Karifa Yao
Canadian soccer player (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Karifa Yao (born September 28, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Rhode Island FC of the USL Championship.
|
Yao with Cavalry in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | September 28, 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rhode Island FC | ||
| Number | 24 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| CS Fabrose | |||
| Étoiles de l’Est | |||
| 2017–2019 | Montreal Impact | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | CF Montréal[a] | 2 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | → Cavalry FC (loan) | 49 | (1) |
| 2023 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 1 | (0) |
| 2023 | Whitecaps FC 2 | 6 | (0) |
| 2024– | Rhode Island FC | 64 | (1) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of April 22, 2026 | |||
Early life
Yao began playing youth soccer at age seven with CS Fabrose.[1] Afterwards, he joined youth club Étoiles de l’Est.[2] He was also part of the National High Performance Centre.[3] In 2017, he joined the Montreal Impact Academy, playing a year with the U17s, before playing two years with the U19s.[4]
Club career
In June 2019, Yao signed a homegrown contract with Montreal Impact.[5] He made his professional debut on September 20, 2020, appearing as a substitute against the Philadelphia Union.[6]
In February 2021, Yao went on a season-long loan to Canadian Premier League side Cavalry FC.[7][8] On November 20, Yao scored his first professional goal against Pacific FC, netting the equalizer in their 2021 CPL season play-off semi-final, which ultimately ended in a 2-1 defeat for Cavalry.[9][10] He was selected as Cavalry fans’ Player of the Year in 2021.[11] After the 2021 season, Cavalry announced that Yao would leave the club at the end of his loan spell,[12][13] and CF Montréal announced that they would exercise the option on Yao's contract for 2022.[14] In March 2022, he extended his contract with Montreal adding another option year,[15] while also returning to Cavalry on loan for a second season.[16][17] He played a pivotal role for Cavalry, leading all outfield players in minutes played for the team.[18][19] Over his time with Cavalry, he scored two goals and added two assists in 56 games, across all competitions.[20]
After the 2022 season, his option was declined by Montreal and he departed the club.[21] However, at the 2022 MLS Re-Entry Draft, Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced they had picked up Yao's contract for the 2023 season.[22][23][24] He made his debut for the Whitecaps on March 8, in a CONCACAF Champions League match against Honduran club Real España.[25]
In January 2024, he signed a professional contract with USL Championship expansion side Rhode Island FC.[26][27]
International career
In March 2015, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U15 team.[1] In April 2017, he was called up to a camp with the Canada U17 team.[1]
Personal life
Yao was born in to an Ivorian father and a Senegalese mother.[28][29]
Career statistics
- As of match played April 22, 2026[30]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| CF Montréal | 2019 | Major League Soccer | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | – | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Cavalry FC (loan) | 2021 | Canadian Premier League | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 2 | ||
| Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 2023 | Major League Soccer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Whitecaps FC 2 | 2023 | MLS Next Pro | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Rhode Island FC | 2024 | USL Championship | 33 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 2 |
| 2025 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
| 2026 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 64 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 80 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 122 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 148 | 4 | ||
Notes
- Montreal Impact changed its name to CF Montréal in 2021