Kei Kamara: Early Life, Career, Family & Net Worth

Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leonean professional soccer player who plays as a striker in MLS for CF Montreal. He is one of the eleven players who have scored 100 goals in MLS history, securing the landmark in 300 appearances.

He is third on MLS’s all-time scoring list. Sadly, Kei Kamara announced his retirement from international soccer on 21 April 2022.

Earlier, he represented Major League Soccer club Minnesota United. Kamara is one of the best headers in the history of MLS. 

Alongside his commitment to soccer, Kamara has that funny charm, enthusiasm, and cheeriness. 

“Sports just bring everyone together. It is that one thing that when it was happening, no matter what’s going on, everybody would be in that one place.”- Kei Kamara

Kei Kamara | Quick Facts

Kei Kamara | Early Life 

Kamara (fully named Kei Ansu Kamara) was born on 1 September 1984 under Virgo’s sun sign to his single parent, Fatima Kamara. He was born in the second-largest city in Sierra Leone, Kenema. 

Like an action movie, Kamara has his early childhood narration. During his childhood, his mother won a 1990 immigration lottery and left for Los Angeles to help support the family. 

She sent him to live with his aunt and cousins in Sierra Leone, where the civil war between its army and anti-government rebels commenced.

He lived in a large family where his elder brothers kept him safe when rebels and government soldiers alternately lived with them for weeks.

Kamara saw everything as a child that shouldn’t be known or seen. Additionally, he knew terrors, fears, and death all too well for a kid.

He witnessed the forced recruiting of children into the war and the death that followed those who refused. 

“I lived through it my whole childhood. It was very, very scary. I tried to understand these things I heard about the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and I’m like, ‘That’s not what I was taught as a Muslim.”
-Kei Kamara

Reunion With Mother & Life Onward

Kamara fled Sierra Leone with his family and moved to the Gambia when he was 14, and he waited two years before finally reuniting with his mother.

However, he first moved to Baltimore, where his uncle resided, and by age 16, he moved to Los Angeles as part of a refugee program.

Nearly a decade later, Kamara united with his mother and, thus, started attending California State University, Dominguez Hills as an American citizen. 

As disclosed by Kamara, the children there mocked him due to his stuttering voice and accent. However, as he joined soccer and starred in it, nobody ever made fun of him again. 

During his college career, Kamara successfully bagged third-team All-American. Apart from it, he also played two seasons for the Orange County Blue Star in the USL Premier Development League.

Kei Kamara | Club Career 

Kamara started his club career right after college.

The foremost club he worked with is Columbus Crew which selected him in the first round, ninth overall at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.

He spent two seasons with that club, where he had 36 gameplays. 

San Jose Earthquakes

In 2008, Kamara was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for Brian Carroll.

However, his time with the club was short-lived, and he only had 12 appearances filled with two goals. 

Houston Dynamo

He was again traded to the Houston Dynamo IN 2008, for whom his career was also quite short.

Sporting Kansas City

Following it, Kamara played for Sporting Kansas City after Dynamo traded him in 2009. This moment marked his turning point.

Apparently, he played quite a few years with the team and even featured himself as one of the most imposing wingers in the league.

Later, he was then loaned to the Norwich City of the English Premier League.

Norwich City

Kamara’s debut match for the club only came after the visa grant that made him a legal player.

To elaborate, his debut match was an 86th-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw with Fulham. 

Likewise, he was a 58th-minute substitute for his second match, followed by backing up team-mate Wes Hoolahan.

It was also the same moment when he became a new idol for soccer, as many songs were composed for him. 

Following it, Kamara declines the contract for his permanent transfer to the team. 

Middlesbrough

After his contract with Norwich ended, he played for a while with Sporting Kansas. Then, he moved to Middlesbrough of the Championship on a two-year contract for £900,000.

He first commenced as the 63rd-minute substitute and made his foremost start in the game at Nottingham Forest. At the same time, he also earned his first goal for the team.

After a few arrays of gameplay, they parted ways with mutual consent. 

Columbus Crew

Kei returned to his former team, Columbus Crew, in 2014 and was added to the roster in 2015.

Additionally, he first played in the playoffs, thus, leading the team to the Eastern Conference and finishing second. 

He starred as the joint top-scorer of the league alongside Toronto FC’s Sebastian Giovinco.

Apparently, he also claimed the 2015 MLS Landon Donovan MVP Award and the 2015 Advocare MLS WORKS Humanitarian of the Year Award. 

Kamara posted wins over Montreal Impact and New York Red Bulls. Despite the injury, he featured in the 2015 MLS Cup Final against the Portland Timbers. 

New England Revolution

On 12 May 2016, Kei Kamara was traded to the New England Revolution, where he had the first score over the New York Cosmos.

Alongside his team, he also gained his foremost MLS hat trick on 2 September 2017.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Likewise, Kamara moved to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on 10 December 2017 and posted his foremost goal against Montreal Impact. 

Colorado Rapids

Similarly, after entering Colorado Rapids on 11 December 2018, where he earned the second hat trick of his professional career.

Minnesota United

After coming into Minnesota United on 18 September 2020, he became the first MLS player to score for eight teams. 

HIFK Fotboll

The professional soccer player signed with HIFK Fotboll in Finland on 30 July 2021.

CF Montreal

Kamara returned to North America in February 2022, joining CF Montreal on a year deal with an option for 2023.

