
Name
Nkosi TafariPronunciation
n-KOH-si tuh-far-eyeHeight
6' 4"Weight
192 lbsDate of Birth
3.23.1997 (29)Birthplace
Manhattan, NY, USAPosition
DefenderRoster Category
Senior2025 (Los Angeles Football Club)
came on when Aaron Long suffered a season-ending injury vs. DAL on 7/12/25, then made 19 straight starts to end the season, including Leagues Cup and MLS Cup Playoffs
in 14 of those 19 starts, LAFC conceded one or zero goals, including five clean sheets
overall, started 20 of 25 MLS regular-season appearances, logging 1,833 minutes
appeared in three MLS Cup Playoff matches (157 minutes)
logged 270 minutes in Leagues Cup (three matches) and appeared in three Concacaf Champions Cup matches
2024 (FC Dallas)
- appeared in 28 matches (25 starts), logging 2,251 minutes and scoring three goals
2023 (FC Dallas)
- appeared in 30 matches (27 starts), recording 2,489 minutes, with three goals and three assists
2022 (FC Dallas)
- appeared in 27 matches (11 starts), recording 1,326 minutes
2021 (FC Dallas)
appeared in 22 matches (21 starts), recording 1,824 minutes, with one goal and one assist
drafted 14th overall by FC Dallas in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft
INTERNATIONAL
- earned an invitation to the U.S. National Team January Training Camp in January 2024
COLLEGE
began his college career at UConn (University of Connecticut), making 46 appearances between 2016 and 2018, scoring one goal and tallying one assist
played his senior season (2019) at Seattle University, making 20 appearances and again tallying a single goal and an assist
named WAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 and United Soccer Coaches All-Region First Team
PERSONAL
goes by his middle name, Tafari, which means “he who inspires awe” in Amharic
fashion and style enthusiast

