Mark-Anthony Kaye Bio
Mark-Anthony Kaye (born 2 December 1994) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes and the Canada national team. A product of the Toronto FC Academy, Kaye developed through the lower tiers of North American soccer before working his way into MLS, where he became known as a reliable box-to-box presence in the middle of the park. He has represented Canada at multiple CONCACAF Gold Cups and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Early Life and Background
Mark-Anthony Kaye was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Jamaican parents. He grew up playing youth soccer in the city, beginning with Wexford SC in Scarborough before moving on to Ajax SC, Glen Shields SC, and Bryst FA. With Ajax SC he won a provincial title in 2009, an early sign of his promise as a developing midfielder.
He attended John Ross Robinson Public School for elementary school and then Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute, where he played high school soccer and was twice named team MVP. He also competed in cross country and track and field, showing the athletic foundation that would later define his engine-heavy professional style.
Path to Professional Soccer
After high school, Kaye played two seasons of university soccer at York University between 2012 and 2013, appearing in 29 matches and scoring 18 goals. He was named OUA Rookie of the Year in his first season and earned CIS All-Canadian second-team and OUA first-team honors in his second year, helping York win the OUA championship in his final campaign.
He left York to join the TFC Academy, the youth setup of Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, in 2013. The following year he featured for the senior academy team in League1 Ontario, scoring once in nine matches, before being loaned to USL Pro side Wilmington Hammerheads in August 2014, where he made his professional debut and recorded his first professional goal and assist within days.
Mark-Anthony Kaye Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
In 2014, Kaye played briefly on loan with the Wilmington Hammerheads of USL Pro, scoring two goals and adding two assists in seven appearances. The stint offered a first taste of regular professional minutes and prepared him for a more substantial USL opportunity the following year.
On March 12, 2015, he signed with Toronto FC II ahead of the club’s inaugural USL season. He made his debut against the Charleston Battery on March 21 and went on to appear in 22 matches without scoring, establishing himself as a regular at the USL level before taking the next step in his career.
Louisville City Breakthrough (2016–2017)
Kaye signed with USL side Louisville City FC on January 13, 2016, and became a fixture in the squad over two seasons. In 2016, he played in 24 of Louisville’s 28 regular-season matches, contributing one goal and three assists, while also featuring in the USL Cup playoffs.
In 2017, after missing the opening matches on international duty, Kaye returned to score four goals in 19 regular-season appearances and added a U.S. Open Cup goal against the Tartan Devils. He started all four USL Cup playoff matches and helped Louisville win the USL Cup Final against Swope Park, the most significant team trophy of his developmental years.
Los Angeles FC Era (2018–2021)
After two seasons in Louisville, Kaye was transferred to expansion side Los Angeles FC ahead of their inaugural 2018 MLS campaign. He made his LAFC debut against Seattle Sounders FC in the season opener and quickly became a regular under head coach Bob Bradley, who had previously overseen him in the youth ranks.
On July 26, 2018, Kaye suffered a fractured foot in the El Tráfico rivalry match against the LA Galaxy, an injury that required surgery and sidelined him for an extended stretch. He returned to action and, alongside Bob Bradley and a star-studded LAFC squad, established himself as a dependable box-to-box midfielder in MLS.
Colorado Rapids (2021–2022)
On July 27, 2021, Kaye was traded, along with a first-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $1 million in General Allocation Money and a 2022 international roster slot. He debuted for the Rapids on August 7 against Sporting Kansas City and scored his first goal for the club on August 21, netting the game-winner in a 2–1 comeback victory over Real Salt Lake in the Rocky Mountain Cup.
Colorado exercised his contract option at the end of 2021 and, before the 2022 season, signed him to a four-year extension through 2025, with an option for 2026. Kaye’s stint in Colorado gave him a clear run as a central midfielder and helped earn him a place on Canada’s 2022 FIFA World Cup roster.
Toronto FC Return (2022–2023)
In July 2022, Toronto FC traded Ralph Priso, General Allocation Money, a 2023 MLS SuperDraft first-round pick, and an international roster slot to bring Kaye back to his hometown club, reuniting him with head coach Bob Bradley. He debuted on July 13, starting against the Chicago Fire, and slotted into a familiar central midfield role.
