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.

Early life
Born in Toronto, Franklin began playing soccer at age four with Beach Community Soccer. Shortly after he began to play with Power Soccer Academy. 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. He later returned to Toronto, joining the Toronto FC Academy in February 2017.

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.

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. He made his debut for Toronto FC II on May 22, 2021, against North Texas SC. He scored his first professional goal on August 18 against Forward Madison. 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. For the 2021 season, he was named a league First Team All-Star and was a finalist for both the USL League One Young Player of the Year and Defender of the Year awards. He was subsequently invited to training camp with the first team ahead of the 2022 season (and once again for the 2023 season).

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

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