Tucker H.S. standout Gallegos signs USL Academy contract with Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers recently announced the signing of three players – including one from J.R. Tucker High School – to USL Academy contracts for the 2026 season.
Tucker High School defender Axel Aldana Gallegos, an 18-year-old and senior at the school, joined 18-year-old midfielder Andrew Richman and 16-year-old goalkeeper Alex Wintsch in signing contracts with the Kickers.
USL Academy contracts are designed as a bridge between youth and professional soccer, allowing players to experience an organization's senior team level of play at a young age while also maintaining college eligibility.
Gallegos is a product of both the Kickers U-20 Academy and Richmond United ECNL programs and has built a strong reputation as a composed and athletic center back known for his one-on-one defending and tactical awareness. During two seasons with the U-20 squad, he became a consistent presence on the back line, helping anchor the defense with strong positioning and decision-making.
His accolades include three Mid-Atlantic First Team ECNL selections, a spot in the ECNL Continental All-Star Game, and invitations to the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team Identification Center during the 2022–23 season — honors that helped establish him as one of the region’s top young defensive prospects.
“I remember coming to the games all the time when I was a little kid and taking photos with the players,” Gallegos said in a statement released by the club. “Now I have the opportunity to play for this club, which is an amazing feeling. I’m extremely grateful for this chance and excited to start the season with my teammates.”
Richmond Kickers Chief Sporting Officer and Head Coach Darren Sawatzky described Gallegos as a player with strong defensive instincts and physical tools suited to the pro game.
“Axel is a young central defender with good one-on-one duel ability,” Sawatzky said, adding that the club is eager to provide academy players with opportunities to earn minutes at the professional level as they continue developing.
The announcements come at a time when the Kickers’ youth system is gaining increasing attention nationally. Recent academy alumni Griffin Garnett and Nicholas Simmons both advanced to high-profile next steps — Garnett moving to Hungarian club Ferencvárosi TC for a USL League One record transfer fee and Simmons being selected third overall in the 2026 MLS SuperDraft following a standout college career.
Club officials say those successes reflect a long-term vision to build a sustainable youth-to-pro pathway in the Richmond region, allowing local players like Gallegos to pursue professional careers without leaving the area during key development years.
The three academy signees — Richman, Gallegos and Wintsch — will train and compete alongside the first team during the 2026 season, with all contracts pending league and federation approval.
“When we established the player pathway, we wanted to help players reach their potential with specific methodology and give them a platform to compete against established professional players and play in USL League One games,” Sawatzky said. “We have committed to giving these players opportunities for game minutes and we are working daily to improve the pathway in our environment."
