Aboubacar Keita
{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Distinguish|Aboubakar Keita}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Aboubacar Keita
| image = File:Aboubacar Keita (soccer).jpg
| caption = Keita with the United States U20 in 2019
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2000|4|6}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York, United States
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}{{cite web |title=Aboubacar Keita |url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/players/aboubacar-keita/ |access-date=22 August 2022 |publisher=Colorado Rapids}}
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Kalmar FF
| clubnumber = 47
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2016
| youthclubs1 = Santos Columbus FC
| youthyears2 = 2016–2018
| youthclubs2 = Columbus Crew
| collegeyears1 = 2018
| college1 = Virginia Cavaliers
| collegecaps1 = 17
| collegegoals1 = 1
| years1 = 2019–2021
| clubs1 = Columbus Crew
| caps1 = 37
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2019
| clubs2 = → Richmond Kickers (loan)
| caps2 = 3
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022–2024
| clubs3 = Colorado Rapids
| caps3 = 0
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023
| clubs4 = Colorado Rapids 2
| caps4 = 8
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2024
| clubs5 = → Bohemians (loan)
| caps5 = 16
| goals5 = 1
| years6 = 2024
| clubs6 = Columbus Crew 2
| caps6 = 7
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2025–
| clubs7 = Kalmar FF
| caps7 = 3
| goals7 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2019
| nationalteam1 = United States U20
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 12:57, 8 January 2025 (UTC)
| ntupdate =
}}
Aboubacar Kobele Keita (born April 6, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Kalmar FF.
Keita was born in New York City but grew up in Ohio, attending Westerville North High School and playing for the Crew SC Academy. After just one year in college at Virginia, he signed with Columbus Crew as the 12th Homegrown Player in club history. Keita made his professional debut in 2019 while on loan to Richmond Kickers in USL League One.
Early life
Although he was born in New York City, Keita was raised in Guinea, moved to Westerville, Ohio, at the age of 10 and attended Westerville North High School. As a sophomore, he was named Honorable Mention All-Ohio Capital Conference while primarily playing as a forward.{{cite web |url=https://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/sports/2015/11/06/All-OCC-boys-soccer.html |title=OCC releases all-league teams |website=ThisWeekNews.com |publisher=GateHouseMedia |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=November 6, 2015}} He joined the Crew Academy in 2016, playing in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy for the U16/17 and U18/19 teams and scoring once in 43 appearances.{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Pat |url=https://www.massivereport.com/2019/1/22/18193173/columbus-crew-officially-signs-aboubacar-keita-to-homegrown-contract-mls-2019 |title=Crew officially signs Aboubacar Keita to Homegrown contract |website=MassiveReport.com |publisher=SB Nation |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=January 22, 2019}} Keita also trained with the Crew's first team and played against Charleston Battery at the 2018 Carolina Challenge Cup.{{cite web |last=Hudak |first=Nick |url=https://www.massivereport.com/2019/2/1/18202036/aboubacar-keita-homegrown-columbus-crew-sc-mls-2019-happy-to-be-home |title=Keita is happy to be home, ready to get to work with the Crew |website=MassiveReport.com |publisher=SB Nation |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=February 1, 2019}}
In January 2018, Keita took part in his first international camp, training with an assembled United States U19 national team in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.{{cite web |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2017/12/29/17/28/20171229-news-ynt-first-ever-us-soccer-mens-ynt-summit-brings-153-players-together-in-single-camp |title=First ever U.S. Soccer men's YNT summit brings 153 players together in single camp |website=USSoccer.com |publisher=U.S. Soccer Federation |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=January 4, 2018}} Later that month, he committed to play collegiately for coach George Gelnovatch at the University of Virginia.{{cite web |last=Shealer |first=Sheldon |url=https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/high-school-soccer-article/recruiting-roundup:-jan-29-feb-4_aid43754 |title=Recruiting Roundup: Jan. 29-Feb. 4 |website=TopDrawerSoccer.com |publisher=TopDrawerSoccer |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=January 29, 2018}}
College
