Discover Kellyn Acosta's parents, childhood, and extensive biography here

Discover Kellyn Acosta's parents, childhood, and extensive biography here

Helix Odhiambo
updated at January 29, 2024 at 5:27 PM
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Kellyn Acosta is an American professional soccer player and a product of the FC Dallas Academy. The star midfielder has enjoyed a remarkable career in the MLS since 2013. Kellyn Acosta's parents supported and encouraged their son to pursue his dreams at a young age.

Kellyn Acosta's age
Kellyn Acosta of the United States moves with the ball during their game against Colombia at Dignity Health Sports Park on 28 January 2023 in Carson, California. Photo: John Dorton
Source: Getty Images

Acosta's love for soccer began at an early age. His hard work and determination to succeed have helped him improve his skills and even play for the United States men's national team. We dig deep into Kellyn Acosta's childhood, family, and career achievements to understand more about the talented midfielder.

Kellyn Acosta's profile summary

Full name

Kellyn Kai Perry-Acosta

Date of birth

24 July 1995

Age

28 (as of January 2024)

Birthplace

Plano, Texas, United States

Nationality

American

Height

1.78 m (5' 10")

Weight

68 kg (149 lbs)

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Black

Profession

Footballer (midfielder)

Parents

Kennith Acosta and Kanikah Perry

Siblings

Kenny and Kenley-Grace

Son

Emerson

Net worth

$5.5 million

Social media

Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter)

Kellyn Acosta's biography

American soccer midfielder Kellyn Acosta (age 28 as of January 2024) was born on 24 July 1995 in Plano, Texas, United States. Kellyn Acosta's height is 1.78 m or 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 68 kg (149 lbs). He grew up in a middle-class family that supported him to achieve his football dreams.

Where did Kellyn Acosta go to high school?

The midfielder studied at Plano Senior High School and played soccer for the varsity team. He was a bright student, thanks to his grandmother's mentorship.

Kellyn Acosta's parents and siblings

Kellyn Acosta's parents
Kellyn Acosta (L) of the USMNT talks with his parents during the World Cup Round 16 game against the Netherlands at Khalifa International Stadium on 3 December 2022 in Qatar. Photo: Maddie Meyer
Source: Getty Images

The MLS star was born to a Japanese father, Kennith, and a Puerto Rican mother, Kanikah. His father was born in Japan, where he spent about ten years before moving to the United States. Acosta is the eldest of his two siblings, Kenny and Kenley-Grace.

Acosta's parents got divorced but maintained a cordial relationship with their children. As a result, the midfielder had to stay with his grandmother and step-grandfather from Mexico. However, details of Kellyn Acosta's brother and sister remain unknown.

"When my parents divorced, I spent a lot of time with my grandma, who I called Mimi. She would speak Japanese on the phone, watch Japanese news and eat food from the Asian market." Kellyn said.

Kellyn's grandmother used to pick him up after school since his parents worked very late. His black complexion attracted many racist remarks in school and the neighbourhood, but the midfielder tried to remain focused on his studies and football.

Kellyn Acosta's career

The talented midfielder started playing football for Dallas Tornado at seven, training under Brazilian legend and the team's head coach, Zequinha. Kellyn then joined the FC Dallas Academy when he turned 13 and trained under head coach Oscar Pareja.

FC Dallas

Kellyn Acosta's biography
MLS All-Star and FC Dallas Midfielder Kellyn Acosta (L) battles for the ball with Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal on 2 August 2017, at Soldier Field, in Chicago, IL. Photo: Patrick Gorski
Source: Getty Images

Kellyn rose through the FC Dallas developmental academy ranks and signed as a homegrown player in 2012. He debuted for Dallas's senior side on 3 August 2013 as a second-half substitute in their 3-0 defeat at Seattle Sounders.

The American midfielder helped Dallas win the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and Supporters Shield. He also guided the team to the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Colorado Rapids

Acosta joined Colorado on 23 July 2018 and debuted in a friendly match against Boca Juniors the following day. He bagged his first goal in a league game against DC United on 28 July 2018.

Los Angeles FC

The Rapids traded the midfielder to LAFC ahead of the 2022 MLS season. Kellyn Acosta's transfer cost around $1.5 million. He later accused Colorado of blocking his move to Europe amidst several offers overseas. Kellyn Acosta's contract with LAFC expired on 31 December 2023. He is among the top MLS free agents ahead of the 2024 season.

