The Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) announced today it has re-signed 24-year-old Canadian International Mark-Anthony Kaye. The midfielder has agreed to a three-year contract extension through 2021 with a club option in 2022.
“Mark-Anthony is a talented player who proved his importance to our team in our inaugural season that was only interrupted due to an unfortunate injury,” LAFC EVP of Soccer Operations and General Manager John Thorrington said. “He possesses the commitment and ability to be a building block for our future, and we are confident the best is yet to come.”
Kaye appeared in 20 regular season contests (all starts) for LAFC during their inaugural season, logging two goals and five assists. The midfielder suffered a season-ending injury on July 26 during LAFC’s 2-2 draw versus the Galaxy at Banc of California Stadium. Kaye is expected to return to full training in 2019.
“Mark is a really important player for us,” LAFC Head Coach Bob Bradley said. “From the start - he was open, he listened, and he applied our ideas. Before the injury, he was improving week by week. He has a bright future and I believe he will be back better than ever next year.”
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Internationally, Kaye has made six appearances for the Canadian national team (three starts), logging 275 minutes total. The midfielder made his senior team debut on June 13, 2017 in a friendly against Curaçao. Kaye made one appearance in 2018 during Canada’s 1-0 friendly against New Zealand on March 24.
“It’s an honor to wear the Black & Gold and I’m forever grateful for this opportunity,” Kaye said. “I believe this is an important step and the right direction in my career. I look forward to coming back even stronger in 2019.”
Prior to joining LAFC, Kaye appeared in 19 regular season matches for Louisville City FC (USL) in 2017, tallying four goals and one assist. In his two seasons with the club, Kaye saw action in 39 matches (31 starts), adding five goals and four assists in 2,605 minutes.
Following a two-year collegiate career at York University in Canada in which he tallied 18 goals in 29 matches, Kaye joined the Toronto FC Academy in 2013. He would appear in nine games for TFC’s academy before finishing the season on loan with USL side Wilmington Hammerheads.
In March of 2015, Kaye signed with Toronto FC II ahead of their first campaign in USL and appeared in 22 regular season matches, making 19 starts and registering two goals and two assists in seven games.
LAFC ended their historic inaugural season 16-9-9, setting the MLS record for most points for an expansion team with 57. The Black & Gold finished third place in the Western Conference and advanced to the Knockout Round of the Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs, before being eliminated by Real Salt Lake on November 1.
Transaction: Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) re-signs midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye.
