Da’Vian Kimbrough Makes History as Youngest Player in U.S. Soccer

Da’Vian Kimbrough, 13, made his debut for Sacramento Republic FC on Sunday night, becoming the youngest player to appear in a professional match in U.S. soccer history. Here’s what you need to know:

Kimbrough’s Debut

Kimbrough came on in the 87th minute against Las Vegas Lights FC. Despite his young age, he showed great composure and skill on the field.

The teenager signed with Sacramento in August at the age of 13 years, five months, and 13 days old. This signing made him the youngest senior professional soccer player in United States history.

Sacramento defeated Las Vegas 2-0 on Sunday, with Kimbrough’s debut adding to the team’s success.

Historic. Da’vian Kimbrough makes his professional debut at 13 years, 7 months, 13 days with his hometown club. pic.twitter.com/SNjsxQPlA5

— x – Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) October 2, 2023

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Sacramento Managing Expectations for Kimbrough

Sacramento signed Kimbrough to a professional contract on Aug. 9, making him the youngest senior professional soccer player in United States history. Kimbrough, a forward, was signed at a younger age than MLS record youngster Maximo Carrizo (New York City FC; 14 years old) and NWSL record holder Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave; 15 years, four months, 19 days) were when they signed.

Almost two months later, in front of the club’s home supporters, he became the youngest American professional soccer player to debut in a competitive match. The record was previously held by Axel Kei, who debuted for Real Monarchs SLC on a USL Academy contract in 2021 at age 13 months, nine months, and nine days.

While it marks a historic milestone for the player and club, there is an acknowledgement on all sides that this is only the beginning for the youngster. Todd Dunivant, the club’s president, was on the field for Freddy Adu’s debut when he was dubbed “the next Pele” and “the savior of American soccer,” and he is aware of the pitfalls of putting too much pressure on someone so young.

“There’s no need to heap that kind of pressure on him,” Dunivant told The Athletic in August. “This is not somebody we’ll be leaning upon to start games when he’s 13 and a half or 14 — it’ll be when he’s ready. We will ramp it up in the right way that makes sense. The pressure (Adu was under) is not fair to anyone at that age, and we won’t put that on Da’vian. He is going to go at his pace, and it’s our job as a club to set him up for that through a development plan that continues to challenge him in the right way and puts him in positions to succeed.

“There’s always going to be setbacks, and we have to be cognizant of all of it. He’ll be one of the guys, and after getting his feet wet, it’s about understanding that he’s there to do a job. It’s not just the young kid. If he’s good enough, he’s old enough.” — Burke

Backstory

Kimbrough joined Sacramento’s player academy as an 11-year-old in 2021, where he debuted with the club’s U-13 team. In his first season, he scored 27 goals in 31 games while playing up a level. The following year, he scored 34 goals across 50 appearances with the Under-14s and Under-15s in MLS Next competition.

In June, Kimbrough was a guest participant with the New York Red Bulls Academy at the Bassevelde U-13 Cup, a youth competition in Belgium that also featured youth teams from European clubs like AZ, Celtic, Club Brugge, Juventus, PSV, RB Leipzig, Anderlecht, Benfica, and West Ham among the 16-team field. The Red Bulls became the first MLS club to win the competition, with Kimbrough scoring six goals on his way to winning tournament MVP.

Conclusion

Da’Vian Kimbrough’s debut for Sacramento Republic FC at the age of 13 has made history in U.S. soccer. While his achievement is remarkable, the club is focused on managing expectations and ensuring his development is handled with care. Kimbrough’s talent and potential are evident, and it will be exciting to see how he continues to progress in his soccer career.

With his impressive skills and early success, Kimbrough has the potential to become a future star in American soccer. However, it is crucial to remember that he is still a young player who needs time to grow and develop. Sacramento Republic FC is committed to supporting him on his journey and providing the right environment for his continued success.

As fans, we should celebrate Kimbrough’s achievement while also recognizing the importance of patience and nurturing young talent. Da’Vian Kimbrough’s debut marks a significant moment in U.S. soccer history, and it will be fascinating to follow his career as he continues to make strides in the sport.