Alex Bono Bio
Alexander Nicholas Bono (born April 25, 1994) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for Major League Soccer club New England Revolution. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, Bono has built a reputation as a dependable shot-stopper over a career that spans college, club, and international football. He first rose to prominence with Toronto FC, where he became a key part of one of the most successful eras in the club’s history, before later stints with D.C. United and the New England Revolution. Internationally, Bono has represented the United States at both youth and senior levels.
Known for his composure in big matches and his record-setting 2017 season, Bono remains one of the more recognizable American goalkeepers of his generation. His path from a small town in upstate New York to MLS Cup glory reflects years of steady development in the U.S. soccer system.
Early Life and Background
Alexander Nicholas Bono was born on April 25, 1994, in Syracuse, New York, and raised in nearby Baldwinsville, New York. He attended Charles W. Baker High School, where he spent two years as a starter for the school’s soccer team, the Bees. During his later high school years, Bono committed to U.S. Soccer Development Academy side Empire United, balancing academy play with his high school schedule.
By the time he finished his pre-college development, Bono was regarded as the top goalkeeper recruit in the state of New York and the 51st highest prospect in his graduating class nationally. That recognition helped set the stage for a smooth transition into the college game, where he would quickly establish himself as a starter at the Division I level.
Path to Soccer
Bono joined Syracuse University and immediately became the starting goalkeeper for the Syracuse Orange men’s soccer program. As a true freshman in 2012, he started the season opener, becoming the first true freshman goalkeeper to do so for Syracuse since Robert Cavicchia in 2005. He played in 20 matches that year and was named to the Big East Conference All-Rookie Team, in addition to being selected as Syracuse’s Rookie of the Year.
During his sophomore season, Bono posted similar numbers and earned a spot on the Atlantic Coast Conference Third Team. His junior campaign in 2014 was his breakout year, as he helped Syracuse reach a top national ranking and a ninth overall seed in the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Tournament, where the Orange advanced to the fourth round before being eliminated by Georgetown. That same year, Bono was named a first-team All-American by the NSCAA, signaling his readiness for the professional ranks.
Alex Bono Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
While still in college, Bono began his senior career with Reading United in 2013, spending two seasons with the team before his draft year. The experience provided him with regular professional minutes and helped bridge the gap between the academy and college levels.
His performances for Reading United, combined with his All-American honors at Syracuse, made him one of the most talked-about goalkeeper prospects heading into the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. Toronto FC ultimately selected him sixth overall, the highest-drafted goalkeeper in his class.
Toronto FC Breakthrough (2015–2022)
On January 15, 2015, Bono was taken sixth overall by Toronto FC in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft. He was loaned to Toronto FC II shortly afterward and made his debut against the Charleston Battery on March 21, 2015. His first extended run with the senior team came in 2016, when an injury to starter Clint Irwin in July opened the door for Bono to take over between the posts. He made 16 MLS appearances that season and also started in the second leg of the 2016 Canadian Championship final against Vancouver Whitecaps FC, a match Toronto won on away goals.
Although Irwin reclaimed the starting role for the playoffs, Bono was once again elevated to the first-choice position in 2017 after another injury to Irwin in the spring. By September 2017, he had cemented his place as Toronto’s outright starter. That year, he set a club record for most clean sheets by a goalkeeper in a single season with 10, recorded 72 saves, posted a 69.2 percent save percentage, and averaged 1.12 goals against per match. He also won more games than any other MLS goalkeeper in 2017, with 19 victories, and surpassed Stefan Frei’s mark for most career MLS wins by a Toronto FC goalkeeper.
His form carried into the postseason, where he conceded just two goals across Toronto’s playoff run and kept clean sheets in both legs of the Eastern Conference Final against Columbus Crew. On December 9, 2017, Bono delivered a clean sheet in Toronto’s 2–0 win over Seattle Sounders FC in the 2017 MLS Cup Final at BMO Field, completing an unprecedented treble of the MLS Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, and the Canadian Championship. He remained with Toronto through the end of his contract following the 2022 season.
D.C. United Era (2023–2024)
On December 14, 2022, Bono signed with D.C. United as a free agent on a one-year deal. He served as a veteran presence in the D.C. United goalkeeping group across two seasons with the club. D.C. United declined his contract option following the 2024 campaign, opening the door for his next move.
New England Revolution Era (2025–Present)
Bono joined Major League Soccer club New England Revolution ahead of the 2025 season, bringing a wealth of postseason experience to a goalkeeping group in need of stability. His arrival added a proven MLS Cup winner to the Revolution roster and gave the club a dependable starter with a track record of high-level performances. He is expected to compete for the starting role and provide leadership in the dressing room.
Notable Events and Milestones
Bono’s signature moment came on December 9, 2017, when he kept a clean sheet in Toronto FC’s 2–0 MLS Cup Final victory over Seattle Sounders FC at BMO Field, completing a historic treble. That same year, he set the Toronto FC single-season record for clean sheets by a goalkeeper with 10, and his 19 wins were the most by any MLS goalkeeper in 2017.
Alex Bono Career Wins
Across his club career, Alex Bono has accumulated a long list of team honors, headlined by Toronto FC’s 2017 treble of the MLS Cup, the Supporters’ Shield, and the Canadian Championship. He also won the 2016 Canadian Championship during his first stint in the Toronto first team, even though he was not the playoff starter that year. His individual milestones include a club-record 10 clean sheets in a single season and the most wins by an MLS goalkeeper in 2017.
Toronto FC Highlights
Bono is most closely associated with Toronto FC, where he played from 2015 through 2022, including a loan spell with Toronto FC II in 2015 and 2016. He is the club’s all-time leader in goalkeeper wins and holds the franchise record for most clean sheets in a single season. His shutout in the 2017 MLS Cup Final remains one of the defining moments of his career.
International Highlights
Bono represented the United States at the under-18 level between 2010 and 2012 before earning a senior call-up in 2018. He made his senior debut on May 28, 2018, in a 3–0 friendly win over Bolivia at Talen Energy Stadium, keeping a clean sheet in the process. That appearance marked the arrival of another American goalkeeper option at the international level.
Alex Bono Family
Personal Life
Born and raised in Baldwinsville, New York, Alex Bono continues to be identified with his upstate New York roots. Public details about his immediate family and personal life are limited, and he has tended to keep that side of his life away from the spotlight. His social media presence is centered on his professional career, where he is active on X and Instagram under his playing name.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 Major League Soccer season represents a fresh chapter for Alex Bono with the New England Revolution, where he arrived as one of the most experienced goalkeepers on the roster. Coming off a two-year stint at D.C. United, Bono brings a championship pedigree to a club that has been searching for stability in goal. His leadership and shot-stopping ability are expected to be central to the Revolution’s push up the Eastern Conference standings.
Throughout his career, Bono has produced his best work in high-pressure situations, and the Revolution will look for that consistency to translate into results in 2025. With a full preseason to integrate with his new teammates, he has the opportunity to establish himself as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper and anchor the back line. Should he maintain his form, Bono could play a key role in any postseason push the Revolution manage to mount.