SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane Velocity FC today announced it has signed 25-year-old Nigerian defender and 2024 USL Jägermeister Cup champion Lucky Opara, pending league and federation approval.

Opara began his professional career in Latvia's top competition. Through 47 matches with FK Spartaks Jūrmala in the top-flight Latvian Higher League, he fired off five goals and tallied 10 assists. 

Those flashes of brilliance bought him half a season on loan with FC Lugano of the Swiss Super League. Opara scored a goal in his final match in Lugano. His loan ended on the last day of June 2021. Two weeks later, though, another one started. The Nigerian found himself out on loan again, this time in Finland. 

Over the next six months, he spent time in Finland's top-flight Veikkausliiga with AC Oulu. Playing primarily left wing-back, Opara put up five goals, including one in each of his first two games. In his final Finnish match, he netted an equalizer just before halftime and helped ACO avoid relegation.

Opara spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons with Northern Colorado Hailstorm FC in USL League One. In 67 appearances across all competitions, the Nigerian registered six goals, 11 assists and helped the Hailstorm win the inaugural USL Jägermeister Cup.

"Lucky is an excellent addition to the back line," said Velocity FC Head Coach Leigh Veidman. "He has shown over the past couple of years in the USL his ability to be a very good defender but also a force in attack, which is exactly what we look for in our full backs. He brings an incredible winning mentality, which we saw recently from his USL Jägermeister Cup victory in 2024. That's an important attribute that's going to push us forward as a club."

"Spokane [Velocity FC] is so amazing," Opara said. "I love the club and the city of Spokane as well. I'm excited to put an end to our team's unfinished business from the previous season and to achieve success in my athletic goals."