- First selection to a national team roster
- Made first team debut with Republic FC on October 1, becoming the youngest American player to appear in a competitive match
- Seven goals in ten appearances for the club’s academy squads this season
Sacramento, Calif. – The Mexican Football Federation has announced that Republic FC forward Da’vian Kimbrough (pronunciation: Day-vee-Ahn Kimm-broh) has been selected to its U-15 Youth National Team roster for the 2023 Football Federations Cup tournament in Albir, Spain from December 1 to December 11. The invitation marks Kimbrough’s first selection to a National Team squad.
“As Da’vian’s development has continued, he’s repeatedly proven his ability to play at a high level with our academy and first team,” said Republic FC President and General Manager Todd Dunivant. “We wish him well as he embarks on a tremendous opportunity to continue his growth in another challenging environment.”
Kimbrough’s selection to El Tri’s U-15 side comes following two invitations to U-16 training camp in September and October. In joining the squad, he continues to compete with older players, as he does in Academy and First Team training and competition with Republic FC. He is the first Republic FC player called to a youth national team since last fall, when fellow first-team signee Blake Willey was selected to the United States’ U-16 roster for its trip to the 2022 edition of the tournament.
The 13-year-old forward joined Republic FC’s first team earlier this year after two seasons in the club’s academy system. On October 1, he became the youngest American player to debut in a competitive match when he came off the bench in his club’s 2-0 win over Las Vegas Lights FC in USL Championship play. Since the end of the first team season, Kimbrough has continued his development with the club’s Academy squads, scoring seven goals in ten appearances with the club’s U-15 and U-16 teams, including a game-winner for the U-15’s on November 18 against MLS side Portland Timbers.
Republic FC’s youth academy continues to be well represented in Youth National Team Programs. On November 15, eleven members of the club’s youth system were identified as top players in Northern California, receiving invitations to the U.S. YNT Regional ID Center in San Jose, which serves as a stepping-stone to YNT call ups. U-17 Head Coach and Director of Talent Identification Ivan Mirkovic recently joined the United States U-15 National Team Coaching staff for an international tournament in Lisbon, Portugal, becoming the second active Republic FC coach in as many years to serve on a national team staff.
