Kickers Add Two New Faces: Ryan Baer and Marcelo Lage

The Richmond Kickers announced two new signings this week, midfielder Ryan Baer and defender Marcelo Lage.

Baer joins on loan from the Seattle Sounders, where he was the club’s 2025 first round pick in the MLS SuperDraft. He had been assigned to the club’s MLS NextPro side Tacoma Defiance, where he saw limited minutes, making only two appearances.

Image used by permission of Richmond Kickers | Credit Jessica Stone Hendricks Photography/Richmond Kickers

The 23 year old spent his college career with West Virginia University, holding the program record for most matches started at 87. While at WVU, he played for USL League Two clubs Asheville City and Charlotte Independence 2. He was also a product of the Charlotte Independence academy during the club’s time in the USL Championship.

Sounders Director of Development Wade Webber said that “USL League One offers a strong culture and a demanding level of play, and we believe this experience will accelerate Ryan’s growth both on and off the field.”

Per the clubs, the loan is for the remainder of the 2025 season, and financial terms were not disclosed.

Lage joins the Kickers after departing Spokane Velocity on a mutual agreement, announced only two days ago. The 25 year old center back also joins the Kickers for the remainder of the 2025 season.

Image credit Spokane Velocity

Lage is in the middle of his third professional season, which started with Las Vegas Lights of the USL Championship in 2023. There, he made 18 starts in 25 appearances and scored four goals. His option was not picked up as Las Vegas headed into a massive rebuild after winning only three matches that season.

He was one of Spokane’s signings ahead of its inaugural 2024 season, starting in all but two matches that season, including all three in the team’s surprising run to the playoff final. He led the team in multiple regular season categories including 2,088 minutes, 106 clearances, 19 blocks, 110 duels won, and 73 aerial duels won.

This season, Lage has mostly served in a backup and rotational role around fellow center backs David Garcia and Camron Miller. Garcia joined Spokane in the off-season from Northern Colorado after winning a Jägermeister Cup and securing second team all league honors there. Under the watch of Lage, Garcia and Miller, Spokane has the best defense in the league with only 0.64 goals conceded per match.

No further details were provided by Spokane as to the reasons for Lage's departure, nor did Richmond provide any details.

Where Baer and Lage Fit With The Kickers

While he had limited minutes with Tacoma, Baer's time at West Virginia University and Asheville City provide a glimpse of a utility central midfielder, able to play at defensive midfield or at the central attack. Indeed, Richmond Head Coach Darren Sawatzky said Baer "brings tenacity, bite, and a box to box mentality." He should fill in a depth role to take pressure off of others who have been stretched thin during Richmond's recent stretch of winless play.

Many of the issues have been attributed to a string of short-term injuries plaguing the squad's midfield and wings, which Sawatzky told RiverCity93 has seen many players on the pitch at less than 100%. While Richmond is near the top of the league in goals scored, the potential for more could be in the works with the right adjustments and giving time for offensive players to reach their full capacity.

Lage brings a sizable presence to the back line, along with the experience of starting minutes in both the USL Championship and with a playoff team in USL League One last season. At 6'5", he becomes the tallest player on the squad, something that could help boost set pieces, and win aerial duels and provide additional muscle in the defensive third.

Richmond's defense has seen its share of struggles this season, currently tied for third-worst in the league with 24 goals conceded.

Both Baer and Lage arrived in Richmond earlier this week, and should be available for selection for Saturday's home match against Chattanooga Red Wolves.