Weston McKennie facts for kids
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McKennie with the United States in 2019
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Weston James Earl McKennie | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | August 28, 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Fort Lewis, Washington, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Juventus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 16 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2009 | FC Phönix Otterbach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2016 | FC Dallas | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Schalke 04 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2021 | Schalke 04 | 75 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | → Juventus (loan) | 21 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Juventus | 115 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | → Leeds United (loan) | 19 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | United States U17 | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | United States U19 | 9 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | United States U20 | 2 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017– | United States | 60 | (11) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of May 25, 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 23, 2025 |
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Weston James Earl McKennie (born August 28, 1998) is an American professional soccer player. He plays mainly as a midfielder for the Italian club Juventus and the United States national team. People often describe him as a "Swiss Army knife" because he can play many different positions. He can play in the middle of the field, on the sides, or even in defense.
McKennie started his youth career at FC Dallas. He then began his senior club career at Bundesliga team Schalke 04 in Germany. He quickly became a key player there. After three seasons, McKennie moved to the Italian champions Juventus. He first joined on loan, and then the move became permanent in March 2021. With Juventus, he has won the Italian Super Cup in 2020 and the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) in 2021 and 2024.
Weston McKennie has played for the United States at both youth and senior levels. He made his debut for the senior national team in 2017. He helped his team finish second in the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He also won the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021, 2023, and 2024. He was even named the best player of the 2021 tournament. In 2020, he won the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year award.
Contents
Early Life and Youth Career
Weston McKennie was born in Fort Lewis, Washington. However, he considers Little Elm, Texas, his hometown. He lived in Kaiserslautern, Germany, from age six to nine. This was because his father, a United States Air Force officer, was stationed nearby.
McKennie started playing soccer for a local German club, FC Phönix Otterbach, in 2004. After returning to the United States, he joined the youth system of Major League Soccer team FC Dallas. He played there for seven years, from 2009 to 2016. He then moved back to Germany to join Schalke. His move to Schalke was a big reason why FC Dallas created their reserve team, North Texas SC.
In 2016, McKennie decided to become a professional player. He turned down a scholarship offer to play for the University of Virginia.
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Schalke 04
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In July 2016, McKennie chose not to sign a contract with FC Dallas. Instead, he joined the German club FC Schalke 04 in August 2016. He spent less than a year with Schalke's youth team before moving up to the main squad in May 2017.
He played his first professional game on May 20, 2017. He came on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw. This was his only game during the 2016–17 season. In September 2017, McKennie started his first game and signed a five-year contract. During the 2017–18 season, he became a regular player for Schalke at just 19 years old. He played 22 games in the German league. He showed how useful he was by playing in many different positions in midfield and defense.
In the 2018–19 season, McKennie played even more games. He started 25 matches in the German league, cup, and UEFA Champions League. He scored his first Champions League goal in a 1–0 win against Lokomotiv Moscow. In total, he played 33 games and scored 2 goals that season.
Under a new coach, David Wagner, McKennie continued to be a key player for Schalke. He played 28 games and scored three goals in the German league during the 2019–20 season. He also played four cup games. On May 30, 2020, McKennie wore an armband that said “Justice for George” during a game. This showed his support for social justice.
Moving to Juventus
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On August 29, 2020, McKennie joined the Italian club Juventus on a one-year loan. He became the first American player for Juventus. The deal allowed Juventus to buy him permanently later. On September 7, he was given the number 14 jersey.
McKennie played his first league game for Juventus on September 20, 2020. He played the whole game in a 3–0 win. He made his Champions League debut for Juventus in a game against Barcelona. On November 1, he got his first assist for Juventus. On December 5, McKennie scored his first goal for Juventus in a derby match against Torino. Juventus won that game 2–1. Three days later, he scored his first Champions League goal for Juventus with a scissor kick against Barcelona. This helped his team win 3–0 and finish first in their group. On January 6, 2021, McKennie scored against league leaders Milan in a 3–1 away win. This was Milan's first league loss in 27 games.
On March 3, 2021, Juventus officially bought McKennie on a four-year contract. He started for Juventus in the Italian Cup Final against Atalanta. He helped his team win 2–1 by assisting the first goal. McKennie finished the 2020–21 season with six goals in 46 games.
Later Seasons with Juventus
McKennie scored his first goal of the 2021–22 season on October 27, 2021. He scored again three days later. On January 12, 2022, he scored the first goal in the 2021 Supercoppa Italiana match, which Juventus lost. In February 2022, McKennie got injured during a Champions League game. This injury meant he had to end his season early.
Loan to Leeds United
On January 30, 2023, McKennie joined the English team Leeds United on loan. He played for them for the rest of the 2022–23 season. He made his debut on February 5, 2023. He played 20 games for Leeds but did not score any goals. Leeds United was unfortunately moved down to a lower league at the end of the season.
Return to Juventus
After his loan at Leeds, McKennie returned to Juventus for the 2023–24 season. He was given the number 16 jersey. On September 16, 2023, he played his 100th game for Juventus. He also made an assist in a 3–1 win.
