Teenager Da’vian Kimbrough became the youngest soccer player to play in a competitive professional match in the U.S. when he made his professional debut for the United Soccer League’s Sacramento Republic FC on Oct. 1.
At 13 years, 7 months and 13 days old, Kimbrough broke the record previously held by Axel Kei of Utah’s Real Monarchs, according to The Athletic.
Kei debuted at 13 years, 9 months and 9 days old in 2021 for the Monarchs, and the following year, he became the youngest player in MLS history when Real Salt Lake signed him to a two-year contract, according to MLS.
Kimbrough spoke to “Good Morning America” about his debut in an interview last week.
“At first, I was a little nervous but I feel like once I stepped on, it was more exciting than anything,” he said. “I tried to silence the noise and just play soccer.”
Who is Da’vian Kimbrough?
Kimbrough is a forward for the United Soccer League’s Sacramento Republic. He joined Sacramento’s player academy in 2021 and scored 61 goals in his first two seasons, according to The Athletic.
In June, he played with the New York Red Bulls Academy at the Bassevelde U-13 Cup youth competition held in Belgium. He helped the Red Bulls become the first MLS club to win the tournament, scoring six goals and being named the MVP of the tournament, The Athletic reported.
Who is the youngest professional soccer player in the U.S.?
On Aug. 9, Kimbrough signed a professional contract with Sacramento Republic, becoming the youngest professional soccer player currently on contract in the U.S., surpassing Maximo Carrizo.
In February 2022, on his 14th birthday, Carrizo signed a homegrown contact, which is when a player in a club team’s academy signs a contract with the club’s senior team, with New York City FC, according to ESPN.
Carrizo’s signing came a month after Kei’s signing with Real Salt Lake. Prior to Kei and Carrizo, the record was set in 2004 when 14-year-old Freddy Adu signed with D.C. United and became the youngest athlete to sign a professional contract, according to CBS Sports.
When Adu began his career, he was predicted to be the next Pelé, but that wasn’t the case. Adu played for 15 teams in his 17-year career.
Sacramento Republic’s general manager, Todd Dunivant, says the team is not going to put that same kind of pressure on Kimbrough, according to The Athletic.
“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,” Dunivant said. “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.”
Who is the youngest professional women’s soccer player in the U.S.?
Women’s soccer has experienced its own youth movement in 2023. The National Women’s Soccer League had two players break the record for the youngest player in the league this season: Chloe Ricketts and, later, Melanie Barcenas.
In March, Barcenas signed with her hometown San Diego Wave FC at 15 years and 138 days old, taking the record from Ricketts. Barcenas has appeared in six games and tallied one assist.
Four months into her professional career, Ricketts became the youngest player to score in the NWSL in July during the Washington Spirit’s Challenge Cup match against Gotham FC, Yahoo Sports reported.