Today, Sacramento Republic FC announced the club has signed defender Johnny Fenwick for the 2023 USL Championship season. He will be added to the club’s roster, pending league and federation approval. Per club policy, the terms of the contract were not disclosed.
“Johnny brings USL Championship experience and leadership to our backline,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “His qualities in the locker room and as a teammate are what stand out most about him, and we think he will be a great fit for our group.”
Fenwick comes to Sacramento after a strong 2022 USL Championship campaign with Eastern Conference club FC Tulsa. In his second season with the Oklahoma club, he set new career highs in appearances (31) and minutes (1,982), while ranking second on his squad in clearances (95). He helped the Eastern Conference side to the USL Championship playoffs in 2021 after joining the club mid-way through the season, starting each of the club’s final six matches of the year. Prior to joining Tulsa, he made his professional debut in 2019 with San Antonio FC, and featured for Las Vegas Lights FC in the abbreviated 2020 season, where he appeared in every match and wore the captain’s armband three times.
A native of Newcastle, England, the defender played his youth career in the academy systems of Premier League side Newcastle United FC, and English Football League One side Sheffield Wednesday. He moved to the U.S. to join the Men’s soccer program at High Point University in 2015, where his 78 appearances upon graduation ranked fourth in Division I program history. With the Panthers, he helped his squad to four straight Big South tournament appearances, as well as the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament appearance his senior season as an At-Large selection. He was named an NCAA All-American in 2018, and earned First Team All-Big South in consecutive seasons from 2016-2017.
Republic FC fans will get their first chance to see the 2023 squad in action on Saturday, March 4, when the club hosts local rival Monterey Bay F.C. for a preseason friendly at Heart Health Park. Tickets to the match are on sale now at SacRepublicFC.com/tickets, and include access to Fan Fest after the final whistle – allowing Indomitable members, fans, and supporters alike the opportunity to meet and interact with players face to face, hear from the club’s coaching and technical staff at a special Q&A session, and take part in fun, exclusive on-field experiences with the team. The club’s 10th USL Championship campaign will kick off on the road the following Saturday, March 11, when the squad travels to Texas to take on El Paso Locomotive FC.
