Teal Bunbury Bio
Teal Alexander Bunbury is a Canadian-born professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Bunbury represented the United States men’s national team at the senior level after progressing through American youth soccer. He is recognized for his consistency in front of goal and his long professional career that has included stints with several prominent MLS clubs.
Standing 6 ft 2 in, Bunbury combines physical presence with the ability to lead the line. Over more than a decade in MLS, he has produced double-digit goal totals, contributed to deep playoff runs, and earned individual recognition for both his playing and humanitarian efforts.
Early Life and Background
Teal Alexander Bunbury was born on February 27, 1990, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, to Kristi Novak, an American of Polish and Swedish descent, and Alex Bunbury, a Guyanese-born, Canadian professional soccer player who remains one of the most capped players for the Canadian men’s national team. He grew up alongside an older sister, actress Kylie Bunbury, and two younger brothers, Logan and Mataeo, the latter of whom is also a professional soccer player.
At the age of two, Bunbury left Canada with his family, first traveling to England, where his father played briefly, and then to Portugal. When he was 10 years old, the family relocated to the United States, and Bunbury has lived there since. He grew up in Prior Lake, Minnesota, and attended Shattuck-St. Mary’s High School, a school known for developing elite soccer talent. His first club was Apple Valley Juventus, where he began sharpening the skills that would eventually take him to the collegiate level.
Path to Professional Soccer
Bunbury’s first club was Apple Valley Juventus, followed by college soccer at the University of Akron, where he joined a powerhouse program. He made 35 starts and 48 appearances with the Akron Zips across the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In his freshman year, he made 23 appearances, starting ten games and scoring six goals, finishing second on the team in scoring behind future MLS Draft pick Steve Zakuani.
As a sophomore, Bunbury elevated his game, starting all 25 matches for the Zips, including the 2009 NCAA Division I Men’s College Cup final. He led the team and the nation in goals with 17, paced the squad in shots with 103, and tied Darlington Nagbe for the team lead in game-winning goals with five. His performances earned him the 2009 Hermann Trophy Award as the best player in college soccer. During his college years, Bunbury also gained senior experience with the Rochester Thunder in the USL Premier Development League and Chicago Fire Premier in the USL Super-20 League.
Teal Bunbury Career
Early Career (2010–2013)
After two seasons at Akron, Bunbury signed with Generation adidas and was selected fourth overall by Kansas City Wizards in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft. He made his professional debut on March 27, 2010, in Kansas City’s season opener against D.C. United, and scored his first professional goal on April 13 in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match against the Colorado Rapids. His first MLS goal came on July 14 in a 1–0 win over Columbus Crew.
In December 2010, Bunbury joined English Premier League side Stoke City on trial and scored in a reserve match against Wigan Athletic. His progress in Kansas City was interrupted in August 2012 when he suffered a torn ACL against the New York Red Bulls, an injury that kept him out for ten months.
New England Revolution Era (2014–2021)
On February 19, 2014, Bunbury was traded to the New England Revolution for a first-round 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick and allocation money. He debuted for the club on March 8 in a 4–0 defeat to the Houston Dynamo and scored his first Revolution goal on April 26 in a 2–0 win over Sporting Kansas City. He finished the regular season as the team’s leader in assists, with six, and added four goals.
Bunbury became a key contributor to New England’s run to the 2014 MLS Cup Final, scoring from long distance in the Eastern Conference Final against Red Bull New York. New England fell 2–1 to the LA Galaxy in extra time, with Bunbury’s potential game-winning shot striking the crossbar in the 85th minute. He also helped lead the Revs to the 2016 U.S. Open Cup Final, scoring twice in the Round of 16 against the New York Cosmos and once in the semifinals against the Chicago Fire, before the team lost 4–2 to FC Dallas in the final. In 2017, Bunbury was named the Revolution Players’ Player of the Year, and in 2018, he tallied 11 league goals, his first double-digit season, while leading the team with five game-winning goals. He was the club’s leading scorer during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season and earned the Revolution Humanitarian of the Year award in both 2020 and 2021.
Nashville SC Era (2022–Present)
On December 12, 2021, Bunbury was traded to Nashville SC for up to $150,000 in allocation money. He concluded his Revolution career seventh in games played for the club, with 231 appearances, and his 45 Revolution goals rank fourth in club history. Since joining Nashville SC, Bunbury has continued to provide veteran leadership and a reliable scoring presence in the attack.
Playing Style and Strengths
Bunbury is a physically imposing forward who uses his 6 ft 2 in frame to hold up play and finish in the box. He is known for his movement off the ball, his ability to link midfield and attack, and his composure in high-pressure moments. His longevity in MLS reflects consistent professionalism and a willingness to adapt his game to different tactical systems and team roles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Bunbury’s defining moments are his 2009 Hermann Trophy win, his 2014 Eastern Conference Final strike that helped carry the Revolution to the MLS Cup Final, and his 2018 double-digit goal season. He also became the first son of a former MLS player to be drafted into the league, continuing a notable family legacy in North American soccer.
Teal Bunbury Career Wins
Across his time with Sporting Kansas City, the New England Revolution, and Nashville SC, Bunbury has built a reputation as a dependable goal scorer and contributor to deep postseason runs. He has registered more than 45 goals at the club level and helped lead two different teams to major finals during his career.
Major League Soccer Highlights
Bunbury’s first MLS goal came on July 14, 2010, in a 1–0 win over Columbus Crew while with Kansas City. His most prolific season came in 2018 with New England, when he scored 11 league goals and added five game-winning tallies. He concluded his Revolution career ranked fourth on the club’s all-time scoring list with 45 goals and seventh in appearances with 231.
Other Wins and Performances
Bunbury reached the 2014 MLS Cup Final with New England, scoring in the Eastern Conference Final, and helped the club advance to the 2016 U.S. Open Cup Final. He was named Revolution Players’ Player of the Year in 2017 and earned the club’s Humanitarian of the Year award in both 2020 and 2021.
Teal Bunbury Family
Family Background and Soccer Lineage
Bunbury is the son of Alex Bunbury, a former striker who is one of the all-time leading scorers for the Canadian men’s national team and a longtime star for C.S. Marítimo in Portugal. Teal is the first son of a former MLS player to be drafted into the league, and his brother Mataeo has also pursued a professional soccer career. His older sister, Kylie Bunbury, is an actress.
Personal Life
In 2015, Bunbury married Kaity Maurer. The couple has two daughters. The family has been based in the United States since Bunbury’s childhood.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Bunbury continued his role with Nashville SC as a veteran forward providing depth and experience in the attack. He remained a respected presence in the locker room and a reliable option off the bench or as a starter depending on the tactical plan.
His consistency and professionalism have helped stabilize Nashville’s forward line as the club pushes to remain a playoff contender in the Eastern Conference. With his contract situation and form to be evaluated throughout the year, Bunbury’s veteran contributions were expected to remain important for the team’s success.