National team

Kellyn Acosta's jersey
Kellyn Acosta of the USA fouls Gareth Bale (no. 11) of Wales during their World Cup match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on 21 November 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Photo: David S. Bustamante
Source: Getty Images

The Plano native has appeared for the United States men's national team (USMNT) at every age level, playing in the 2011 U-17 World Cup and the 2013 and 2015 U-20 World Cups. Acosta debuted for the senior squad in a 3-2 friendly victory over Iceland on 31 January 2016.

Kellyn made it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Asian American to appear in the tournament for the USMNT. The midfielder played in a 1-1 draw against Wales and a 1-0 win over Iran in their Group B fixtures. The US team qualified for the Round of 16 but lost 3-1 to the Netherlands.

Kellyn Acosta's stats and achievements

Kellyn Acosta's contract
Kellyn Acosta of the USA lifts the trophy to celebrate winning the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Jamaica at Levi's Stadium on 26 July 2017 in Santa Clara, California. Photo: Omar Vega
Source: Getty Images

Acosta won the MLS Cup and the Supporters' Shield in 2022 with the LAFC. He also lifted the CONCACAF U-17 Championship (2011), the CONCACAF Gold Cup (2017 and 2021), and the CONCACAF Nations League (2019-20) with the senior team. Here is a breakdown of his career stats as of January 2024.

Team

Games

Goals

Assists

Los Angeles FC

79

4

5

Colorado Rapids

82

7

7

FC Dallas

139

13

9

United States

58

2

5

Total

358

26

26

Interesting facts about Kellyn Acosta

The former Los Angeles FC midfielder had enjoyed an exciting career, establishing himself among the MLS finest. Kellyn's passion and dedication have earned him an impressive reputation and millions through earnings. Here are some facts about the midfielder.

Kellyn Acosta's jersey number

The midfielder has played with jersey number 23 for the majority of his career at the club and with the USMNT. He also used jersey no. 10 at Colorado Rapids before changing to his iconic no. 23.

How much does Kellyn Acosta make?

How much does Kellyn Acosta make?
Kellyn Acosta (R) of LAFC challenges Inter Miami's Lionel Messi (L) during their MLS match at BMO Stadium on 3 September 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Frederic J. Brown
Source: Getty Images

Kellyn Acosta's salary has increased significantly thanks to his commitment to improving his skills. He reportedly earned a base salary of $1.25 million and a guaranteed pay of $1.37 million at LAFC in the 2023 season.

The midfielder began with a base salary of $46,500 in his first MLS season with FC Dallas. His career earnings are around $6.38 million.

Kellyn Acosta's net worth

Acosta's estimated net worth is $5.5 million. He has earned his wealth from football. The USNMT player has also bagged millions through brand ambassadorial and endorsement deals.

Who is Kellyn Acosta's wife?

The Plano native is unmarried, but sources indicate he is dating Hali Carleton. The couple reportedly met in 2021 and started dating shortly afterward, spending quality time and supporting one another. Hali is an American born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kellyn Acosta's son

The midfielder has a son, Emerson, born in 2018 from his previous relationship. His girlfriend Hali and Emerson know each other well and have formed an excellent relationship.

Kellyn Acosta's foundation

The father of one has a foundation that raises awareness and funds for disadvantaged or disabled youth in local communities. He advocates for inclusivity and positive change and has earned the Humanitarian of the Year award for his initiatives.

The midfielder is also an Ambassador for the Special Olympics, US Amputee Soccer and an advocate for Global Down Syndrome.

Social media

The American soccer star has active social media accounts with thousands of followers. Kellyn Acosta's Instagram has 191k followers, while his Facebook account has 27k followers as of January 2024. He is also available on X(Twitter) with 17.3k followers.

Final word

Although Kellyn Acosta's parents got divorced when he was young, they never stopped supporting their children and being there for them. They nurtured the talented midfielder by ensuring he grew up hard-working, humble, and generous.

READ ALSO: Delve into the story of Joshua King, the notable Norwegian footballer

Sports Brief featured the life story of Joshua King, a Norwegian football forward/winger playing for Super Lig club Fenerbahçe. Joshua is known for his extraordinary talent and adaptability in the field.

He graduated from Manchester United's Academy and then played for numerous clubs in England and Germany before landing in Turkey. Follow the above link to learn more about Joshua King.

Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.