Joshua Kirkland Bio
Joshua Edward Kirkland is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for USL League One club Richmond Kickers, where he wears the number 9 shirt. Born in Glen Allen, Virginia, on 14 March 2001, he came through the Richmond Strikers youth setup before playing college soccer for the Mary Washington Eagles. In September 2024, he signed his first professional contract with his hometown club, the Richmond Kickers, beginning a senior career that has continued into the current USL League One campaign.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Edward Kirkland was born on 14 March 2001 in Glen Allen, a suburban community in Henrico County, Virginia. He grew up in the Richmond metropolitan area and attended Deep Run High School, where he developed his game as a young forward. Standing 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) tall, he combined a strong physical frame with the technical skills he would later showcase at the college level.
During his youth career, Kirkland came through the Richmond Strikers, one of the most established developmental programs in central Virginia. The Strikers have a long history of producing college-level talent, and his time there helped him transition smoothly into competitive collegiate soccer. He remained part of the Strikers setup through 2019 before moving on to the next stage of his development.
Path to Soccer
After completing his youth time with the Richmond Strikers, Joshua Edward Kirkland enrolled at the University of Mary Washington, where he joined the Mary Washington Eagles men’s soccer program. From 2019 to 2024, he represented the Eagles in NCAA competition, developing the physical and tactical elements of his game while adjusting to the demands of high-level college soccer.
During his college years, he also gained senior-level experience on loan with the Charlottesville Blues, joining the club from 2023 to 2024. That loan spell gave him valuable minutes against grown opposition and helped prepare him for the professional ranks. By the time he finished his college career in 2024, he was ready to make the jump to the professional game.
Joshua Kirkland Career
Early Career (2019–2024)
Joshua Edward Kirkland’s early senior career began on the college circuit with the Mary Washington Eagles, where he played across five seasons from 2019 to 2024. While representing the Eagles, he worked on his finishing, hold-up play, and movement in the final third, establishing himself as a reliable attacking option for the program.
To bridge the gap between college soccer and the professional ranks, he joined the Charlottesville Blues on loan between 2023 and 2024. The loan spell offered him a first sustained taste of men’s senior soccer outside the college environment and sharpened the instincts that would soon catch the attention of USL League One scouts.
Richmond Kickers Breakthrough (2024–Present)
In September 2024, Joshua Edward Kirkland signed his first professional contract with USL League One side Richmond Kickers, the club based in his home metropolitan area. He went on to make six appearances during the 2024 season, getting his first taste of professional minutes as he adjusted to the speed and physicality of the third tier of American soccer.
The 2025 season marked his real breakthrough at the professional level. He made his debut that year by coming on as a substitute in a 4–2 win against South Georgia Tormenta, before notching his first two goals for the Kickers in a 4–4 draw against newly formed club Westchester. On 2 May 2025, he added another brace in a 3–3 draw against Greenville Triumph, and on 2 June 2025, he scored in a 1–2 loss against expansion side Texoma FC.
He continued his scoring form on 25 June 2025, netting two goals in a 3–4 win against Union Omaha, and closed out his campaign with a final goal in a 4–2 loss to South Georgia Tormenta. He ended the 2025 season with 29 appearances and eight goals, finishing second on the Richmond Kickers scoring chart behind only Darwin Espinal, who tallied nine.
Driving Style and Strengths
Joshua Edward Kirkland operates as a traditional center forward who uses his 1.85 m frame to shield the ball and compete in aerial duels. He is comfortable operating with his back to goal, linking play with midfield runners, and timing his runs into the penalty area to finish moves with both feet. His knack for scoring braces and arriving in dangerous central positions has become a hallmark of his game for the Kickers.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first professional goals against Westchester and his back-to-back braces against Greenville Triumph and Union Omaha stand out as signature moments of his early senior career. Finishing as the Richmond Kickers’ second-highest scorer in 2025, behind only Darwin Espinal, marked an important milestone for the young forward in his first full professional season.
Joshua Kirkland Career Wins
Joshua Edward Kirkland’s verified goal-scoring record at the senior professional level is built almost entirely on his time with the Richmond Kickers in USL League One. Across his first two senior seasons with the club, he has produced consistent attacking returns and developed into one of the team’s most reliable forwards.
Richmond Kickers Highlights
In his debut professional season of 2024, Kirkland made six appearances for the Richmond Kickers as he adjusted to the demands of USL League One. The following year, he became a regular contributor, finishing the 2025 campaign with 29 appearances and eight goals to sit second on the club’s scoring list behind Darwin Espinal.
Among his most memorable Richmond Kickers performances were his opening brace against Westchester, his two-goal haul against Greenville Triumph on 2 May 2025, and his decisive brace in the 3–4 win at Union Omaha on 25 June 2025. He opened the 2026 season by scoring in the ninth minute of a 1–1 draw against AV Alta, the Kickers’ first regular-season match of the new campaign.
Other Wins & Performances
During his loan at the Charlottesville Blues from 2023 to 2024, Joshua Edward Kirkland gained valuable senior minutes outside the college environment, helping bridge his path to a professional contract. His time at Deep Run High School and the Richmond Strikers also laid the foundation for his development as a forward, even though detailed scoring totals from those youth and amateur levels are not publicly verified.
Joshua Kirkland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joshua Edward Kirkland was raised in Glen Allen, Virginia, in the Richmond metropolitan area, the same region where he would eventually launch his professional career. He came up through local youth soccer pipelines, including the Richmond Strikers, which have long served as a developmental hub for players from central Virginia.
Personal Life
Joshua Edward Kirkland is an American national who grew up and continues to be based in the greater Richmond, Virginia area. Publicly verified details about his marital status, partner, or children are not available at this time, and he is primarily known for his dedication to his club career with the Richmond Kickers.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 USL League One season was Joshua Edward Kirkland’s first full professional campaign and the year that established him as a key attacking piece for the Richmond Kickers. He featured regularly from the opening matchday, scoring his first goals for the club against Westchester and continuing to find the net in nearly every subsequent month of the campaign.
He delivered braces against Greenville Triumph on 2 May and against Union Omaha on 25 June, while also scoring against Texoma FC on 2 June and against South Georgia Tormenta later in the season. Across the year, he accumulated 29 appearances and eight goals, ranking second on the Richmond Kickers behind only Darwin Espinal, who finished with nine.
Heading into the next chapter of his career, Kirkland opened the new season by scoring in the ninth minute of a 1–1 draw against AV Alta, signaling that his momentum from 2025 has carried directly into the current campaign. With a clear role as a starting forward and the number 9 shirt on his back, he remains central to the Richmond Kickers’ attacking plans in USL League One.