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USL Sacramento Republic FC

Republic FC Signs Three Rising Youth Academy Talents to First Team Contracts

March 6, 2020 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Sacramento Republic FC News Release


SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Three rising Republic FC Academy players will continue their path to playing professional soccer by signing USL Academy contracts, making them eligible to join Republic FC's first team for USL matches. The club's strong development pipeline continues to generate players for first team competition, as well as produce skilled players to join the U.S. national youth and senior programs. Since 2017, twelve academy standouts have signed USL Academy contracts, including Hayden Sargis and Mario Penagos who signed professional Republic FC contracts earlier this year.

Goalkeeper Diego Ramos, defender Aris Yang and midfielder Julian Chavez will sign USL Academy contracts making them eligible to be included in the club's 23-man roster for Saturday's home opener against FC Tulsa, pending league and federation approval. The trio joined the first team for 2020 training camp in preparation for the season, earning valuable minutes against MLS, USL and NISA clubs.

"Our Academy continues to produce quality players and quality human beings, and it is a big credit to Diego, Aris and Julian to have earned these contracts following a very successful six-week preseason with our first team," Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant said. "We will continue to prioritize and nurture our development pipeline, which we think can be a big advantage for our club now and in the future."

'USL Academy' contracts allow SRFC Academy players the chance to play with the first team in professional matches, while retaining their NCAA eligibility by preserving their amateur status.

Ramos, a 17-year old goalkeeper, has been a part of Republic FC's development pipeline through the academy since 2018. He signed a USL Academy contract with the Indomitable Club last year, and made appearances against Liga MX side FC Juarez and Club America's U-20 team. He also earned a spot on the game day 18-man roster for five consecutive USL Championship matches.

Yang, a 17-year old right back, joined Republic FC's academy in 2016. During his four Academy seasons, Aris logged 81 starts over 104 games. During Republic FC's 2020 training camp, Aris was inserted into the starting XI against MLS Cup defending champion Seattle Sounders.

Chavez, a 17-year old midfielder has spent five years in the club's academy and joins the first team following a 2019-2020 academy season netting six goals in only 12 USSDA matches. Since 2016 he has netted 37 career goals in 93 academy appearances.

Last year, Republic FC signed five players to USL Academy contracts, including Ramos. Two of those players, Hayden Sargis and Mario Penagos, have joined the first team rosters on their first full professional contract.

Republic FC kick off the 2020 USL Championship season against FC Tulsa on Saturday, March 7, at 7:30 p.m.

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