Republic FC Loans Da’vian Kimbrough to North Texas SC
Sacramento Republic FC announced Thursday that homegrown forward Da’vian Kimbrough will join North Texas SC on loan, giving one of American soccer’s most promising young prospects an opportunity to earn regular professional minutes in one of the country’s most respected development systems.
While Republic FC did not disclose the terms of the agreement, FC Dallas has reported that the deal includes an option to make the move permanent. The loan sends Kimbrough to North Texas SC, the MLS NEXT Pro affiliate of FC Dallas, a club widely regarded as one of the premier developers of young talent in the United States.
“Da’vian is a bright, young talent and providing him an opportunity to earn regular pro game minutes is essential for his continued development,” Republic FC President and General Manager Tim Holt said in a club statement. “At North Texas SC, he will compete with and against other young professionals as he builds upon a period of recent successes at the youth national team levels.”
Kimbrough’s path has already been historic. In August 2023, he signed his first professional contract with Republic FC, becoming the youngest professional athlete in American team sports history. He made his professional debut later that year in a 2-0 victory over Las Vegas Lights FC and has since appeared eight times for Sacramento across all competitions, including earning his first professional start earlier this season.
His development has extended beyond the club level. Kimbrough has earned more than 20 call-ups between United States and Mexican youth national team programs and recently represented Mexico at the Canteras de América tournament, where he led the team with three goals in three matches.
Before reaching the first team, Kimbrough established himself as one of the nation’s top academy prospects. After joining Sacramento’s academy in 2021 at age 11, he scored 61 goals in 81 MLS NEXT appearances while consistently playing above his age group. His performances helped Sacramento’s academy teams post some of the best records in the country and quickly attracted national attention.
For years, FC Dallas has been viewed as the gold standard for player development in the United States. The organization has produced a long list of professionals, including Weston McKennie, Ricardo Pepi, Jesús Ferreira, and Tanner Tessmann. North Texas SC serves as a critical bridge between academy soccer and Major League Soccer, providing young players with consistent professional minutes while keeping them within the FC Dallas development pathway.
There is also a Sacramento connection within the organization. Former Republic FC Head Coach Mark Briggs joined FC Dallas as an assistant coach ahead of the 2025 MLS season following his successful tenure with the Indomitable Club. While Briggs is not directly involved with North Texas SC, his presence adds another familiar link between the organizations.
The reported purchase option suggests FC Dallas sees more than short-term value in the Sacramento native. The club has built a reputation for identifying elite young talent, and the opportunity to enter that environment could be a significant step in Kimbrough’s development.
For Republic FC, the move reflects a continued commitment to player development. Kimbrough became the sixth academy graduate to sign a professional contract with his hometown club, and he is part of a pathway that has seen more than 40 academy players train with the first team and over 25 sign professional contracts.
Whether Kimbrough ultimately returns to Sacramento or earns a permanent move into the FC Dallas system remains to be seen. What is clear is that one of the brightest young talents ever produced by Republic FC’s academy now has an opportunity to continue his development in one of the most proven player pathways in American soccer.