Sacramento Republic FC announced today that the club has reached an agreement with D.C. United of Major League Soccer transferring Hayden Sargis, one of the club’s young players developed through its academy system. Pending league and federation approval, the defender will join his new club ahead of the upcoming 2022 MLS season.
“Hayden is a talented player, and an even better person who represents everything we are about in Sacramento. We have no doubt that he will go on to do great things in his career and will forever be a shining example of our indomitable club,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “He is a glowing example of the top-tier talent in Northern California and further proof that our academy player pathway allows for players to reach their highest potential.”
Sargis joined Republic FC’s youth development academy in its inaugural 2015 season and became a reliable defender during his youth career, logging 109 appearances, 92 starts, and three goals in U.S. Soccer Development Academy play. Before joining Republic FC, Hayden was a standout player for East Valley Earthquakes of NorCal Premier. As one of the club’s rising talents, he signed a USL Academy contract in 2019. In January 2020, he signed his first professional contract with his hometown club, en route to a stellar rookie season.
As an academy player, he earned his first start in a friendly against Club America U-20s on July 16, 2019. In just eight months, he would be named to the starting lineup for Republic FC’s season opener in 2020 – sharing the honor of being the first academy-developed player to start for the Boys in Old Glory Red with his academy teammate Mario Penagos.
Sargis started 14 of 15 matches in his inaugural season, only missing one regular-season match due to injury. In the abbreviated season, he logged over 1,000 minutes – marking the first time a player from Republic FC’s academy has crossed the milestone. He earned league praise with a Team of the Week Selection, as well as being named a 2020 Young Player of the Year Finalist – the only finalist to be selected in his inaugural professional season.
His sophomore season continued to showcase his development. Sargis repeated his minutes milestone, logging over 1,400 minutes and 16 starts. He finished second on the squad with 62 clearances and blocked eight shots. In his two professional seasons and one academy season with Republic FC’s first team, Sargis has made 33 starts in 35 appearances – while logging 2,789 minutes and adding one assist.
With his transfer to D.C. United, Sargis becomes the third Republic FC academy player signed to MLS contracts.
Since its inception in 2015, the club’s youth academy has provided a training environment for top youth players to develop into professional players for the club’s first team and elite college programs. Republic FC has signed four players from its academy – including Sargis – to first-team contracts, with three more being selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft, over a dozen on USL Academy contracts, and over 50 players signed to Division I college soccer programs.
Republic FC kickoff the 2022 USL Championship season at home at Heart Health Park on Saturday, March 12 against El Paso Locomotive FC. Fans can guarantee their seat for the season opener by becoming an Indomitable Member at www.sacrepublicfc.com/memberships. The full season schedule is available at www.sacrepublicfc.com/club-schedule.
