US team sign 13-year-old wonderkid and vow he'll break Freddy Adu record
Da’vian Kimbrough has become the youngest professional athlete in American team sports history after signing a contract with United Soccer League (USL) Championship club Sacramento Republic.
Kimbrough - at 13 years, five months and 13 days - is significantly younger than New York City FC player Maximo Carrizo was when he set the Major League Soccer record on his 14th birthday last year. The youngest National Women's Soccer League player signed was when the San Diego Wave starlet Melanie Barcenas was signed at age 15 in March.
In breaking both records, Kimbrough is inevitably drawing comparisons with Freddy Adu. He became the youngest debutant and goalscorer in MLS history before turning 15.
Those feats remain untouched almost two decades later. However, they could be threatened by this teenage forward in the future, and Sacramento is certainly convinced.
“Da’vian’s journey with Republic FC is just beginning," said president and general manager Todd Dunivant. "He is a remarkable talent who has committed to his dream of becoming an elite player, from competing with players in older age groups and thriving at top competitions to stepping onto the first team training grounds."
Arteta took £30m Arsenal gamble - but it paid off despite pressure on Odegaard
Kimbrough joined the club's academy as an 11-year-old in 2021 and has scored 61 goals in 81 appearances across the age groups playing in MLS NEXT. “We are honoured that the Kimbrough family and Da’vian have chosen Republic FC to support his professional pathway, and we look forward to taking the next steps together,” Dunivant continued.
The Athletic reports that deciding to sign with Sacramento was far from the only option for Kimbrough. Several MLS academies are said to have had hopes of acquiring the teenager, including the New York Red Bulls.
Kimbrough follows in the footsteps of Freddy Adu (AFP via Getty Images)This summer even saw the forward playing for their academy team at the Bassevelde U13 Cup. Up against fellow teenagers from clubs on this side of the Atlantic — including Benfica, Celtic, Juventus, RB Leipzig and W est Ham United — Kimbrough scored six goals and was named the youth tournament's most valuable player.
He may even move to join many of those opponents over the upcoming years instead of stepping up to an MLS club. That was the path Christian Pulisic took, joining Borussia Dortmund before turning 15 after previously only playing academy football.
However, for now, he remains in California. He can play for the first team in competitive matches as soon as this weekend against the Birmingham Legion. The club will also continue to have him train with the team's academy and the senior side.
Due to Kimbrough's age, he will continue studying. There is also a modified training schedule for him, which remains under monitoring by the club's sports medicine staff.
That will be key as the teenager joins a highly-competitive team. Sacramento sits top of the Western Conference in the USL Championship, the second-tier in the United States, after only losing three games all season.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
