Kimani Stewart-Baynes Bio
Kimani Aidan Stewart-Baynes (born January 17, 2005) is a professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. Born in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, he grew up in Toronto, Canada, and represents Canada at youth international level. Standing at 5 ft 9 in, he wears the number 27 shirt for the Rapids organization and has been described as a creative attacker with an eye for goal.
After a standout college season with the Maryland Terrapins, Stewart-Baynes was chosen fourth overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft and has since built his early professional career across MLS Next Pro, the Canadian Premier League, and USL Championship loans. He has continued to develop as a versatile forward, contributing goals and assists at every level he has played.
Early Life and Background
Kimani Aidan Stewart-Baynes was born on January 17, 2005, in Kingstown, the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He later moved to Canada during his childhood and grew up in Toronto, where he first became involved in organized soccer. His Caribbean roots and Canadian upbringing have shaped his dual identity, and he is eligible to represent Canada at the international level.
He is the brother of National Football League wide receiver N’Keal Harry, which connects him to a family background with high-level athletic achievement. Growing up alongside such a high-profile athlete likely influenced his competitive drive and his decision to pursue a professional career in soccer.
Path to Soccer
Stewart-Baynes played youth soccer with the Vaughan Azzurri, a respected Canadian developmental club based in Ontario. With the Azzurri, he helped the team win the League1 Ontario U19 Reserve Division in 2022, establishing himself as one of the most promising young attackers in the Canadian youth system. His performances at the youth level drew attention from college programs across the United States.
In April 2023, he committed to attend the University of Maryland to play for the Maryland Terrapins men’s soccer team. The move to the Big Ten Conference offered a competitive platform to showcase his talent against top college competition. The combination of his club form and his physical tools made him an attractive prospect for professional clubs heading into his freshman year.
Kimani Stewart-Baynes Career
Early Career (2023)
Stewart-Baynes signed a developmental contract with HFX Wanderers of the Canadian Premier League in March 2023, providing him with first-team senior experience while still in high school. The Canadian Premier League opportunity allowed him to train and play at a professional level during a period when many of his peers were still developing in academy environments.
He made his collegiate debut for the Maryland Terrapins on August 24, 2023, against the Missouri State Bears. He scored his first collegiate goal in the next match on August 27 against the UNC Greensboro Spartans, signaling his attacking impact from the start of his freshman campaign. He finished his sole college season with three goals and seven assists across fourteen matches, earning Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year honors and a place on the All-Freshman Team.
MLS Breakthrough (2024)
Following his freshman season, Stewart-Baynes was invited to participate in the MLS College Showcase ahead of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft. In December 2023, he signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, confirming his status as one of the top young players in the country entering the professional ranks.
At the 2024 MLS SuperDraft, he was selected in the first round, fourth overall, by the Colorado Rapids. Stewart-Baynes made his professional debut in MLS Next Pro for Colorado Rapids 2 on March 17, 2024, against St. Louis City 2. He then made his Major League Soccer debut on March 23, 2024, against the Houston Dynamo, entering as a late substitute in an eventual 1-0 defeat. He was subsequently loaned to Colorado Rapids 2 and later to Lexington SC of the USL Championship to gain additional first-team minutes.
Colorado Rapids Era (2024–Present)
Stewart-Baynes has remained under contract with the Colorado Rapids organization since being drafted, even as he has gained experience through loan spells at Colorado Rapids 2 and Lexington SC. The 2025 season represents his continued integration with the first team, where he competes for minutes in the attacking line.
His development pathway mirrors that of many young Canadian and Caribbean-American forwards who progress through MLS Next Pro before earning a regular starting role. With the senior squad, he looks to translate his college and youth international form into consistent Major League Soccer production.
Driving Style and Strengths
As a forward standing 5 ft 9 in, Stewart-Baynes combines low center of gravity with sharp movement in the final third. His college highlights suggest a creative passer, evidenced by his seven assists in fourteen matches during his freshman year at Maryland. He is comfortable operating as a central striker or in wider attacking roles, and his productivity at youth level indicates strong finishing instincts combined with playmaking vision.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature achievements are his fourth overall selection in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids and his Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year award. His first collegiate goal against UNC Greensboro and his Major League Soccer debut against the Houston Dynamo both stand as early career milestones that defined his rapid rise.
Kimani Stewart-Baynes Career Wins
Kimani Aidan Stewart-Baynes has collected several team and individual honors across youth, college, and professional soccer. His most notable achievements include helping Vaughan Azzurri win the League1 Ontario U19 Reserve Division in 2022 and being named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Year in 2023. He was also selected fourth overall in the 2024 MLS SuperDraft by the Colorado Rapids, one of the highest selections for a Canadian youth international that year.
MLS and College Highlights
During his freshman season at Maryland, Stewart-Baynes recorded three goals and seven assists in fourteen matches, performances that earned him both Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a place on the All-Freshman Team. In Major League Soccer, his debut season with the Colorado Rapids organization saw him appear for both the first team and Colorado Rapids 2, marking the start of his professional journey at the highest North American level.
Other Wins and Performances
At the youth international level, Stewart-Baynes was named to the Canada U20 squad for the 2024 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship qualifiers in February 2024 and was later included in the final roster for the tournament in July 2024. These call-ups represent his contributions to Canadian youth soccer on the continental stage.
Kimani Stewart-Baynes Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stewart-Baynes comes from an athletic family with strong sporting ties. He is the brother of National Football League wide receiver N’Keal Harry, who has played in the NFL after a notable college career at Arizona State. The connection to a professional football player has provided Stewart-Baynes with insight into the demands of elite-level sport.
Personal Life
Born in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and raised in Toronto, Stewart-Baynes maintains ties to both the Caribbean and Canada. He is currently focused on his professional soccer career with the Colorado Rapids organization, and he represents Canada at the youth international level. Further personal details about his life outside of soccer are not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks an important stage in Kimani Aidan Stewart-Baynes’s development as a professional soccer player with the Colorado Rapids organization. Following loan spells at Colorado Rapids 2 and Lexington SC, he continues to push for regular minutes at the Major League Soccer level. His early-season form will be closely watched by the Colorado technical staff as they evaluate his readiness for a consistent first-team role.
On the international stage, Stewart-Baynes remains a Canada U20 prospect, with the experience of the 2024 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship behind him. Continued strong performances at club level could see him progress toward the senior Canadian national team setup in the coming years.
Looking ahead, the outlook for Stewart-Baynes centers on establishing himself as a reliable attacking option for the Colorado Rapids. With his college pedigree, professional debut, and youth international experience already secured, the 2025 campaign offers a platform to convert potential into consistent production. His combination of pace, creativity, and finishing ability positions him as a forward to watch within the MLS landscape.
