MOUNT VERNON, N.Y. - Westchester SC today announced that former Jamaica international and MLS All-Star defender Kemar Lawrence has joined the club as its inaugural signing, pending league and federation approval. Across all competitions, the 32-year-old defender has made a combined 216 appearances for the New York Red Bulls, Minnesota United FC and Toronto FC.

"It is an honor to be coming back to the New York area and to be a part of history with Westchester SC," Lawrence said. "While I had numerous opportunities for the next stage of my career, the ability to play in front of a vibrant fan base that knows and has followed me, coupled with what this club is building for the future, made this the best and easiest choice."

Lawrence began his professional career in his native Kingston, Jamaica with Harbour View FC in the Jamaica Premier League. The defender spent five years in the Jamaica top flight, splitting time with Harbour View and Arnett Gardens FC and winning a league title with the former in the 2012–13 season.

After a successful preseason trial with Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls in 2015, Lawrence signed with the MLS originals and spent the next five seasons in New York. Across his 146 appearances for the Red Bulls across all competitions between 2015 and 2019, Lawrence won a pair of Supporters' Shields (2015, 2018), finished as a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup runner-up (2017), was named to the MLS Best XI (2018) and earned an MLS All-Star selection (2019). Lawrence also made 11 Concacaf Champions Cup appearances with the Red Bulls between 2016 and 2019.

After the 2019 season, New York transferred Lawrence to Belgian Pro League side RSC Anderlecht. Lawrence made 17 appearances across all competitions for Anderlecht before returning to MLS with Toronto FC in 2021. The Jamaican made 26 appearances for TFC across MLS and Canadian Championship play before moving to Minnesota United FC in 2022. Through a pair of seasons in St. Paul, Lawrence made 44 appearances for the Loons. Lawrence spent the beginning of 2024 with Romanian Liga I side FC UTA Arad.

A former Jamaica international, Lawrence made 77 appearances for the Reggae Boyz between 2013 and 2023 across FIFA World Cup qualification, Concacaf Gold Cup, CONMEBOL Copa América and Concacaf Nations League play. Notably, the defender helped Jamaica to back-to-back Gold Cup runner-up finishes (2015, 2017) and a CFU Caribbean Cup title (2014).

"Kemar Lawrence has been a leader on and off the pitch everywhere he has played, and it is an honor to have him be the first player to join us as we head toward our franchise launch in April," said Mitch Baruchowitz, majority owner of WSC. "His presence sets a very strong tone both in the soccer community and in the business world as to the type of athlete we will be bringing here; someone who understands winning and professionalism and what playing in the New York area means."

"From a technical and leadership standpoint I could not think of anyone who epitomizes what we are building here more than Kemar," added Simon Baines, Sporting Director of WSC. "His knowledge of the game and his willingness to lead by example are critical for our club as we add players around him. This is a signing that we believe will send a clear message to all as to what we are going to be all about from a soccer perspective, and gets us off to a great start as we build the club."