SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento Republic FC announced on Thursday it first roster moves for the 2023 USL Championship season, exercising contract options for six players, with 16 players overall set to return to the club for its 10th anniversary season.

Republic FC announced it had exercised contract options on goalkeepers Danny Vitiello and Carlos Saldaña, defenders Conor Donovan and Ferrety Sousa, and forwards Keko Gontan and Luther Archimede.

Eight players are set to return on the second year of their contract – Co-Captains Rodrigo Lopez and Lee Desmond, Matt LaGrassa, Nick Ross, Jack Gurr, Damia Viader, Zeiko Lewis, and Douglas Martinez. Homegrown players Rafael Jauregui and Mario Penagos will return to the Indomitable Club for next season after rising through its development system and signing their first professional contracts in 2020.

Republic FC elected to not exercise options to retain Danny Reynolds and Emil Cuello, while Josh Bauer has returned to Major League Soccer club Nashville SC after the conclusion of his loan.  

Five players are out of contract: Deshorn Brown, Maalique Foster, Dan Casey, Duke Lacroix and Luis Felipe Fernandes. The club remains engaged in active negotiations with select players for the year ahead.