Kipp Keller

Kipp Keller
Personal information
Full name Kipp Christian Keller[1]
Date of birth (2000-07-14) July 14, 2000
Place of birthSt. Louis, Missouri, US
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
PositionDefender
Team information
Current team
New Mexico United
Number 4
Youth career
–2019Saint Louis FC
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019–2021Saint Louis Billikens 49 (5)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2019Saint Louis FC 0 (0)
2021St. Louis Scott Gallagher 0 (0)
2022–2023Austin FC 13 (0)
2023 → Austin FC II (loan) 16 (0)
2024FC Cincinnati 16 (0)
2024 → FC Cincinnati 2 (loan) 2 (0)
2025Minnesota United 0 (0)
2025 → Minnesota United 2 (loan) 8 (0)
2025 → New Mexico United (loan) 9 (1)
2026–New Mexico United 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of January 9, 2026

Kipp Christian Keller (born July 14, 2000) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for USL Championship side New Mexico United.

Career

Youth and college

Keller played high school soccer at The Principia in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was named First-team All-State selection, helping to lead them to a state championship his freshman year. Keller also played club soccer with the Saint Louis FC academy, where he helped the U-19 side advance to the USSDA playoffs in 2018. He signed an academy contract with Saint Louis FC in 2019, making a single appearance for the club in the US Open Cup on May 29, 2019, against Forward Madison.[2][3][4]

In 2019, Keller attended Saint Louis University to play college soccer. He went on to make 49 appearances for the Billikens, scoring five goals and tallying two assists. He also earned honors such as second-team All-Conference and A-10 All-Rookie team in 2019, second-team All-Conference in 2020, and second-team All-American nod in 2021, as well as Atlantic-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year.[3] He and the 2021 team advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA College Cup.

Keller was part of the USL League Two roster for St. Louis Scott Gallagher during their 2021 season, but didn't appear for the club.[5]

Professional

Austin FC

In January 2022, it was announced that Keller had signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, and would leave college a year early to enter the 2022 MLS SuperDraft.[6] On January 11, 2022, he was selected 5th overall in the SuperDraft by Austin FC.[7] He made his professional debut on February 26, 2022, starting against FC Cincinnati in a 5–0 win.[8] On November 17, 2023, Austin FC announced they would not exercise the 2024 option for Keller.[9] After a poor showing in the first game of the 2023 season[10] Keller was loaned to the Austin FC second team Austin FC II.[11] Keller appeared in 16 games as a center back for Austin FC II during their 2023 MLS Next Pro Cup season.[12]

FC Cincinnati

In December 2023, Keller signed with FC Cincinnati following the conclusion of his contract with Austin FC, who declined his 2024 option.[13]

Minnesota United

In December 2024, Keller was selected by Minnesota United FC in Stage 1 of the MLS Re-Entry Draft.[14] He joined the club ahead of the 2025 season, splitting his time between the senior squad and Minnesota United FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.[15] On August 22, 2025, New Mexico United announced the acquisition of Keller for the remainder of the 2025 USL Championship season.[16] On October 11, Keller scored his first professional goal in a 3–3 draw with Orange County SC.[17] On November 26, Minnesota United announced that they had declined Keller's contract option.[18]

New Mexico United

On January 9, 2026, New Mexico United announced they had signed Keller to a contract for the 2026 USL Championship season.[19]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played November 16, 2025[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club League Season League National cup[a]Continental Playoffs[b]Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals Apps GoalsAppsGoals
Saint Louis FCUSL20190010—— —10
Austin FCMajor League Soccer2022[21]6010—— —70
2023[22]70—1[c]0— 2 0100
Total 130101000 2 0170
Austin FC II (loan) MLS Next Pro2023[23]160——— —160
FC CincinnatiMajor League Soccer 2024160—3[c]0— 3[d]0210
FC Cincinnati 2 (loan) MLS Next Pro 202420——— —20
Minnesota UnitedMajor League Soccer 20250 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 0
Minnesota United 2 (loan) MLS Next Pro 20258 0 — — — — 8 0
New Mexico United (loan) USL Championship20259 1 — — 3 0 — 12 1
Career total 641204000 5 0771
  1. ^Includes U.S. Open Cup
  2. ^Includes MLS Cup playoffs and USL Championship playoffs
  3. ^ abAppearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  4. ^Appearances in Leagues Cup

Honors

Austin FC II

References

  1. ^"2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup – Club roster: FC Cincinnati (USA)"(PDF). CONCACAF. January 30, 2024. p. 5. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  2. ^"USA - K. Keller - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  3. ^ ab"Kipp Keller - 2021 - Men's Soccer". Saint Louis University.
  4. ^"4 SLSG Alumni Selected in 2022 MLS SuperDraft". www.slsgsoccer.com. January 13, 2022.
  5. ^"St. Louis Scott Gallagher | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  6. ^"Three Billikens Sign Generation adidas Contracts". atlantic10.com.
  7. ^"Austin FC Selects Defender Kipp Keller With Fifth Overall Pick Of 2022 MLS SuperDraft | Austin FC". austinfc.
  8. ^"ATXvsCIN 02-26-2022 lineups | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  9. ^"Austin FC Announces Roster Decisions Ahead of 2024 Season". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC. November 17, 2023. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  10. ^Gordon, Colby (February 26, 2023). "A sputtering start: Austin FC drops its season opener to expansion club St. Louis City SC". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  11. ^"Austin FC II Announces Roster Moves Ahead Of 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Season". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC II. March 24, 2023. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  12. ^Gordon, Colby (October 22, 2023). "Austin FC II rallies late in second half to win MLS Next Pro Cup". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  13. ^"FC Cincinnati sign defender Kipp Keller". FCCincinnati.com. FC Cincinnati. December 14, 2023. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  14. ^"Kipp Keller". MLSsoccer.com. MLS. 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  15. ^"Match Recap". mnufc.com. Minnesota United FC. June 25, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  16. ^Finley, Karabella (August 22, 2025). "New Mexico United Acquires Kipp Keller on Loan from Minnesota United FC". New Mexico United. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  17. ^Hauenstein, Gavin (October 11, 2025). "New Mexico United and Orange County SC Share the Points in High-Scoring Draw". New Mexico United. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  18. ^"Minnesota United Announces 2025 End of Season Roster Decisions". Minnesota United. November 26, 2025. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
  19. ^"New Mexico United Signs Defender Kipp Keller for 2026 Season". New Mexico United. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
  20. ^"Kipp Keller profile". Soccerway. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  21. ^"Stats - 2022 - Regular Season". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  22. ^"Stats - 2023". www.AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
  23. ^"Austin FC II - 2023". www.MLSNextPro.com. MLS Next Pro. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
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