Keita made his debut for Virginia on August 24, 2018, starting the season-opener against nationally ranked New Hampshire. He played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 victory over the Wildcats.{{cite web |url=https://virginiasports.com/news/2018/8/24/mens-soccer-bell-scores-game-winner-in-closing-seconds-for-season-opening-win.aspx |title=Bell Scores Game-Winner in Closing Seconds for Season Opening Win |website=VirginiaSports.com |publisher=Virginia Athletics |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=August 24, 2018}} On September 28, he scored his first collegiate goal as part of a 2–0 victory against Pittsburgh.{{cite web |last=Shiers |first=Mike |url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/39197105/11-uva-mens-soccer-team-beats-pitt-2-0-to-remain-undefeated |title=#11 UVa Men's Soccer Team Beats Pitt 2-0 to Remain Undefeated |website=NBC29.com |publisher=WVIR-TV NBC 29 |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=September 28, 2018}} Keita appeared in all three postseason games for the Cavaliers, although they lost in the first round of the ACC Men's Soccer Tournament and were eliminated in the third round of the NCAA tournament.{{cite web |url=https://virginiasports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=6023 |title=Aboubacar Keita – Virginia profile |website=VirginiaSports.com |publisher=Virginia Athletics |accessdate=February 19, 2019}} After concluding his lone collegiate season with one goal in 17 appearances, Keita was named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Freshman Team{{cite web |last=Shiers |first=Mike |url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/39442498/cavaliers-place-six-on-mens-soccer-all-acc-teams |title=Cavaliers Place Six on Men's Soccer All-ACC Teams |website=NBC29.com |publisher=WVIR-TV NBC 29 |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=November 7, 2018}} and earned an invite to a camp for the United States U20 national team.{{cite web |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/01/04/16/10/20190104-news-u20mnt-u19mnt-u17mnt-three-team-training-camp-kicks-off-2019-for-mynt |title=Three-team training camp kicks of 2019 for U.S. men's youth national teams |website=USSoccer.com |publisher=U.S. Soccer Federation |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=January 4, 2019}}
Club career
=Columbus Crew=
== 2019: Professional signing, loan to Richmond, and return to Columbus ==
On January 22, 2019, Keita was announced as the 12th Homegrown Player (HGP) signing in Columbus Crew history. He became the third HGP on the roster for Columbus' 2019 season, joining Wil Trapp and Alex Crognale.{{cite web |author=Patrick Guldan and Pat Murphy |url=https://www.massivereport.com/2019/1/21/18191566/columbus-crew-aboubacar-keita-mls-homegrown-contract-2019 |title=Crew signs Aboubacar Keita to Homegrown contract |website=MassiveReport.com |publisher=SB Nation |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=January 21, 2019}} Keita had attended his first Crew game at the age of 12 and as a Crew Academy player had previously trained with the first team in prior years.{{cite web |last=Jardy |first=Adam |url=https://www.dispatch.com/sports/20190126/crew-sc--just-18-defender-aboubacar-keita-learning-ropes |title=Just 18, defender Aboubacar Keita learning the ropes |website=Dispatch.com |publisher=GateHouse Media |accessdate=February 19, 2019 |date=January 26, 2019}}
In a bid to get acclimated to the professional game, Keita was sent on loan to USL League One club Richmond Kickers on March 6, 2019. The loan was for the duration of the 2019 USL League One season, with Columbus able to recall him at any point during the year.{{cite web|last=Wood|first=Patrick|date=March 6, 2019|title=Aboubacar Keita joins Richmond on loan from Columbus Crew SC|url=https://www.richmondkickers.com/news_article/show/1001795|website=RichmondKickers.com|publisher=Richmond Kickers|accessdate=March 25, 2019}} Although he began the season back in Columbus, recuperating from an injury suffered while on international duty,{{cite web|last=Reynolds|first=Nathan|date=April 23, 2019|title=Three takeaways from the Richmond Kickers' 1-0 victory over Greenville|url=https://www.bgn.fm/three-takeaways-from-the-richmond-kickers-1-0-victory-over-greenville/|website=BGN.fm|publisher=Beautiful Game Network|quote=The club confirmed today that Keita is still in Columbus with the Crew as he recovers from an injury sustained with the USMNT U-20.|accessdate=April 27, 2019}} Keita made his professional debut on April 27. Against Chattanooga Red Wolves, he replaced Scott Thomsen in the 77th minute and helped Richmond see out a 1–0 victory.{{cite web|last=Wood|first=Patrick|date=April 27, 2019|title=Kickers down Chattanooga for second straight win|url=https://www.richmondkickers.com/news_article/show/1016365|website=RichmondKickers.com|publisher=Richmond Kickers|accessdate=April 27, 2019}}
After suffering an injury during the U20 World Cup, Keita returned to Columbus from his loan to Richmond. On July 3, he made his debut for Columbus with a midweek start against Real Salt Lake.{{cite web|last=Hintz|first=Abigail|url=https://www.massivereport.com/2019/7/3/20680154/caleb-porter-using-three-game-stretch-to-build-depth-for-columbus-crew-mls-2019-aboubacar-keita|title=Caleb Porter using three-game stretch to build depth for the Crew|website=MassiveReport.com|publisher=SB Nation|accessdate=July 4, 2019|date=July 3, 2019}} Keita went on to make 10 appearances throughout the season for Columbus.
