Theodore Ku-DiPietro

Theodore Ku-DiPietro is an American midfielder from Oakton, Virginia, whose route to professional football began outside the MLS academy system. He developed with Arlington Soccer Association and Oakton High School, earning first-team all-state honors as a sophomore in 2018. In July 2018, Ku-DiPietro joined D.C. United’s academy before signing an academy contract with Loudoun United in 2019 and a professional deal there in 2020. His USL spell prepared him for MLS, and D.C. United signed him as its 17th Homegrown Player in 2022. In the 2023 season opener against Toronto FC, he assisted Christian Benteke’s late equalizer and then scored the stoppage-time winner. That breakthrough helped place Ku-DiPietro on the 2023 MLS 22 Under 22 list, while he also entered the United States youth international setup. With the Colorado Rapids, he is used as an attacking midfielder or wide forward, combining dribbling, direct running, pressing and energetic defensive work.