Republic FC signs MLS All-Star, Canadian national with World Cup experience
Sacramento Republic FC is signing a player the team believes will be one of the best in the USL as the club looks to elevate its roster in search of an elusive second league championship.
The team announced Friday the addition of long-time MLS player and Canadian national Mark-Anthony Kaye, who played for Canada in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and with the San Jose Earthquakes last season, his 10th in the MLS.
“When a player with Mark-Anthony’s experience and quality decides that this is where he wants to be, it validates everything we’re building,” Republic FC head coach Neill Collins said in a news release. “He’s a proven winner, a leader in the locker room, and a competitor who sets the tone every time he steps on the pitch. He elevates those around him and is going to make our entire squad strong as we begin our pursuit of Championship silverware.”
Kaye, 31, is a midfielder with 169 MLS appearances and 42 with the Canadian National Team. He reportedly made $800,000 with the San Jose Earthquakes last season (USL team payrolls generally range from $1 to $2 million) following stints with Los Angeles FC (2018-21), Colorado Rapids (2021-22), Toronto FC (2022-23) and New England Revolution (2023-24).
Kaye made $3.7 million during his MLS career and was named an All-Star with L.A. in 2019 while the club earned the Supporter’s Shield with a then-league record 72 points.
In 196 games in the MLS he’s scored 16 goals and 23 assists. He appeared in one of Canada’s three games in the World Cup in 2022 and played 59 minutes. He becomes the only player on Republic FC’s roster with an appearance in the World Cup after debuting with the national team in 2017. He’s also appeared in three Gold Cups.
Sacramento Republic FC has finished in the top five of the USL Championship’s Western Conference in each of the last four seasons but hasn’t advanced beyond the semifinals. Republic FC won the USL championship in 2014, its debut season.
The team is two seasons away from opening its new stadium in the downtown Railyards in 2027, and has continued to have eyes on elevating to the MLS or the USL Premier, a new league with a planned launch in 2028 designed to compete directly with the MLS.
Collins has taken over roster decisions this season following the departure of longtime general manager and club president Todd Dunivant, who took the sporting director job with New York City FC of the MLS in December.
