Kobe Franklin

Kobe Lloyd Franklin (born May 10, 2003) is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a defender for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer.

Kobe Franklin
Personal information
Full name Kobe Lloyd Franklin
Date of birth (2003-05-10) May 10, 2003
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Toronto FC
Number 19
Youth career
Beach Community Soccer
Power Soccer
Evanston SC
2012–2016 Chicago Fire FC
2017–2021 Toronto FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018 Toronto FC III 1 (1)
2021–2022 Toronto FC II 44 (4)
2022 → Toronto FC (loan) 1 (0)
2023– Toronto FC 27 (0)
International career‡
2019 Canada U17 2 (0)
2022– Canada U20 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 21, 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 26, 2022

Early life

Born in Toronto, Franklin began playing soccer at age four with Beach Community Soccer.[1][2] Shortly after he began to play with Power Soccer Academy.[3] When he was 9, his family moved to Chicago, where he began playing with Evanston SC before quickly joining the academy of Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.[3] He later returned to Toronto, joining the Toronto FC Academy in February 2017.[4]

Club career

He made his senior debut playing for the Senior Academy team, Toronto FC III, on August 19, 2018, in League1 Ontario against Ottawa South United, scoring a 94th minute goal, becoming the youngest ever goal scorer in League1 Ontario at the age of 15 years, 3 months.[5]

On May 13, 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II of USL League One to join the team for the 2021 season.[4] He made his debut for Toronto FC II on May 22, 2021, against North Texas SC.[6] He scored his first professional goal on August 18 against Forward Madison.[7] On October 1, he recorded two assists and set up a third goal (although was not credited with a third assist) in a 3–0 victory over North Carolina FC.[8] For the 2021 season, he was a finalist for both the USL League One Young Player of the Year and Defender of the Year awards.[9] He was subsequently invited to training camp with the first team ahead of the 2022 season (and once again for the 2023 season).[10]

On April 1, 2022, he joined the first team, Toronto FC on a short-term four-day loan.[11] He signed additional four day loans on April 23, May 4, and May 7.[12][13][14] He made his Major League Soccer debut on May 4, as a second half substitute against FC Cincinnati.[15] In February 2023, he signed a two-year homegrown player contract with two option years with Toronto FC.[16][17] After a few substitute appearances, Franklin made his first start on April 29 against New York City FC.[18]

International career

Franklin represented the Canada U17 team at the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[19] In June 2022, he was named to the Canadian U-20 team for the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.[20]

Career statistics
As of match played October 21, 2023[21]
Club Season League Playoffs National Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Toronto FC III 2018[22] League1 Ontario 11———0011
Toronto FC II 2021 USL League One 242————242
2022 MLS Next Pro 20220———222
Total 44420000000460
Toronto FC (loan) 2022 Major League Soccer 10—00——10
Toronto FC 2023 2700010—1[lower-alpha 1]0290
Total 28000100010300
Career total 73520100010775
  1. Appearance in Leagues Cup

References
  1. Kobe Franklin at the Canadian Soccer Association
  2. Vigliano, Ricardo (October 9, 2019). "Kobe Franklin, who started his soccer career in the Beach, set to suit up for Canada at FIFA U-17 World Cup in Brazil". Beach Metro Community News.
  3. Franklin, Kobe. "My Story". Kobe Franklin.
  4. "Toronto FC II Sign Kobe Franklin". Toronto FC. May 13, 2021.
  5. Whyte, Kacian (August 20, 2018). "TFC III Roll Over OSU 4-0 As Franklin Makes History". League1 Ontario.
  6. "North Texas SC Falls 2-1 Away to Toronto FC II". FC Dallas. May 22, 2021.
  7. Steiner, Ben (August 19, 2021). "A Resilient Group: TFC II level twice to claim a point in Wisconsin". Waking the Red.
  8. Schnittker, Nicholas (October 1, 2021). "Trio of rapid second-half goals sinks North Carolina FC in Toronto". Technician.
  9. "Franklin racks up two nominations for USL League One Awards". Toronto FC. November 9, 2021.
  10. Molinaro, John (March 10, 2023). "TFC's Kobe Franklin: 'Never any doubts in my mind I could play at this level so soon'". TFC Republic.
  11. "Toronto FC sign defender Kobe Franklin to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. April 1, 2022.
  12. "Toronto FC sign Antonoglou and Franklin to short-term agreement". Toronto FC. April 23, 2022.
  13. "Toronto FC sign Antonoglou, Franklin, Rothrock and Yeates to short-term agreements". Toronto FC. May 4, 2022.
  14. "Toronto adds Antonoglou, Franklin, Rothrock and Yeates to weekend roster". Toronto FC. May 7, 2022.
  15. "Depleted Toronto FC concede early, drop 3rd straight in shutout loss to Cincinnati FC". CBC Sports. May 4, 2022.
  16. "Toronto FC Sign Homegrown Defender Kobe Franklin". Toronto FC. February 24, 2023.
  17. Molinaro, John (February 24, 2023). "Transaction tracker: TFC adds defender Kobe Franklin to roster". TFC Republic.
  18. Molinaro, John (May 3, 2023). "Kobe Franklin rose to the occasion in his first start for TFC". TFC Republic.
  19. Molinaro, John (October 25, 2019). "What you need to know: Canada at the U-17 FIFA World Cup". Canadian Premier League.
  20. "Canada announces squad for Concacaf Men's Under-20 Championship". Toronto FC. June 10, 2022.
  21. Kobe Franklin at Soccerway
  22. "Kobe Franklin 2018 Stats". League1 Ontario.
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