BIOGRAPHY
Kellyn Acosta was born July 24, 1995, in Plano, Texas. He is a midfielder in Major League Soccer.
Acosta played for the FC Dallas Development Academy and was committed to playing soccer at the University of Maryland prior to becoming a homegrown signing in July 2012 (although he was not eligible for selection until the 2013 season). He did make three MLS Reserve League appearances. He was named U.S. Soccer Development Academy Central Conference Player of the Year in 2011–12. Acosta made his first-team debut in a 3–0 loss at Seattle in August 2013. He made nine consecutive starts from August to October of that season. His 2014 season was interrupted by a knee injury. He initially played fullback for the club, but eventually transitioned to a starting role as a defensive midfielder in 2015.
On July 23, 2018, Acosta was traded to the Colorado Rapids in exchange for Dominique Badji. Acosta started all 12 league matches after joining Colorado, scoring two goals and adding three assists in Burgundy. On Feb. 20, 2019, Acosta signed a three-year contract extension keeping him in Colorado through 2021, with club options for 2022 and 2023. Acosta enjoyed similar success in 2019, making 30 MLS starts and playing 2,619 minutes, both career highs, while adding two goals and two assists. In a pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Acosta scored two goals and added one assist as he made 14 starts among 15 league appearances. Acosta scored Colorado's playoff-clinching goal in a 1-0 win at Portland Timbers on Nov. 4. Acosta started and played 81 minutes in Colorado's MLS Cup Playoff first-round loss to Minnesota United FC.
On January 14, 2022, Acosta was acquired by Los Angeles FC from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for $1.1 million in General Allocation Money.
Acosta reached the MLS Final with LAFC, scoring the first goal of the game to help life LAFC their fist ever MLS Cup.
