Republic’s 13-year-old Kimbrough makes his North American record debut

At 13 years, 7 months and 13 days, Sacramento Republic forward Da’vian Kimbrough became the youngest North American soccer player to make his professional debut when he scored in the 87th minute of the team’s 2-0 win over Las Vegas Lights came on Sunday.

Kimbrough, who has played in the Republic’s academy since 2021, signed for the club’s first team in August, becoming the youngest American to agree to a professional contract. On another occasion he was in the team’s matchday squad.

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The youngest player to previously appear in the USL Championship was Axel Kei, who did so in 2021 for the Real Monarchs – the second team of MLS club Real Salt Lake – at 13 years, 9 months and 9 days. The youngest American soccer player to make his first-team debut was Freddy Adu, who did so for DC United in 2004 at the age of 14 years, 10 months and one day.

FC Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies holds the USL Championship record as the youngest goalscorer at 15 years, 6 months and 13 days.

The 5-foot-10 striker from Woodland, California, is a dual national with Mexican eligibility. He recently took part in a Mexican U-16 training camp.

With two games remaining in the regular season, Sacramento sits in first place in the USL Championship Western Conference standings (58 points), three points ahead of San Antonio FC.