• Faith: Christian
• Career: Athlete
• Birthday:  August 28, 1998

Weston McKennie is an American soccer player, currently playing for Juventus in the Italian Serie A. He has been with Juventus since 2020, although he played for Leeds United on loan in the English Premier League during the 2022-23 season. He has followed a similar path to his U.S. National Team teammate, Christian Pulisic, signing with a German club as a teenager and then moving to Italy.

Weston was born in Washington, though he grew up in Texas and considers Little Elm, Texas, his hometown. When Weston was 6, his family moved to Germany for three years while his father was stationed at Ramstein Air Base. While in Germany, Weston began playing youth soccer. He then played in FC Dallas's youth system after returning to the United States.

In August 2016, right around his eighteenth birthday, Weston signed a contract with FC Schalke 04. He played for Schalke's academy team for about a year, then was promoted to the club's top-level team in May 2017. All told, he appeared in 91 games for Schalke through the 2019-20 season. He was recognized for his versatility on the pitch, playing both in the midfield and in the defensive backfield during his time there.

In 2020, McKennie joined Italian club Juventus on a year-long loan from Schalke. He appeared in 46 games that season across all competitions, scoring six goals. As a result, Juventus exercised its option to purchase McKennie's contract from Schalke and signed him to a four-year contract. However, he suffered an injury toward the end of the 2021-2022 season. The following January, he joined Leeds United on a loan from Juventus, starting 16 games during the remainder of that season.

Weston rejoined Juventus at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, establishing himself as an indispensable, versatile asset in both Serie A and the UEFA Champions League. In the breakout 2025-26 season, he enjoyed a career-best campaign, totaling 12 goals across all competitions. He has scored 5 career goals in the Champions League, tying him for second all-time among American players in the competition, behind only Christian Pulisic. In March 2026, he cemented his long-term future in Turin by signing a contract extension with Juventus that runs until 2030.

Weston began his national team career for the United States' senior team at the age of 19, scoring on his debut in a friendly against Portugal. He entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad with 66 appearances and 12 goals to his name, officially earning his 67th career cap during the United States' opening match of the tournament.

Weston McKennie's Religious Beliefs

Weston's social media profile contains a simple declaration of his faith: "All glory to God." He is one of several members of the U.S. World Cup 2026 team who are open about their faith. McKennie often wears cross-shaped earrings – even during matches – as a reminder of Christ's sacrifice. And reflecting on his loan to Leeds after his injury in 2022, Weston said: "I believe in God. I believe there's always a plan, there's a journey that's set out for you, and everything happens for a reason. So, I still view my move to Leeds as a step forward for me. It might not be in other people's eyes. But I think that's what I needed at that time in my career."

Weston has also put his faith into action through his deep involvement in charitable and community work. For example, McKennie's Magical Youth Mission is a dedicated non-profit organization that supports underserved communities and orphanages in both the United States and Italy. Additionally, he partnered with Chobani for the 'Feed the Dream' campaign, an initiative highlighting player biographies to fund grassroots youth sports programs. Weston has also heavily supported Volkswagen's 'Drive Bigger' campaign alongside other members of the U.S. Men's and Women's National Teams, actively assisting the development of youth soccer infrastructure in underprivileged communities.

Through his public witness and his charitable efforts, Weston McKennie demonstrates the importance of his Christian faith. His recognition that God's plans are bigger than our own and that we can trust God even when we don't understand is a good reminder for every Christian of a healthy perspective on the Christian faith.