Akil Watts Bio
Akil Amen-Diop Watts is an American professional soccer player who plays as a right-back for St. Louis City in Major League Soccer. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, he wears the number 20 jersey and is recognized as a homegrown defender who developed through the United States youth system before moving to Spain and later returning to the American professional ranks.
Watts first drew national attention as a teenager with the United States under-17 national team and has since built a career that spans Major League Soccer, MLS Next Pro, and the USL Championship. His journey from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to top-flight American soccer reflects steady development at every level of the game.
Early Life and Background
Akil Amen-Diop Watts was born on February 4, 2000, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in the United States. Growing up in the Midwest, he was introduced to organized soccer at a young age and quickly progressed through regional and developmental programs in the American soccer pipeline.
As a teenager, Watts enrolled at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, one of the country’s most prominent soccer development centers. He spent the formative years of his youth career there between 2015 and 2017, training under professional-level coaching and competing against elite youth players from across the country.
His performances at IMG earned him a move to the Portland Timbers Academy, where he continued to refine his game as a defender. That period laid the foundation for his international recognition and his eventual transition into professional soccer abroad.
Path to Soccer
Watts’ path to professional soccer accelerated when he joined the Portland Timbers Academy. The club’s developmental setup gave him regular high-level competition and exposed him to scouts from across the world. His play at the youth level caught the attention of international clubs and national team coaches.
In 2016, he was called up to the United States under-17 national team, joining a generation that would later represent the country at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. These tournaments served as his springboard into the professional game.
After the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Watts signed a professional contract with Spanish La Liga side RCD Mallorca, a significant step that took him from American youth soccer to one of Europe’s top leagues. The move validated his rapid development and signaled his potential as a future first-team professional.
Akil Watts Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Watts began his senior career in Spain after linking up with RCD Mallorca’s system. He spent the 2018–2019 period developing with Mallorca’s youth and reserve teams, adapting to the tactical and technical demands of Spanish football while training alongside senior professionals.
He made his first senior appearances with Mallorca B in 2019, marking his official transition from youth to professional football. Though his time in Spain was brief, the experience sharpened his defensive reading of the game and prepared him for the next stage of his career in the United States.
Louisville City FC Breakthrough (2019–2021)
On August 6, 2019, Watts signed with Louisville City FC of the USL Championship, returning to American soccer after his spell in Spain. Louisville had built a reputation as one of the top second-division clubs in the country, providing an ideal environment for a young defender seeking regular minutes.
Watts made his professional debut on August 30, 2019, starting and playing 56 minutes in a 1–1 draw against Indy Eleven. The appearance marked a milestone in his career, as he transitioned from youth prospect to active professional.
He spent two seasons with Louisville City, contributing as a right-back in the USL Championship. Following the 2021 season, the club opted to decline its contract option on Watts, making him a free agent and opening the door for a move into the Major League Soccer system.
St. Louis City Era (2022–Present)
In 2022, Watts signed with St. Louis City 2, the MLS Next Pro affiliate of the newly formed St. Louis City SC, joining the club for its inaugural season. His consistent performances at the developmental level earned him a first-team opportunity later that year.
Watts signed with St. Louis City SC in Major League Soccer in November 2022, becoming part of the roster for the club’s debut MLS campaign in 2023. He has since remained with the organization, continuing to feature for both the senior side and the reserve team while wearing the number 20 shirt.
His current role with St. Louis City represents the longest stable stretch of his professional career, and he continues to compete for minutes in Major League Soccer as the club establishes itself as a new expansion side.
Driving Style and Strengths
Watts plays as a right-back, a position that requires a balance of defensive solidity, tactical awareness, and the ability to contribute to attacking play down the flank. His time at IMG Academy and with the United States youth teams helped shape a defender comfortable with both one-on-one defending and overlapping runs in the final third.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Watts’ early career came at the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he started for the United States in three matches, including the 5–0 Round of 16 victory over Paraguay and the 4–1 quarter-final defeat against England. His professional debut with Louisville City FC in 2019 and his subsequent MLS signing with St. Louis City SC in 2022 marked further career milestones.
Akil Watts Career Highlights
Across his time with Mallorca B, Louisville City FC, St. Louis City 2, and St. Louis City SC, Watts has compiled experience as a right-back at multiple levels of professional soccer, including the USL Championship, MLS Next Pro, and Major League Soccer.
Major League Soccer Highlights
Watts joined St. Louis City SC ahead of the club’s inaugural MLS season in 2023, becoming part of a new expansion roster. He has continued to work within the St. Louis system, splitting time between the first team and St. Louis City 2 while developing as a young American defender.
Other Wins and Performances
Earlier in his career, Watts represented the United States at the 2017 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, earning valuable international experience at a formative age. He also contributed to Louisville City FC’s competitive campaigns in the USL Championship.
Akil Watts Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Akil Amen-Diop Watts was raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he developed his early passion for soccer. Further details about his family background are not publicly documented in available verified sources.
Personal Life
Watts focuses on his professional soccer career with St. Louis City in Major League Soccer. Additional verified details about his personal life are not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
Watts continues his role within the St. Louis City organization during the 2025 Major League Soccer season, competing for minutes at right-back with the number 20 shirt. The club, in only its third MLS campaign, is working to establish long-term identity and consistency, and Watts remains part of that developmental core.
His ongoing involvement with both St. Louis City SC and St. Louis City 2 allows the club to manage his minutes and continue his development against varied levels of competition. As an American homegrown defender, he represents an investment in the club’s long-term defensive depth.
Looking ahead, Watts’ progress in 2025 will be measured by his ability to contribute steadily in Major League Soccer while continuing to grow within the St. Louis City system. His trajectory from Fort Wayne to MLS reflects a player still in the early stages of his professional prime.