as a member of the club’s inaugural roster. Despite being a rookie, he led Timbers 2 with 12 goals that included four game-winning goals. He was named USL Rookie of the Year for his exceptional effort and was a member of the USL All-League Second Team. He added three more goals and assists to his career tally during Timbers 2’s 2016 campaign.

Belmar made the move to Sporting Kansas City’s USL affiliate Swope Park Rangers ahead of the 2017 season. In his first season with the club, Belmar scored a club-record 15 goals as the team finished as Western Conference Champions and USL Cup finalists behind Louisville City FC. Belmar continued his goal-scoring prowess in the 2018 season as he finished second on the team with 10 goals scored, and the team made it to the Western Conference Semifinal.

While with Swope Park, Belmar earned call-ups to Sporting and made his first team debut in the Open Cup Round of 16 match in June 2017 which saw Sporting earn a 2-0 win over Houston Dynamo FC. He made his MLS debut in October 2017 also against the Dynamo. The next season, Belmar was the catalyst for Sporting’s U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round 2-0 win over Real Salt Lake. He assisted Johnny Russell’s go-ahead goal before putting the match away with his first-ever goal for Sporting in the 74th minute.

Belmar made the move to Nashville SC in 2019 for the club’s final season in the USL where he was a part of the highest-scoring offense in the USL Championship Eastern Conference with a plus-33 goal differential. Belmar finished in the top 10 on the team in goals, assists, and chances created as No. 2 Nashville made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinal.

During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Belmar was a member of Sacramento Republic FC. He made 10 starts in 14 appearances and led the team with four assists during the COVID-19-shortened season. Republic FC finished second in the Group A standings and faced off against eventual Western Conference Champions, Phoenix Rising FC, in the quarterfinals. In the 2021 season, Belmar would finish in the top 10 in goals, assists, and chances created for Republic FC.

“My goal this season is to help the team bring both trophies home this year, especially after falling a bit short last year,” Belmar said. “I would love to bring the city the championship it deserves.

“I’m ready to see a packed-out City Stadium and celebrate win after win in front of the best fans in the league!”