==2020: Covid-19 pandemic and a shortened season==
Before COVID-19 pandemic derailed the initial start to the 2020 MLS season, Keita started and played 90 minutes in one of Columbus's two games. He started and played 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw with the Seattle Sounders.{{Cite web|title=Seattle Sounders vs. Columbus Crew - 8 March 2020 - Soccerway|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/03/08/united-states/mls/seattle-sounders-fc/columbus-crew/3195768/|website=int.soccerway.com|access-date=2020-05-29}} Keita went on to make a total of 13 appearances for Columbus during the Covid-shortened 2020 season, 12 appearances during the regular season and 1 appearance during the playoffs.{{Cite web|title=USA - A. Keita - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway|url=https://us.soccerway.com/players/aboubacar-keita/496419/|access-date=2021-05-04|website=us.soccerway.com}} Keita was part of the team that won MLS Cup 2020.
==2021==
Keita made his debut for Columbus during the 2021 season by starting in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League game against Real Estelí; helping Columbus to a 1–0 win. He subsequently went on to start and play 90 minutes during the MLS regular season 0–0 draw against CF Montréal.{{Cite web|date=May 4, 2021|title=Aboubacar Keita|url=https://www.columbuscrewsc.com/players/aboubacar-keita|access-date=May 4, 2021|website=Columbus Crew}}
=Colorado Rapids=
==2022: Trade to the Rapids and ACL tear==
On January 5, 2022, Keita was traded to Colorado Rapids in exchange for $300,000 in General Allocation Money, with Columbus potentially receiving an additional $150,000 should Keita reach certain performance marks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-acquire-defender-aboubacar-keita-from-columbus-crew|title=Colorado Rapids acquire defender Aboubacar Keita from Columbus Crew | MLSSoccer.com|website=mlssoccer}} It was announced on March 10 that Keita had undergone successful ACL surgery on his right knee, which put him out the entirety of the 2022 MLS season.{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |title=Colorado Rapids defender Aboubacar Keita out with torn ACL {{!}} MLSSoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/colorado-rapids-defender-aboubacar-keita-out-with-torn-acl |access-date=2022-11-05 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}
==Bohemians loan==
On 22 February 2024, Keita was loaned to League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians on a one-year loan deal.{{cite web | url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-loan-aboubacar-keita-to-bohemian-fc | title=Colorado Rapids loan Aboubacar Keita to Bohemian FC }} He scored 1 goal in 16 appearances for the club during his loan spell and on 15 August 2024, it was announced that the loan spell had been mutually terminated, with his parent club Colorado Rapids also releasing Keita as a Free agent.{{cite web | url=https://www.coloradorapids.com/news/colorado-rapids-waive-defender-aboubacar-keita | title=Colorado Rapids waive defender Aboubacar Keita }}
=Columbus Crew 2=
In August 2024, Keita signed with Columbus Crew 2 in the MLS Next Pro.https://www.mlsnextpro.com/players/aboubacar-keita/
International career
File:Francia-usa-49.jpg, Chad Barson, Matt Wiet, and Ben Swanson.]]
