Andrew Farrell Bio
Andrew Mikobi Farrell (born April 2, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Farrell moved with his family to Peru at the age of five and played in the Esther Grande youth team before returning to the United States in 2007. He currently holds the record for most appearances in Revolution club history, a mark he set across more than a decade of service with the club.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Mikobi Farrell was born on April 2, 1992, in Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of five, his adoptive parents, who served as Presbyterian missionaries, relocated the family to Peru, where Farrell spent most of his childhood. He lived in Lima from the ages of five to fifteen, attended Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The American School of Lima, and developed his early soccer skills with the Esther Grande de Bentín (EGB) Academy.
Farrell moved back to Louisville ahead of his sophomore year of high school. He enrolled at Atherton High School, where he also played for the local club United 1996 FC. By the end of his high school career, Farrell had attracted enough attention to earn a soccer scholarship to the University of Louisville, where he would go on to play three seasons of college soccer for the Cardinals.
Path to Professional Soccer
At the University of Louisville, Farrell quickly became a regular contributor for the Cardinals. As a freshman, he appeared in twenty games and started five, becoming one of only two freshmen to break into the starting lineup. By his junior year, he started all twenty-three matches, initially as a midfielder before shifting to a defensive role for the final nine games of the season. That year, he was named NCAA Division I First-Team All-America and earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors after Louisville allowed only 0.62 goals per game.
During the 2012 season, Farrell also gained senior-level experience in the USL Premier Development League, featuring for both the Bradenton Academics and the River City Rovers. On January 3, 2013, he signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, making him eligible for early entry into the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. Two weeks later, the New England Revolution selected him with the first overall pick, making Farrell the first number one selection in club history.
Andrew Farrell Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
Andrew Mikobi Farrell made his professional debut on March 9, 2013, in the Revolution’s 1–0 away victory over the Chicago Fire. He went on to make thirty-two appearances during his rookie season and quickly established himself as a steady presence on the back line. On June 2, 2013, he recorded his first assist in a Revolution shirt, setting up Kelyn Rowe’s 94th-minute goal in a 5–0 win over the LA Galaxy. By the end of that year, MLS had listed Farrell at number nine on its annual “24 Under 24” list of the league’s top young players.
New England Revolution Breakthrough (2015–2020)
Farrell became a fixture in the Revolution starting eleven over the coming seasons. He led the club in matches started in 2017 and consistently ranked among the team’s leaders in minutes played. In 2015, he was named Revolution team Defender of the Year, the first of what would become a record-setting collection of individual honors.
In 2016, Farrell earned recognition across the league when he was named an MLS All-Star. He added two more Defender of the Year awards in 2018 and 2019, becoming the first Revolution player to win the honor in back-to-back seasons since Michael Parkhurst in 2007 and 2008. On April 6, 2018, Farrell scored his first professional goal in a 4–0 win over the Montreal Impact, a game that also marked his 163rd career start, tying him with Taylor Twellman for seventh-most in club history.
Revolution Record-Setter Era (2021–Present)
Farrell’s importance to the Revolution reached new heights in 2021. On August 8, 2021, he made his 255th career start in a 2–1 win over the Philadelphia Union, surpassing Shalrie Joseph to set a new all-time starts record for the club. Ten days later, on August 18, 2021, Farrell also set the club record for minutes played during a 3–2 victory over D.C. United. He added further Defender of the Year awards in 2021 and 2022, bringing his total to a club-record five.
On September 30, 2023, Farrell made his 350th career start across all competitions, cementing his place as the all-time leader in appearances for the Revolution. Following the conclusion of the 2024 season, the club re-signed him to a one-year contract that also included a Player Professional Development role as an assistant coach in the Revolution Academy.
Driving Style and Strengths
Farrell is recognized for his positional intelligence, calm distribution out of the back, and durability. His ability to play across the back line, combined with consistent availability, has allowed the Revolution to build defensive structure around his minutes for more than a decade. His record-setting appearances reflect the trust he has earned from coaching staffs over multiple eras.
Notable Events and Milestones
Andrew Mikobi Farrell’s most significant milestones all wear Revolution colors. He is the club’s all-time leader in career starts and minutes played, and he holds the record for most Defender of the Year awards in team history. His first professional goal, his MLS All-Star selection in 2016, and his 350th career start in 2023 each mark defining moments in a career defined by longevity and consistency.
Andrew Farrell Career Wins
Andrew Mikobi Farrell has accumulated an extensive list of team and individual honors during his time with the New England Revolution. While team trophies have been limited during his tenure, his individual recognition underscores a long run of consistent defensive performances at club and league level.
New England Revolution Highlights
Farrell has been named Revolution team Defender of the Year on five occasions, in 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, the most in club history. He was also named Revolution team Humanitarian of the Year in 2018, 2023, and 2024, reflecting his contributions off the field as well as on it.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his Revolution honors, Farrell was selected as an MLS All-Star in 2016, recognizing him among the league’s top performers that season. At the college level, he was a Big East Defensive Player of the Year and an NCAA Division I First-Team All-America during his junior season at Louisville.
Andrew Farrell Family
Family Background and Early Influences
Andrew Mikobi Farrell was raised by adoptive parents who worked as Presbyterian missionaries in Lima, Peru. Their mission work shaped his upbringing, as the family relocated to Peru when he was five years old. He returned to Louisville ahead of his sophomore year of high school to continue his education and soccer development.
Personal Life
Farrell has kept much of his personal life private throughout his professional career. He continues to be associated with the Louisville community that shaped his early years and with the New England region through his long-running role with the Revolution.
2025 Season Performance
Andrew Mikobi Farrell enters the 2025 season continuing his role as a veteran defender for the New England Revolution. Following his one-year re-signing after the 2024 campaign, he is expected to combine his playing duties with a Player Professional Development role as an assistant coach in the Revolution Academy. The arrangement reflects the club’s intent to lean on his experience while gradually preparing him for a transition off the field.
Farrell’s primary on-field objective in 2025 will be to extend his record-setting appearances total while anchoring a defensive unit in transition. His leadership in the locker room, paired with his understanding of the club’s defensive identity, makes him a stabilizing presence regardless of how the rotation evolves.
Looking ahead, Farrell’s mix of longevity, leadership, and off-field responsibilities positions him as both a contributor and a mentor for the 2025 season. Whether milestones continue to accumulate or roles gradually shift toward coaching, his status as the most decorated defender in Revolution history is already secure.