Kitman Labs, the sports-focused technology and data analytics firm, has deepened its operations in soccer after expanding its partnership with the United Soccer League (USL), organizer of North America’s soccer pyramid.
The new multi-year agreement will focus on Kitman’s Performance Medicine Solution, with all clubs competing across the second-tier USL Championship given access to the company’s iP: Intelligence Platform to aggregate, unify, and activate medical and performance data at scale.
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The USL said the partnership will enable consistent league-wide medical workflows, integrated collaboration between staff, operational efficiency for practitioners, and high-quality datasets, creating a foundation for league-wide injury surveillance.
Stephen Smith, founder and chief executive of Kitman Labs, said: “The USL has been clear in its ambition – to invest in its players, raise standards, and compete on a global stage. By committing to a league-wide Performance Medicine platform, the USL is setting a benchmark for how modern leagues can use integrated intelligence to protect athlete welfare, unlock performance insights, and build a sustainable future for the game.”
The expansion builds on the pair’s initial agreement, struck last year, covering the USL’s top-tier Division I women’s league, commercially known as the Gainbridge Super League, under which the company serves as the performance medicine partner.
It also adds to Kitman’s growing portfolio of soccer clients, having most recently expanded its agreement with English Premier League side Leeds United. The company has worked across more than 2,000 teams, leagues, and federations, including clients in England’s EPL and WSL, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A, and the US’ MLS and NWSL.
Paul McDonough, USL president and chief executive, said: “Investing in league-wide Performance Medicine technology is a critical step in how we continue to raise standards across the USL.
“As the league grows and prepares for the launch of USL Premier, it's essential that our clubs and players are supported by a consistent foundation for athlete care and performance.”
The partnership comes as USL prepares to launch USL Premier, its top-tier men’s league, with the new agreement also to cover clubs competing in the new division when it launches in 2028.
Division One will sit at the top of the USL’s men’s pyramid, with the second-tier USL Championship and third-tier League One, as well as the semi-pro USL League Two and USL Youth leagues beneath.
Upon launch, the USL’s tiered system will allow for the promotion and relegation of clubs in the long term, as well as a pathway for talent progression.
The US’ Major League Soccer competition, by comparison, operates a closed league, with the only entry point into the league coming via an expansion process, with San Diego joining the league last season after paying a reported fee of $500 million.
While it is unclear what the composition of the USL Premier will be, US Soccer requires a Division One league to have at least 12 teams located across the country (Eastern, Central, and Pacific time zones) with at least 75% of teams playing in a market of a minimum of one million people.
All venues must also be enclosed and have a minimum seating capacity of 15,000, with the league demonstrating financial viability.
The USL expects certain clubs competing in its Championship division to step up, but will also be in conversations with potential new owners.
The new owners, however, must meet the USL’s strict financial criteria, which include a principal owner having at least a 35% stake in the team whose net worth is at least $40 million, or a group of owners whose combined net worth is at least $70 million.
USL launched in 1986 to promote a talent pathway for men and women under one system across the US. It has grown to comprise 24 USL Championship clubs, 14 USL League One teams, and 144 League Two sides, split into 19 regional divisions.
Last year, BellTower Partners, the private equity firm, acquired a minority stake in the USL, and, as part of the investment deal, BellTower founder Kewsong Lee joined the USL board of directors as vice chair.
Lee founded BellTower in 2023 after previously serving as CEO of The Carlyle Group investment firm from 2018 to 2022.
