Kyle Smith

Kyle Joseph Smith (born January 9, 1992) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.

Smith is an alumnus of the Transylvania Pioneers, and after the end of his college soccer career, he began as an amateur in the Premier Development League with the Cincinnati Dutch Lions. After two seasons playing at an amateur level, Smith signed his first professional contract with Louisville City in the United Soccer League in 2016. In the following two seasons, Smith helped Louisville City to back-to-back USL Cup championships. In late 2018, Smith signed with Major League Soccer franchise Orlando City, with whom he won the 2022 U.S. Open Cup and rose to second all-time in total appearances for the club. After six seasons with Orlando City, Smith joined FC Cincinnati in 2026.

Early career Smith was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended high school at La Salle. Smith played varsity soccer at La Salle for four years and was named to the Greater Catholic League South All League Second Team in 2008 and First Team in 2009. In 2009, he was named Greater Catholic League South soccer player of the year.

College Smith played four years of college soccer at Transylvania University between 2010 and 2013, scoring a total of 47 goals during his four years. As a Senior, Smith scored 18 goals with 8 assists earning Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive MVP during his final seasons.

Club career

Cincinnati Dutch Lions After graduation, Smith played two seasons with Premier Development League expansion side Cincinnati Dutch Lions in both 2014 and 2015. In 2015 he was second in the PDL with eleven goals scored over 14 matches. He left the Dutch Lions as their all-time leader in goals, assists, and points with twelve, eight and thirty-two respectively, as well having set their season records in those categories in 2015.

Louisville City 2016 season After a successful trial Smith signed his first professional contract with United Soccer League side Louisville City on March 14 and he made his professional debut on March 26 against Charlotte Independence. He went on to appear in 26 of Louisville's 30 league matches with one goal that he scored on May 6 against Charleston Battery. He also appeared in one of Louisville's two U.S. Open Cup matches as well as all three of Louisville's USL Cup Playoff matches. Although he didn't score in regulation time during any of the USL Cup matches, he converted the first shot of the penalty shoot-out in the Eastern Conference final against New York Red Bulls II. A match that Louisville would go on to lose. During the season he was named USL mid-season Rookie of the Year.

2017 season

Smith remained with Louisville and made his season debut March 25 against Saint Louis FC. He appeared in 27 of Louisville's 32 league matches. Missing three matches while suspended for violent conduct and scoring four goals. He also appeared in one of Louisville's two U.S. Open Cup matches as all four of Louisville's USL Cup Playoff matches. Although he didn't score in regulation time during any of the USL Cup matches, he converted the first shot of the penalty shoot-out in the Eastern Conference final against New York Red Bulls II. Smith and Louisville won the USL Cup Final against Swope Park Rangers, with Smith being named Midseason USL Defender of the Year. and he made his season debut on March 17 against USL expansion side Nashville SC. He went on to appear in all but one of Louisville's 34 league matches and had more minutes played than any other Louisville player. He scored his first goal of the season on April 14 against the Richmond Kickers and he went on to score three goals in USL competition. He also appeared in all five of Louisville's U.S. Open Cup matches scoring one goal as Louisville reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time in its history. This included a 3–2 victory over Major League Soccer club New England Revolution; Louisville's first victory over an MLS side. He also appeared in all four of Louisville's USL Cup playoff matches going goalless. Smith and Louisville went on to win the USL Cup final for the second consecutive season, this time against Phoenix Rising. Smith made his first appearance for the club in the first match of the 2019 season when he started in a 2–2 draw against New York City FC on March 2 before he was taken off as a 69th-minute substitute for Dom Dwyer.

On March 29, 2021, Smith signed a new two-year deal with Orlando City, keeping him with the club through the end of the 2022 with an option for 2023. On July 30, Smith scored his first goal for the club when he scored the opener of a 3–2 win over Atlanta United.

On May 27, 2022, Smith was fined by the MLS Disciplinary Committee for his role in a confrontation between Orlando City and Austin FC players following a match between them five days earlier. On December 5, Orlando City announced that they had re-signed Smith to a one-year deal for the 2023 season with an option for 2024.

On February 27, 2024, Smith scored his first goal in international play when he scored the final goal of a 3–1 win over Cavalry FC in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. On December 13, it was announced that Smith had signed a 1-year contract which guaranteed him until the end of the 2025 season. On November 17, 2025, the team announced that they were in contract negotiations with Smith, but on December 16, Smith announced that he would be leaving the club at the expiration of his contract.

FC Cincinnati On January 7, 2026, Smith returned to his native Cincinnati and signed with FC Cincinnati through the 2026 season with a team option for the 2027 season. Smith made his debut on February 18 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, playing the full match as FC Cincinnati beat O&M with a 4–0 scoreline. On April 4, Smith scored his first goal for the club in a 4–2 loss at the New York Red Bulls.

Personal life Smith graduated from Transylvania University with a degree in accounting and worked as an accountant for the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine after graduation and before signing his first professional soccer contract. He is currently studying for the CPA exam and plans to be an accountant after retiring from soccer.

Club statistics

Honors Louisville City FC USL Cup : 2017, 2018

Orlando City U.S. Open Cup: 2022