He became a regular starter in the Juventus midfield again. On December 23, he made an assist in a 2–1 win. In January 2024, McKennie made two assists in a 4–0 cup win. He continued to provide assists in league games in January and February. On March 10, he made two more assists in a 2–2 draw. On April 2, 2024, he made his 10th assist of the season. This helped Juventus reach the Italian Cup final. McKennie played the whole game in the 2024 Coppa Italia final, which Juventus won 1–0. This was his second Italian Cup trophy.
On August 22, 2024, McKennie signed a new contract with Juventus until 2026. On September 17, he scored in the club's first Champions League game, a 3–1 win. He scored again on October 30 in a league game. On December 11, he scored a volley goal in a 2–0 Champions League win. In February 2025, he scored against PSV again in the Champions League knockout stage.
International Career
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McKennie has played for various United States youth teams, including the under-17 and under-20 teams. He was called up to the senior national team for the first time on November 14, 2017. He scored a goal in his very first game against Portugal.
His first international assist came in the opening game of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup against Guyana. The U.S. won that game 4–0. McKennie scored the only goal for the U.S. on June 30, 2019, in a 1–0 win against Curaçao. He scored his second goal in the semi-finals against Jamaica.
On October 12, 2019, McKennie scored the fastest hat-trick (three goals in one game) in the history of the U.S. men's national team. He scored three goals in just thirteen minutes against Cuba.
On June 6, 2021, McKennie scored an important goal in the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Final against Mexico. His goal made the score 2–2, sending the game into extra time. The United States eventually won 3–2, and McKennie was named the Player of the Tournament.
In September 2021, McKennie was temporarily removed from the national team. This was because he did not follow team rules during the World Cup qualifying games.
He helped the United States win the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League against Canada. He also won the 2024 CONCACAF Nations League against Mexico. In the 2024 final, he assisted the opening goal.
In June 2024, McKennie and some of his U.S. teammates faced unfair treatment after a game.
How He Plays
McKennie is known for being a very flexible player. When he was at Schalke, he played in many different spots. These included midfield, defense, and even as a striker. He is also good at long throw-ins, using a special technique. However, he usually plays as a midfielder who covers a lot of ground or as a defensive midfielder.
At Juventus, he has played in several midfield roles. These include playing wide, holding a defensive position, or being a more attacking central midfielder. His main strengths are his defensive skills and how hard he works. He is very good at winning the ball back from opponents. He also has good passing skills, which help him move the ball forward from deep in the midfield.
Experts have compared him to famous midfielders like Edgar Davids and Arturo Vidal. They praise his ability to win the ball, his smart positioning, and his eye for scoring goals. While he is very strong in these areas, some say his technical skills could still improve.
Personal Life
Weston McKennie has been a big fan of the Wizarding World since he was six years old. He has a Harry Potter lightning bolt tattoo. When he scores a goal, he often celebrates by waving his hand as if casting a spell.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Schalke 04 | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 22 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| 2018–19 | Bundesliga | 24 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 33 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20 | Bundesliga | 28 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 3 | |||
| Total | 75 | 4 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 91 | 5 | |||
| Juventus (loan) | 2020–21 | Serie A | 21 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 5 |
| Juventus | 2020–21 | Serie A | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 | 1 | |
| 2021–22 | Serie A | 21 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 4 | |
| 2022–23 | Serie A | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | 21 | 3 | ||
| 2023–24 | Serie A | 34 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2024–25 | Serie A | 32 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 5 | |
| Total | 115 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 151 | 13 | ||
| Leeds United (loan) | 2022–23 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 230 | 15 | 24 | 0 | 34 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 295 | 23 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2017 | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 12 | 5 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 60 | 11 | |
- Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each McKennie goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 14, 2017 | Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal |  Portugal |
1–0 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 2 | June 30, 2019 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, United States |  Curaçao |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 3 | July 3, 2019 | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States |  Jamaica |
1–0 | 3–1 | 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup |
| 4 | October 11, 2019 | Audi Field, Washington, D.C., United States |  Cuba |
1–0 | 7–0 | 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 5 | 2–0 | |||||
| 6 | 4–0 | |||||
| 7 | June 6, 2021 | Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, United States |  Mexico |
2–2 | 3–2 (aet) | 2021 CONCACAF Nations League Finals |
| 8 | November 12, 2021 | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States | Mexico |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9 | February 2, 2022 | Allianz Field, Saint Paul, United States |  Honduras |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | March 24, 2023 | Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George's, Grenada |  Grenada |
3–0 | 7–1 | 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League A |
| 11 | 4–1 |
Awards and Achievements
With Juventus
- Coppa Italia: 2021, 2024
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2020
With United States National Team
- CONCACAF Nations League: 2020, 2023, 2024
- CONCACAF Gold Cup runner-up: 2019
Individual Awards
- U.S. Soccer Player of the Year: 2020
- CONCACAF Nations League Player of the Tournament: 2020
- CONCACAF Awards Best XI: 2021
- CONCACAF Nations League Finals Best XI: 2021, 2024
- IFFHS Men's CONCACAF Team: 2020, 2024
See also
In Spanish: Weston McKennie para niños
