American soccer player

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 21, 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 30, 2022

Kellyn Kai Perry-Acosta (born July 24, 1995) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC and the United States national team.

Contents

• 1 Early life
• 2 Club career
  • 2.1 FC Dallas
  • 2.2 Colorado Rapids
  • 2.3 Los Angeles FC
• 3 International career
• 4 Career statistics
  • 4.1 Club
  • 4.2 International
• 5 Honors
• 6 References
• 7 External links

Early life

Acosta's paternal grandmother is *anese, and the surname Acosta comes from his Mexican paternal step-grandfather.

Club career

FC Dallas

Acosta played for the FC Dallas Development Academy and was committed to play soccer at the University of Maryland prior to becoming a homegrown signing in July 2012 (although he was not eligible for selection until the 2013 season). He did make three MLS Reserve League appearances. He was named U.S. Soccer Development Academy Central Conference Player of the Year in 2011–12.

Acosta made his first-team debut in a 3–0 loss at Seattle in August 2013. He made nine consecutive starts from August to October of that season. His 2014 season was interrupted by a knee injury. He initially played fullback for the club, but eventually transitioned to a starting role as a defensive midfielder in 2015.

Colorado Rapids

On July 23, 2018, Acosta was traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Dominique Badji. Acosta started all 12 league matches after joining Colorado, scoring two goals and adding three *ists in Burgundy. On Feb. 20, 2019, Acosta signed a three-year contract extension keeping him in Colorado through 2021, with club options for 2022 and 2023.

Acosta enjoyed similar success in 2019, making 30 MLS starts and playing 2,619 minutes, both career highs, while adding two goals and two *ists.

In a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Acosta scored two goals and added one *ist as he made 14 starts among 15 league appearances. Acosta scored Colorado's playoff-clinching goal in a 1–0 win at Portland Timbers on Nov. 4. Acosta started and played 81 minutes in Colorado's MLS Cup Playoff first-round loss to Minnesota United FC.

Los Angeles FC

On January 14, 2022, Acosta was acquired by Los Angeles FC from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $1.1 million in General Allocation Money ($550k GAM in 2022 and $550k GAM in 2023). The Rapids would retain a portion of any sale should Acosta be sold elsewhere. Additionally, if certain performance based metrics are met, Colorado will receive an additional $400k GAM.

International career

Acosta was born in the United States to a *anese father, and Puerto Rican mother, and was eligible for *an or the United States. After having played in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Acosta became the youngest member of the U.S. squad at the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He was also part of the squad two years later at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Acosta made his senior international debut for the United States in a friendly versus Iceland on January 31, 2016. Acosta scored his first senior international goal in a 2–1 friendly win over Ghana on July 1, 2017, curling a direct free kick into the bottom corner for the eventual game-winner. He was selected to the U.S. squad for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which the U.S. would go on to win. Acosta appeared in five of six games, including all three knock-out matches. Acosta made six appearances in international friendlies in 2018, scoring against Colombia on Oct. 12 and *isting Josh Sargent's goal against Peru on Oct. 16.

Following an almost 24 month absence from national team duty, Acosta was selected for a December 2020 camp on Nov. 30, 2020 alongside fellow Rapids teammates Cole B*ett and Sam Vines. Acosta replaced Sebastian Lletget in the 68th minute of a 6–0 friendly win over El Salvador on Dec. 9 at Inter Miami CF Stadium in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Acosta was called up again in January 2021 alongside Rapids teammates Vines and Jonathan Lewis, playing 90 minutes and *isting on Lewis' second goal in a 7–0 friendly win over Trinidad & Tobago at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 31. During the 2021 calendar year, Acosta appeared in 21 out of a possible 22 matches for the United States becoming the first player to do so since 1994.

Career statistics

Club

As of May 21, 2022

International

As of match played March 30, 2022

Honors

FC Dallas

• Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2016
• Supporters' Shield: 2016

United States

• CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2017, 2021
• CONCACAF Nations League: 2019–20

References

External links

• Kellyn Acosta at Major League Soccer