Keaton Alexander Parks (born August 6, 1997) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club New York City FC.

Keaton Parks
Personal information
Full name Keaton Alexander Parks
Date of birth (1997-08-06) August 6, 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Plano, Texas, United States
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
New York City FC
Number 55
Youth career
2014–2015 Liverpool Warriors
2015–2016 Varzim
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Varzim B 4 (0)
2016–2017 Varzim 10 (2)
2017–2019 Benfica B 42 (7)
2017–2020 Benfica 4 (0)
2019New York City FC (loan) 22 (1)
2020– New York City FC 135 (13)
International career
2019 United States U23 2 (0)
2018 United States 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of May 28, 2018

Club career

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Born in Plano, Texas, Parks played soccer three years with Liberty High School in Frisco before joining NPSL side Liverpool Warriors.[2] With the help of his coach, Parks managed to trial at several Portuguese clubs such as Benfica, Braga and Sporting CP.[2] While playing with the Warriors during a tournament in Póvoa de Varzim, Parks was scouted and signed with Varzim.[2] In signing for Varzim, Parks rejected an offer to attend Southern Methodist University and play for their soccer team.[2]

After playing for Varzim's reserve side for a season, Parks made his professional debut for the club in a LigaPro match on September 4, 2016, against Aves. He came on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Diego Barcelos as Varzim lost 2–0.[3] Parks then established himself as a regular starter for the side and then scored his first two professional goals during two matches. The first goal came on December 17, 2016, against Famalicão. His 52nd-minute strike was the first of two as Varzim won 2–0.[4] His second goal came in the next match on December 21 against Fafe. His 69th-minute goal was the equalizer for Varzim as they eventually won the match 2–1.[5]

On July 25, 2017, Parks signed with Portuguese champions Benfica, joining its reserve team in LigaPro.[6][7] His first appearance for the senior team came in the 71st minute of the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal, against Vitória in November that year.[8] Later, on December 6, Parks signed a new contract with Benfica, keeping him at the club until 2022.[9]

On January 19, 2019, Parks joined Major League Soccer side New York City FC on loan until the end of their 2019 season.[10] The deal to New York City FC was made permanent by the club on January 8, 2020.[11]

International career

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Parks has been involved with the United States national under-20 team, attending a training camp in London in April 2017.[12] He received his first senior call-up for a friendly against Bolivia on May 28, 2018, making his debut in that match as a 61st-minute substitute for Joe Corona.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played October 6, 2024[13][14]
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Varzim B 2015–16 Campeonato de Portugal 4 0 4 0
Varzim 2016–17 LigaPro 10 2 1 0 2 0 13 2
Benfica 2017–18 Primeira Liga 4 0 1 0 1 0 6 0
Benfica B 2017–18 LigaPro 29 7 29 7
2018–19 13 0 13 0
Total 60 9 2 0 3 0 65 9
New York City FC (loan) 2019 MLS 22 1 3 2 1 0 26 3
New York City FC 2020 23 3 1 0 3[c] 0 1[d] 0 28 3
2021 31 4 1[e] 0 32 4
2022 18 2 2 0 3 0 6[c] 0 1[f] 0 30 2
2023 32 2 3[e] 0 35 2
2024 31 2 0 0 31 2
Total 157 14 5 2 5 0 9 0 6 0 182 16
Career total 217 23 7 2 8 0 9 0 6 0 247 25
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal and U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga and MLS Cup Playoffs
  3. ^ a b Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League
  4. ^ One appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage
  5. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  6. ^ Appearance in Campeones Cup

International

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As of match played May 28, 2018[15]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States 2018 1 0
Total 1 0

Honors

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New York City FC

References

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  1. ^ "Keaton Parks". New York City FC. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Kafai, Arman (September 30, 2016). "Plano teen takes different route to make professional debut in Portugal". Dallas News Sports Day. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  3. ^ "Varzim 0–2 Aves". Soccerway.
  4. ^ "Famalicão 0–2 Varzim". Soccerway.
  5. ^ "Varzim 2–1 Fafe". Soccerway.
  6. ^ Kafai, Arman (July 25, 2017). "Keaton Parks officially signs with Benfica". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  7. ^ "Keaton Parks reforça Benfica B" [Keaton Parks joins Benfica B]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). July 25, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  8. ^ Ramsey, Allen (November 18, 2017). "U.S. Youngster Keaton Parks Makes First Team Debut for Benfica". goal.com.
  9. ^ "KEATON PARKS RENOVA ATÉ 2022: «ENTUSIASMADO POR COMEÇAR UMA NOVA ETAPA»" [KEATON PARKS RENEWS UNTIL 2022: «EXCITED TO START A NEW STAGE»]. abola (in Portuguese). June 12, 2017. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017.
  10. ^ "New York City FC Acquire Keaton Parks". New York City FC. January 19, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "New York City FC Permanently Acquires Keaton Parks From S.L. Benfica | New York City FC". New York City FC. January 8, 2020. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  12. ^ "Ramos calls 25 players to England for pre-World Cup training camp". U.S. Soccer. April 2, 2017. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  13. ^ Keaton Parks at Soccerway  
  14. ^ Keaton Parks at ForaDeJogo (archived). Retrieved August 1, 2017.
  15. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Keaton Parks". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
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