“Good things happen for our team when Villyan is on the field,” said Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant. “He has the ability to score and set up goals, and we are looking forward to a productive 2020 season for Villyan.”

In his second full season with Sacramento, the former Liverpool FC playmaker made 29 appearances in league play (31 in all competitions), 15 of which he started. Bijev also contributed one goal and three assists during the 2019 United Soccer League Championship campaign.

The 26-year-old originally joined Republic FC midway through the 2017 season while on loan from Portland Timbers 2 before signing a permanent deal in 2018. During the 2018 campaign, the midfielder made 36 appearances across all competitions, contributing eight goals and five assists (both of which were second-best on the team). He also led the team in chances created with 56.

Before his time with the Indomitable Club, Bijev spent one-and-a-half seasons with T2 where he earned USL All-League First Team honors in 2016 after leading his team in goals, as well as leading both his team and the entire league in assists. The following season, he led the Oregonian club in goals with seven prior to his move to Sacramento.

Bijev was born in Sofia, Bulgaria before his family moved to Fresno, California at the age of five. When Bijev was 18, he was invited to a trial for the Liverpool FC U-18s of the English Premier League where he scored five goals in two friendlies, earning him a contract with the English giants. He also spent time with German-club Fortuna Dusseldorf, Norwegian-club IK Start, and Slavia Sofia in Bulgaria prior to returning to the U.S. in 2016 when he signed with T2.

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