Keaton Parks

American professional soccer player (born 1997)

Keaton ParksPersonal 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)
2019|  → New York City FC (loan)|  22|  (1)
2020–|  New York City FC|  140|  (13)
International career‡
2019|  United States U23|  2|  (0)
2018|  United States|  1|  (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of March 16, 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of May 28, 2018

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.

## Club career

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

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 | 32 | 2 | — | 4 | 0 | — | 4[e] | 0 | 40 | 2
2025 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0
Total  | 158 | 14 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 191 | 16
Career total  | 218 | 23 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 256 | 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 c Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
6. ^ Appearance in Campeones Cup

### International

[edit]

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

[edit]

New York City FC

* MLS Cup: 2021
* Campeones Cup: 2022

## References

[edit]

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.

## External links

[edit]

* Keaton Parks at Soccerway
* MLS player profile

* v
* t
* e

New York City FC - current squad

* 2 Cavallo
* 7 Nico
* 8 Perea
* 11 Fernández
* 12 Tanasijević
* 13 Thiago Martins
* 16 Martínez
* 17 Wolf
* 18 Ranjitsingh
* 21 O'Neill
* 22 O'Toole
* 23 Murray
* 24 Gray
* 26 Ojeda
* 27 Moralez
* 29 Carrizo
* 30 Romero
* 32 Shore
* 33 Amponsah
* 35 Ilenič
* 36 Yáñez
* 38 Baiera
* 44 Rando
* 47 Arroyave
* 49 Freese
* 55 Parks
* 80 Haak
* 88 Jones
* 99 Reid

* Head Coach: Jansen
* Assistant Coach: Ballouchy
* Assistant Coach: Hapgood
* Assistant Coach: Vartughian
* Goalkeeper coach: Cepero

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Murray]: Max Murray
*[Shore]: Jonathan Shore
*[Amponsah]: Prince Amponsah
*[Yáñez]: Zidane Yáñez
*[Baiera]: Drew Baiera
*[Arroyave]: Jacob Arroyave
*[Vartughian]: Robert Vartughian