After A10 Championship with the Rams, Kanagwa transitions to professional career with Richmond side.
The Richmond Kickers are pleased to announce the signing of former VCU player Jonathan Kanagwa. The Ugandan midfielder will take the pitch for the Kickers in 2025 pending league and federation approval.
“Jonathan is a player we have had our eye on for a while,” Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach Darren Sawatzky said. “He progressed well at VCU and he trained well in our environment this past year. He has the ability to play across the midfield and his left foot is silky under pressure. He breaks lines with the ball and his immediate defensive ability when play breaks down is a great asset. We welcome him and his family to the Kickers and look forward to his play this season at City Stadium.”
After attending high school in New York, Kanagwa first came to Richmond to play for VCU and quickly made his presence known on the pitch. In 2020, he made the A10 All-Rookie Team and appeared in all nine spring season matches, earning five starts. In his sophomore fall, he saw 5 more starts and eight appearances.
From there, he took off, as a junior he started in all 17 of VCU’s competitions, playing 1,307 total minutes. And in his senior year, he shone.
The midfielder saw 1,571 minutes in the 2023 season, starting in 16 of VCU’s 18 matches and appearing in them all. Kanagwa earned A-10 Second Team All-Conference honors and was named to Top Drawer Soccer’s Men’s NCAA D1 Team of the Week in October.
He led the team in goals, assists, and points with four, five and 13 respectively. His scoring included a brace and two assists in one night to help VCU snag the A-10 Regular Season Title. He then assisted on goals in back-to-back A-10 Tournament games, helping the Rams through the quarter and semifinals, before scoring one of his own in the final.
“I am really excited to join one of the most historic clubs and to represent the community at large,” Kanagwa said. “Can’t wait to get started, give all my best to the team and the fans.”
