Republic FC Signs Barcelona Product Pep Casas

Sacramento Republic has announced that their latest signing is midfielder José "Pep" Casas. This acquisition is pending approval from the league and federation.

Casas is a native of Barcelona, Spain, and got his start in FC Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia. He made moves to English club Ipswich Town and Spanish club CE Europa before ending his youth career. Afterwards, he moved to the United States to start his collegiate career with Indiana Tech and then the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He played in every game for Wilmington and recorded two goals and two assists.

2024 was a busy year for Casas. He was selected 61st overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Inter Miami CF. He made two appearances in MLS before joining Inter Miami FC II in MLS NEXT Pro. He made 25 appearances with two assists and had an 86% passing accuracy while doing so. In 2025, he joined Nashville SC's reserve side, Huntsville City FC, and played 2,000 minutes. He maintained his stellar passing accuracy, ending the season with a 91% completion rate.

Republic FC Head Coach Neill Collins on signing Casas: "Pep fits the mold for the types of talented, up-and-coming players who do well in USL Championship. We look forward to welcoming him to the Indomitable Club and are excited to be a part of this next step in his career.”

Casas on coming to Sacramento: "I’m really excited to join Sacramento Republic. It’s a club with a great culture and passionate fans, and I can’t wait to get started and give everything I have for the team.”

This signing feels like a gamble. But like the gamble you hope works out. I don't expect him to be a starter in the midfield right away. But, will he at some point? I want to say yes. I'm honestly hoping so. Barcelona just has a soft spot in my heart, so in my mind it's cool to see a Barcelona academy product come to Sacramento. Everyone knows about Barcelona. And everyone knows of La Masia, the legendary academy that has produced some of the most famous players over the years. From Lionel Messi to Lamine Yamal, the players who have come out of La Masia are legendary. Now, will Casas be the next Messi? Probably not. But he is a young midfielder who was raised in a system that emphasizes the passing game. Casas has the tools and pedigree to forge a path forward on this team and in this league. The tiki-taka system that took over football, and helped give Spain a World Cup, came from Barcelona. This system hinges on short passes and on giving your teammates multiple channels to play through by moving off the ball. And this is what Pep will bring to the team. He will be a dynamic playmaker in the middle of the park, not only making his presence felt when he has possession, but also popping up in different places off the ball. He will be a player you should keep a close watch on for the months to come. I will definitely be interested in his development as a player.

Welcome to the club, Pep!

(Photos thanks to Sacramento Republic FC)