McKinze Gaines

McKinze Gaines

Personal information
Full name	Orrin McKinze Gaines II
Date of birth	(1998-03-02) March 2, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Austin, Texas, United States
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.82 m)
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	New Mexico United
Youth career
2012–2016	Lonestar SC
2016–2017	VfL Wolfsburg
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2019	Darmstadt 98	2	(0)
2019	→ FSV Zwickau (loan)	9	(0)
2019–2020	Sonnenhof Großaspach	24	(3)
2020–2021	Hannover 96 II	9	(1)
2021	Hannover 96	1	(0)
2021	Austin FC	9	(1)
2022–2023	Charlotte FC	43	(2)
2023	Crown Legacy FC	1	(0)
2024	Nashville SC	4	(0)
2024	Houston Dynamo	11	(0)
2024	Houston Dynamo 2	1	(0)
2025–	New Mexico United	0	(0)
International career
2014–2015	United States U17	30	(5)
2016	United States U19	2	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 22, 2024

Orrin McKinze Gaines II (born March 2, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for USL Championship side New Mexico United.

Career

Gaines grew up in the Austin area where he played youth soccer for Lonestar Soccer Club.[1] On August 12, 2017, Gaines made his professional debut against Jahn Regensburg in the DFB-Pokal.

On July 8, 2019, Gaines signed with Sonnenhof Großaspach.[2]

Gaines joined Hannover 96 ahead of the 2020–21 season, starting with the team's reserve squad.[3] He made his debut for the first team against SC Paderborn in the 2. Bundesliga.[4] He left the club ahead of the 2021–22 season.[5]

Austin FC

On July 14, 2021, Gaines began trialing with Major League Soccer club Austin FC, coming on as a substitute in the club's friendly against Tigres UANL.[6] A couple weeks later, on July 30, Gaines officially joined Austin FC.[7]

Charlotte FC

On December 14, 2021, Gaines was selected by Charlotte FC in the 2021 MLS Expansion Draft.[8] He was released by Charlotte following their 2023 season.[9]

Nashville SC

On December 14, 2023, Gaines' rights were traded to Nashville SC in exchange for their second round 2024 MLS SuperDraft pick.[10]

Houston Dynamo

Gaines was again traded in 2024, moving to Houston Dynamo on April 23, 2024, in exchange for $75,000 in General Allocation Money.[11] On November 7, 2024, his contract expired with Houston following their 2024 season.[12]

New Mexico United

On January 27th, 2025 New Mexico United announced they had signed Gaines for the 2025 USL Championnship season.

Career statistics

As of match played August 26, 2021[13]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Darmstadt 98	2017–18	2. Bundesliga	2	0	1	0	—		3	0
	2018–19	2. Bundesliga	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	Total		2	0	1	0	0	0	3	0
FSV Zwickau (loan)	2018–19	3. Liga	9	0	0	0	—		9	0
Sonnenhof Großaspach	2019–20	3. Liga	24	3	0	0	—		24	3
Hannover 96 II	2020–21	Regionalliga	9	1	—		—		9	1
Hannover 96	2020–21	2. Bundesliga	1	0	0	0	—		1	0
	Total		43	4	0	0	0	0	43	4
Austin FC	2021[14]	Major League Soccer	9	1	—		—		9	1
Charlotte FC	2022[15]	Major League Soccer	24	1	3	2	—		27	3
Charlotte FC	2023[16]	Major League Soccer	7	0	1	0	—		8	0
	Total		40	2	4	2	0	0	44	4
Career total			85	6	5	2	0	0	90	8

References

1. "The Striker Texas".
2. "Sonnenhof Großaspach: McKinze Gaines II kommt". Liga-Drei.de (in German). July 8, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
3. Bils, Chris. "Soccer notebook: Round Rock native McKinze Gaines signs with Hannover". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
4. "Zahlreiche Chancen bleiben ungenutzt: Hannover und Paderborn trennen sich torlos". Kicker (in German). kicker. February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
5. "Akademie-Personalupdate: Vier Abgänge bei U19, Gaines verlässt 96". hannover96.de (in German). Hannover 96. June 16, 2021. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
6. Goodman, Eric (July 14, 2021). "Austin FC's Alternates Outclassed By Mexican Giants Tigres in Exhibition Match". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
7. Craven, Mike (July 30, 2021). "Round Rock native and former U.S. youth national team player McKinze Gaines signs with Austin FC". Austin-American Statesmen. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
8. Club, Charlotte Football. "Charlotte FC selects McKinze Gaines, Forward | 2021 MLS Expansion Draft | Charlotte FC". Charlotte Football Club.
9. Club, Charlotte Football. "Charlotte FC Announces End of Season Roster Decisions | Charlotte FC". Charlotte Football Club.
10. "Nashville SC acquire McKinze Gaines from Charlotte FC | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
11. "Houston Dynamo acquire McKinze Gaines from Nashville SC | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
12. FC, Houston Dynamo. "Houston Dynamo FC announce roster decisions following the 2024 season | Houston Dynamo". Houston Dynamo FC.
13. McKinze Gaines at Soccerway
14. "2021 Stats". AustinFC.com. Austin FC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
15. "2022 Stats". CharlotteFootballClub.com. Charlotte FC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
16. "2023 Stats". CharlotteFootballClub.com. Charlotte FC. Retrieved May 6, 2023.

External links

• McKinze Gaines at Soccerway