Axel_Kei

Axel Kei

Axel Kei

Ivorian footballer

Havelange Beni De Dieu Kei Wonflonhi Jean-Désiré (born 30 December 2007), known as just Axel Kei, is an Ivorian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

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Club career

Kei joined the Real Salt Lake Academy in 2020 after transferring from the San Diego Youth Soccer Club, a youth organization run by the LA Galaxy.[4] He won the MLS Next Cup U15 Golden Boot on 13 July 2021, in the academy's winning campaign at the MLS Next Cup.[5] On 8 October 2021, he debuted with the Real Monarchs in a 0–0 USL Championship draw with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, coming on in the 61st minute. Kei's appearance at the age of 13 years, 8 months and 9 days made him the youngest professional athlete in American team sport history.[4][6]

Kei signed a Major League Soccer contract with Real Salt Lake on 14 January 2022. At 14 years and 15 days old, Kei became the youngest signing in MLS history, breaking the record Freddy Adu had held for eighteen years.[4] Kei made his debut for the club on 22 September 2022 during a friendly against Mexican club Atlas FC. He entered the match at half-time as a substitute.[7][8]

International career

Born in the Ivory Coast, Kei was raised in Brazil, and moved to San Diego in 2017.[4] He was called up to a training United States youth training camp in February 2019.[9]

References

  1. [1]
    "Real Salt Lake hace historia al fichar a niño de 14 años". Soy Referee.
  2. [2]
    "▷VIDÉO: À 13 ans seulement.. un prodige ivoirien crée la sensation en USL". 14 October 2021.
  3. [3]
    "Axel Kei". Real Salt Lake. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  4. [4]
    "RSL Forward Axel Kei Becomes Youngest Player in MLS History". RSL.com. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  5. [5]
    Van Dyk, Meg (2 July 2021). "Real Salt Lake Academy Wins it All". Real Salt Lake.
  6. [6]
    Ireland, Kyle (8 October 2021). "RSL Academy FW Axel Kei Makes History During Real Monarchs Match". KSL.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  7. [7]
    "Herrera Soars One In From 70+ Yards Out". RSL.com. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  8. [8]
    Turner, Caleb (22 September 2022). "Herrera brightens 2-1 RSL loss to Atlas with long-range golazo". KSL.com. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  9. [9]
    "3 LAGSD Boys Called Up to Youth National Training Camp". City SC Carlsbad. February 2019.
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