He debuted for his new club on 23 February against Santos Laguna of Liga MX in the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League match.

According to FoxSports, during the match on 13 September, Kei scored two goals with one assist on four shots victory against Chicago Fire.

He led CF Montreal into a matchup with the New England Revolution fresh from a two-goal outing against the Chicago Fire.

Kei Kamara scored a goal and drew two fouls during the 9 October draw 1-1 match against Inter Miami.

The report claims that Kamara took three shots and made an interception in a 2-0 Round One Playoff win over Orlando City on 16 October.

Kamara’s 2022 season statistics are as follows:

• Appearances: 32
• Goals: 9
• Assists: 7
• Goal Participation: 25%
• Minutes: 51%
• Starting Eleven: 41%

Kei Kamara | Stats & Achievements 

As a striker in the team, Kei Kamara has an enthusiastic and flamboyant style of play. Some of the notable highlights in his career are listed below.

• MLS Fair Play Award: 2007
• Sierra Leonean Player of the Year: 2012
• MLS Joint Top-scorer: 2015 (22 goals, alongside Sebastian Giovinco)
• MLS All-Star: 2015
• 2015 MLS Works Humanitarian of the Year
• MLS Best XI: 2015
• MLS Cup Playoffs Top-scorer: 2015

Kei Kamara | Controversy

When you get into the spotlight, there is nothing that goes away. Even after years and years, the news is bound to circulate, and at times, things get controversial.

It gets out of hand no matter what you meant or have done. 

2016 Penalty Kick

On 7 May 2016, Kei Kamara got involved in a heated argument with Federico Higuain of Columbus Crew SC over who would take a penalty kick just after halftime.

Back then, Columbus Crew SC was leading the game by 3-1, and a goal again from the penalty would give them the insurance for the game’s victory. 

However, both athletes argued about the penalty, which ended after Higuain got the chance.

Altogether, the match ended as a 4-4 draw, and later in the talk with the press, Kamara openly discussed his opinion calling Higuain out. 

“I haven’t really had to depend on Pipa [Higuain] at all. How long have I been here? How many goals have I scored? And how many have come from his assists? I don’t depend on him. How many times have me and [Higuain] connected?”
-Kei Kamara

Altogether, the incident ended after head coach Gregg Berhalter chose to suspend Kei Kamara.

Thus, the internal conflicts between players bought huge trouble for the team. Therefore, within just five days of suspension, Kamara was traded to New England Revolution. 

Kei Kamara | Net Worth 

Kei Kamara is estimated to have a net worth of $2.6 million with an average annual salary of $587,232.

As of November 8, 2022, his market value is estimated at $159,555.

Net Worth Of Kei Kamara In Different Currencies

Here is the net worth of Kei Kamara in different currencies, including the Euro and Canadian Dollar.

Kei Kamara | Personal Life 

To date, Kei Kamara has accomplished a lot. Overall, he is a fierce competitor, a loving father, a husband, a world-class humanitarian, and an entertainer.

To elaborate, Kamara built his cute family with his longtime girlfriend, Kristin Bocks. The duo took vows in 2014 and has been happily married ever.

However, Kamara’s wife is not yet disclosed, except that she is from Kansas. All we know is that she stays home to care for their children. 

Not to mention their ever-so-famous pet, Chelsea. Moving on to their kids, they had their first Kierin Leone in 2015.

Following it, they welcomed Kendrick Kamaram to the world and Kaelan Live Kamara in 2020. 

“She gets the best side of me, the soft side of me.”
-Kei Kamara

Black Lives Matter

Kei Kamara has always been outspoken and helps every cause he can. He also joined hands to move into the Black Lives Matter protest and stated that he regretted he hadn’t voted before.

With this, he encouraged his fans to vote for the first time. 

“I’m happy I came to my senses not too late. Now I’m able to do that, exercise my rights. Maybe if I would have voted, if how many of us who didn’t vote would have, things would be different.”
-Kei Kamara

Charity & Social Works

Kamara is also the ambassador for the UK’s largest anti-racism educational organization.

Apparently, their charity combats racism through professional soccer players. Furthermore, alongside other athletes, Kamara also helps the foundation to restore the education system in Sierra Leone.

He has also opened the Kei Kamara-Michael Lahoud Education for All School in Allentown.

After years of fundraising, he managed to run that foundation, where he helped to thrive in the education system. 

Social Media

Kei updates about his games and family on his social media accounts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Popularity Graph 

Kei Kamara is a professional soccer player from Sierra Leonean who plays for CF Montreal of Major League Soccer.

Kei’s information was searched on the internet regarding the number of teams he has played for, his net worth, and his relationship status.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why didn’t Kei Kamara claim his goal against Sunderland in 2013?

According to Kei Kamara, the only reason not to claim his goal in 2013 against Sunderland was that it was St. Patrick’s Day.

Furthermore, he also had his plan for the celebration with his Irish teammate, Wes Hoolahan. 

Who is Kei Kamara’s hero?

Kei Kamara’s hero is his elder brother, who passed away in ’08.

Which is the current club Kei is Affiliated With?

Kei was affiliated with HIFK Fotboll in 2021, but he is now (2022) playing for CF Montreal.

Has Kamara won the golden boots?

The professional soccer player has won the Vancouver Whitecaps golden boots award after finishing as the club’s top scorer for the season.

What is the jersey number of Kei?

Kei wears jersey number 23 in Major League Soccer for CF Montreal.