After earning previous camp call-ups for the United States U17, U18, and U19 national teams, Keita earned his first youth caps with the United States U20 team in March 2019. In the team's final camp ahead of the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he came off the bench against France on March 22 and provided Christian Cappis with a match-tying assist in second-half stoppage time;{{cite web |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/03/25/19/13/20190322-recap-u20mnt-vs-france |title=Second-half comeback boosts U-20 MNT to 2–2 draw with France |website=USSoccer.com |publisher=United States Soccer Federation |accessdate=March 25, 2019 |date=March 22, 2019}} Keita also started three days later against Japan.{{cite web |url=https://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2019/03/25/16/29/20190325-recap-u20mnt-vs-japan |title=U.S. U-20 MNT takes down Japan 2–1 in Spain |website=USSoccer.com |publisher=United States Soccer Federation |accessdate=March 25, 2019 |date=March 25, 2019}} On May 10, he was named to the final roster for the tournament by head coach Tab Ramos.{{cite web |last=Murphy |first=Pat |url=https://www.massivereport.com/2019/5/10/18564315/columbus-crews-aboubacar-keita-called-up-to-2019-fifa-u-20-world-cup-u-s-a-team |title=Crew's Aboubacar Keita called up to 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup U.S. team |website=MassiveReport.com |publisher=SB Nation |accessdate=May 11, 2019 |date=May 10, 2019}} Keita started all five games for the United States, playing every minute of the tournament until being subbed off in the 86th minute of the team's quarterfinal match against Ecuador.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/match/400010617/#match-lineups|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517053751/https://www.fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/match/400010617/#match-lineups|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 17, 2019|title=United States 1–2 Ecuador|website=FIFA.com|publisher=FIFA|accessdate=June 13, 2019|date=June 8, 2019}} Throughout the tournament, he was noted to be sound defensively but struggled with distribution.{{cite web|last=Murphy|first=Pat|url=https://www.massivereport.com/2019/6/9/18658571/columbus-crew-sc-aboubacar-keita-united-states-under-20-world-cup-2019|title=The highs and lows of Aboubacar Keita's U-20 World Cup|website=MassiveReport.com|publisher=SB Nation|accessdate=June 13, 2019|date=June 9, 2019}}{{cite web|last=Doyle|first=Matthew|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/06/13/armchair-analyst-u-20s-post-mortem-and-whats-come-usmnt|title=Armchair Analyst: U-20s post-mortem, and what's to come for the USMNT|website=MLSSoccer.com|publisher=Major League Soccer|accessdate=June 14, 2019|date=June 13, 2019}}{{cite web|last=Muncy|first=Alex|url=https://www.starsandstripesfc.com/2019/6/12/18658997/usa-u-20-2019-world-cup-post-mortem|title=USA U-20 2019 World Cup: Post Mortem|website=StarsandStripesFC.com|publisher=SB Nation|accessdate=June 14, 2019|date=June 12, 2019}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played on 2 November 2024|{{Soccerway|aboubacar-keita/496419|accessdate=May 29, 2020}}{{MLS player|aboubacar-keita}}}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National cup !colspan=2|Continental !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="4"|Columbus Crew
|2019 |rowspan="3"|Major League Soccer |10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 10 | 0 | |||
| 2020
|11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | 1{{efn|Appearance in MLS is Back Tournament knockout stage}} | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| 2021
|16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions League|name=CCL}} | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearance in Campeones Cup|name=CMP}} | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41 | 0 | |
| Richmond Kickers (loan)
|2019 |3 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan=2|– | 3 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Colorado Rapids
|2022 |rowspan="3"|Major League Soccer |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2023
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2024
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 0 | 0 | |||
| Colorado Rapids 2
|2023 |8 | 0 | colspan=2|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 8 | 0 | ||||
| Bohemians (loan)
|2024 |League of Ireland Premier Division |16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 16 | 1 | |||
| Columbus Crew 2
|2024 |7 | 1 | colspan=2|– | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 7 | 1 | ||||
| colspan=3|Career total
!69 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 73 | 2 |
{{notelist}}
Honors
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{USL League One player|aboubacar-keita}}
- {{Soccerway|aboubacar-keita/496419}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Keita, Aboubacar}}
Category:American people of Guinean descent
Category:Sportspeople of Guinean descent
Category:American men's soccer players
Category:Soccer players from Columbus, Ohio
Category:Soccer players from New York City
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer players
Category:Columbus Crew players
Category:Richmond Kickers players
Category:Colorado Rapids players
Category:Colorado Rapids 2 players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Columbus Crew 2 players
Category:USL League One players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:United States men's under-20 international soccer players