David Justin Kirk Taylor

David Justin Kirk Taylor is an American defender who primarily operates at right-back and can also cover the left. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, he developed in the CASL Chelsea system before joining the North Carolina FC academy and signing an amateur contract with the first team in May 2015. Later that year, Taylor moved to Spain to play for CF Torre Levante, then joined Buñol in 2017. He returned to North Carolina FC in July 2017 and progressed from two appearances that season to starting 32 matches in 2018 and 33 in 2019. Taylor was named North Carolina FC’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. On February 16, 2021, he signed for Minnesota United FC and established himself as a trusted MLS starter, making 26 appearances and 23 starts in 2022. At Minnesota, he contributes through one-on-one defending, recovery work and energetic overlapping runs.