Sacramento Republic sign defender Dan Casey

Sacramento Republic FC announced Wednesday they have signed defender Dan Casey for the upcoming 2021 season.

The Irish defender joins after playing in his native country and developing in England.

“Dan’s addition brings physicality, aggressiveness, and a strong pedigree to our defensive core,” said Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant in a team statement. “His intensity and grit fit in very well to our team mentality, and he is the type of defender that opposing attackers do not like facing.”

Listed at 6’1 and 194 pounds, Casey looks like what they call an “absolute unit” and will likely be able to withstand any physicality in the USL Championship. He’s also versatile, able to play center back or right back, and left back in a pinch.

He most recently featured for Bohemians in the League of Ireland, helping them to a 2nd place finish in the league and starting nearly every match. He’s played three seasons in total at Bohs, with a loan stint at Cork City in 2019.

Casey is a product of Sunderland’s academy, playing at youth levels for the club for four years, and is a former Republic of Ireland youth international, at U-17 and U-19 levels.

I think this is a pretty intriguing signing. Sac Republic have found success from European signings in the past and the League of Ireland generally goes way, way under the radar. Casey is pretty young but Republic FC may be a great growth opportunity for the player. And if it really comes off for all parties, maybe he could make a case to be part of the MLS roster for Sac Republic in 2023.

That remains to be seen, but welcome aboard to Dan.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.