Kaye scored his first goal for Toronto FC on February 25, 2023, netting the club’s second goal in a 3–2 defeat to D.C. United on the opening night of the 2023 MLS season. The return to Toronto was brief but meaningful for a player who came through the club’s academy system years earlier.
New England Revolution (2023–2024)
On July 13, 2023, Kaye was traded to the New England Revolution in exchange for Latif Blessing and a 2023 international roster slot. He transitioned into Bruce Arena’s midfield and helped the club compete on multiple fronts in his first full season in Foxborough.
Kaye scored his first goal for New England on February 29, 2024, in a 3–0 CONCACAF Champions Cup win over C.A. Independiente de La Chorrera, highlighting his comfort on the international stage. His performances kept him in the conversation for Canada’s senior squad throughout the year.
San Jose Earthquakes Era (2024–Present)
On December 2, 2024, Kaye was traded, along with teammates Dave Romney and Ian Harkes, to the San Jose Earthquakes in a deal worth around $500,000 in General Allocation Money plus an international roster slot. The trade reunited him with former Revolution manager Bruce Arena and gave him a fresh start on the West Coast.
Kaye entered his first San Jose season looking to lock down a regular starting role in central midfield, with the Earthquakes aiming to climb the Western Conference standings. His familiarity with Arena’s system was expected to accelerate his integration into the squad.
Driving Style and Strengths
During his time at Louisville, Kaye played as an attacking midfielder and winger, but his move to MLS saw him reinvent himself as a box-to-box central midfielder, a role he has also carried out for Canada. LAFC coach Bob Bradley praised his range, ability to win balls in the air, and willingness to get into both boxes, describing him as a player who could close down opponents and contribute on both sides of the ball.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kaye’s career has been shaped by several signature moments, including winning the USL Cup Final with Louisville City in 2017, his fractured-foot setback during the 2018 El Tráfico rivalry match, and his inclusion in Canada’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He also scored his first senior international goals on March 29, 2021, netting a brace in an 11–0 victory over the Cayman Islands.
Mark-Anthony Kaye Career Wins
Mark-Anthony Kaye has collected team honors at multiple levels of North American soccer, beginning with a provincial title at the youth level and continuing through the USL and MLS ranks. While he has not captured an MLS Cup, his résumé includes a USL Cup, Gold Cup appearances, and a place at a FIFA World Cup.
Louisville City Highlights
Kaye spent two seasons with Louisville City FC, appearing in 43 regular-season matches and scoring five goals across the 2016 and 2017 campaigns. His most significant victory with the club came in the 2017 USL Cup Final against Swope Park, which he helped win after starting every playoff match that postseason.
International Highlights
Kaye has represented Canada at three CONCACAF Gold Cups (2017, 2019, and 2021) and at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. His first senior international goals came in a March 2021 brace against the Cayman Islands, a landmark performance in his national-team career.
Mark-Anthony Kaye Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Mark-Anthony Kaye was born to Jamaican parents and raised in Toronto, Ontario. The family supported his early athletic development, and his Toronto roots have remained a defining part of his identity throughout a career that has taken him across the United States and back to Canada multiple times.
Personal Life
Kaye grew up in the Greater Toronto Area, attending school in Scarborough and later at Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute before enrolling at York University. He keeps much of his personal life out of the public eye, focusing public attention on his career with club and country.
2025 Season Performance
Mark-Anthony Kaye entered the 2025 MLS season with the San Jose Earthquakes after being traded from the New England Revolution on December 2, 2024. Reunited with head coach Bruce Arena, Kaye was expected to play a stabilizing role in central midfield as San Jose aimed to improve on recent campaigns.
His familiarity with Arena’s system, built during their time together at New England, was a key storyline heading into the year, allowing Kaye to focus on form rather than adjustment. With several teams in the Western Conference retooling their squads, San Jose’s mix of veteran presence and Kaye’s two-way play were central to their ambitions.
On the international stage, Kaye remained in the conversation for Canada selections as the program continued its cycle following the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with his veteran experience and box-to-box versatility giving the coaching staff a reliable option in the middle of the pitch.