Kimani Stewart-Baynes Bio
Kimani Aidan Stewart-Baynes (born January 17, 2005) is a professional soccer player who plays for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, he represents Canada at the youth international level. A forward with Canadian citizenship, he developed through youth systems in Ontario before reaching the top tier of North American soccer.
Standing 175 centimeters tall, Stewart-Baynes entered Major League Soccer through the 2024 MLS SuperDraft after a standout freshman season at the University of Maryland. He is the brother of National Football League wide receiver N’Keal Harry.
Early Life and Background
Stewart-Baynes was born in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and grew up in Toronto, Canada. Relocating during his formative years, he settled into the competitive youth soccer environment of the Greater Toronto Area, where he began building the technical foundation that would later carry him to the professional ranks.
He played youth soccer with Vaughan Azzurri, one of the well-known development clubs in the League1 Canada pyramid. In 2022, he helped Vaughan Azzurri win the League1 Ontario U19 Reserve Division, an early title that marked him as a promising attacking talent within the Canadian youth system.
Path to Professional Soccer
In March 2023, Stewart-Baynes signed a developmental contract with HFX Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League, his first professional agreement. The move gave him senior experience in a competitive domestic league while still completing his college eligibility in the United States.
In April 2023, he committed to attend the University of Maryland, joining the Maryland Terrapins men’s soccer program. He made his collegiate debut in the season opener on August 24, 2023, against the Missouri State Bears, and scored his first goal three days later against the UNC Greensboro Spartans. Across fourteen matches in his sole season, he recorded three goals and seven assists, performances that earned him Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year honors and a place on the All-Freshman Team.
Kimani Stewart-Baynes Career
Early Career (2023)
Stewart-Baynes split his first senior season between the HFX Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League and the Maryland Terrapins in NCAA Division I. His developmental deal with Halifax offered early professional minutes, while his freshman college campaign sharpened his scoring and playmaking responsibilities in a top collegiate conference.
The combination of professional training and high-level college competition shaped his transition into Major League Soccer. Following his freshman year, he was invited to the MLS College Showcase ahead of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, signaling league-wide recognition of his potential.
MLS Breakthrough (2024)
In December 2023, Stewart-Baynes signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, a pathway that allows top young players to enter the professional ranks while retaining amateur status. At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, he was selected in the first round, fourth overall, by the Colorado Rapids.
He made his professional debut with Colorado Rapids 2 in MLS Next Pro on March 17, 2024, against St. Louis City 2. Six days later, on March 23, he made his Major League Soccer debut against the Houston Dynamo, entering as a late substitute in a 1-0 defeat. Those opening appearances launched his senior career in the American top flight.
Colorado Rapids Era (2024–Present)
Since joining the Colorado Rapids, Stewart-Baynes has been integrated into the club’s first-team setup while continuing to gain minutes with the reserve side in MLS Next Pro. The Generation Adidas contract underscores the franchise’s commitment to developing him as a long-term attacking option within the organization.
His pathway reflects the modern MLS model of pairing first-round draft investments with reserve-league seasoning. The Rapids have positioned him to compete for minutes at forward while benefitting from daily professional training environments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Stewart-Baynes became the fourth overall pick in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, a marquee milestone that confirmed his status among the top young Canadian forwards of his generation. His first Major League Soccer appearance against the Houston Dynamo on March 23, 2024, marked the moment he formally joined the league’s senior ranks.
Kimani Stewart-Baynes Career Wins
Stewart-Baynes has assembled early competitive silverware at the youth and college levels. His confirmed titles include the 2022 League1 Ontario U19 Reserve Division with Vaughan Azzurri and the 2023 Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year award with the Maryland Terrapins.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond his domestic youth title, Stewart-Baynes earned All-Freshman Team recognition in the Big Ten and a Generation Adidas invitation to the MLS College Showcase. His seven assists in fourteen college matches highlighted his playmaking ability, complementing the three goals he scored for Maryland.
Kimani Stewart-Baynes Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Stewart-Baynes comes from a family with deep ties to North American sport. He is the brother of N’Keal Harry, a wide receiver who has played in the National Football League, including for the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. The siblings represent two of the most accomplished athletes in their immediate family, with both having reached top professional leagues on the continent.
Personal Life
Growing up between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Toronto, Stewart-Baynes holds Canadian citizenship and has represented Canada at the youth international level. He balances his professional commitments with the Colorado Rapids alongside his family connections across the Caribbean and North America.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 Major League Soccer season represents Stewart-Baynes’ first full professional campaign in the senior ranks following his Generation Adidas signing. Entering the year with MLS Next Pro experience and a documented MLS debut in 2024, he is expected to push for expanded minutes with the Colorado Rapids first team.
Internationally, he remains part of the Canada U20 pool after being named to the final roster for the 2024 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship. Continued selection in youth national team camps will shape his pathway toward Canada’s senior program and provide high-pressure minutes alongside club duties.
With the Colorado Rapids investing in his development through a first-round draft pick, the 2025 season will be a defining year for Stewart-Baynes. Strong showings in training and reserve matches could translate into consistent senior appearances as he establishes himself as a long-term attacking option for the club.