Perry Kitchen’s Bio
- He was part of the Akron Zips side that won the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship and was a first-round draft pick (3rd overall) for D.C. United in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft.
- He played 187 total games and scored 10 goals for D.C. and won the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
- In March 2016, he moved to Heart of Midlothian of the Scottish Premiership, who appointed him their captain. After six months with Randers of the Danish Superliga, he returned to MLS with the LA Galaxy in January 2018.
- Three years later, he joined the Columbus Crew of the same league. Kitchen was captain of the United States men’s nationalunder-17 soccer team at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.
- He made his senior international debut in February 2015 and was part of the squad that came four that the Copa América Centenario.
College and Amateur
- Born in Indianapolis, IN, Kitchen was signed up for soccer by his mother and quickly excelled in the sport, as his local league made him play two age groups higher due to his ability.
- Two years later he was signed to the Chicago Magic, a team in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, while remaining in Indiana.
- He was invited to spend two years in the United States men’s national under-17 soccer team camp in Bradenton, Florida, and captained the team at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.
- In 2010, he enrolled at University of Akron and played a season for the Akron Zips, who won the 2010 NCAA Division I men’s Soccer Championship under Caleb Porter with other future MLS players such as Darlington Nagbe.
- He started 25 games for the Zips in 2010, scoring six goals and adding one assist.
- He earned an All-MAC First Team selection and scored an unassisted goal on a right-footed blast from 30 yards out during Akron’s 2–1 win over the Michigan Wolverines in the national semifinal of the College Cup.
- Kitchen also made a solitary appearance for USL Premier Development League Club Chicago Fire Premier in 2010.
Professional Career
DC United: Kitchen passed on a trial offer from Belgium’s Anderlecht to sign a Generation Adidas contract with MLS. He was selected by D.C. United in the first round (3rd overall) of the 2011 MLS SuperDraft. He made his professional debut on March 19, 2011, in United’s 2011 MLS season opener against the Columbus Crew,[6] and scored his first professional goal on May 29 in a 3–2 win over the Portland Timbers. Perry was a finalist for the 2011 Rookie of the Year award, although he was ultimately not selected. He recorded 4 assists for the season of 2013, which was the record high for the team that year. He was voted D.C. United’s Most Valuable Player of the 2013 season. He played all five matches of their 2013U.S. Open Cup win, including the 1–0 final victory at Real Salt Lake on October 1.
Heart of Midlothian: on a two-and-a-half-year deal on March 9, 2016. He made his debut in the Scottish Premiership three days later in a 1–0 win at Dundee, as a 73rd-minute substitute for Sam Nicholson. On September 21, 2016, Kitchen was appointed club captain. Kitchen played less often after Ian Cathro was appointed Hearts manager, and he was allowed to leave the club at the end of the season.
Randers: Signed with Danish Superliga club Randers on a two-year deal in July 2017.
LA Galaxy: Signed with LA Galaxy in January 2018. LA acquired its MLS rights from D.C. United in exchange for $100,000 in general allocation money and $200,000 in targeted allocation money. He made his debut on March 4 in the season opener, a 2–1 win over Portland.
Columbus Crew: Kitchen signed with the Columbus Crew as a free agent. On April 15, 2021, Kitchen made his debut for the Crew in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Real Esteli. After playing in the first match of the 2021 MLS season, Kitchen suffered an injury to his right hamstring and did not appear again for the Black and Gold until July 9, starting against FC Cincinnati
United States National Teams
Kitchen, who captained the United States men’s national under-17 soccer team at the 2009 FIFA U-17World Cup in Nigeria, also played with the under-20 team. On January 9, 2015, Kitchen was called to the senior training camp for the first time. He made his first international appearance on February 8 that year against Panama at the StubHub Center, replacing the injured DeAndre Yedlin for the last 22 minutes of a 2–0 win. He was part of the 23-man squad that Jürgen Klinsmann called up for the Copa América Centenario on home soil in May 2016.
Letters of Recommendation:
- Thomas Geise, President of USA of Indiana, Indy Burn
- Isang Jacob, 2023 Indiana Soccer HOF
- Todd Leyden, Fort Wilderness Christian Family Camp
- Vince Ganzberg, Indiana Soccer HOF, DOC US Club Soccer
- Michael Tanke, Head Men’s Soccer Coach Canisius College
- Jonathon Snider, Former ’90 Eagle Teammate
- Dan Kapsalis, Indiana Soccer Hall of Fame 2010, ZYSA