RICHMOND, Va. – The Richmond Kickers today announced their initial roster of returning players for the 2025 season as the club prepares for its 33rd consecutive campaign. This initial group of 12 players marks the first moves toward the 2025 season, and more players from the 2024 squad are in negotiations to return.

Among the returnees are three-time USL League One Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner, Emiliano Terzaghi, and the club's leading scorer from a season ago, Chandler O'Dwyer. Dakota Barnathan, the Massapequa, N.Y. native who captained the side for the latter half of the 2024 season, returns to the squad for his fourth season.

Young professionals Griffin Garnett, Landon Johnson, and Beckett Howell — the first three players in Kickers' history to go from USL Academy contracts to professional deals — will also be back on the pitch for the Roos in 2025.

18-year-old Garnett played in all but two of the club's regular season matches last season and earned a spot in the starting lineup in all but one of his appearances. Over the season, he cemented himself as a force along the back line, leading the team in clearances and blocks and was subsequently named a finalist for the 2024 USL League One Young Player of the Year award. Johnson and Howell return for their second full season as professionals, both having made significant contributions over the last two years.

Adrian Billhardt, Pablo Jara, James Vaughan, Klaidi Cela, and Gui Franca will all return for their second year with the club as does Richmond native Josh Kirkland who rounds out the returning squad. Billhardt joins O'Dwyer at the top of the goal-scoring list with five on the year before an injury cut his season short.

Nine of the 12 returning players are on multi-year contracts, while Adrian Billhardt, Gui Franca, and James Vaughn will return to City Stadium after having their options exercised.