Jump to content

John Tolkin

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John "JMi" Tolkin
Tolkin with Holstein Kiel in 2026
Personal information
Full name John Michael Tolkin[1]
Date of birth (2002-07-31) July 31, 2002 (age 24)
Place of birth Chatham, New Jersey, United States
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)[2]
Position Left-back
Team information
Current team
 Holstein Kiel
Number 47
Youth career
2015–2019 New York Red Bulls
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 New York Red Bulls II 26 (0)
2020–2025 New York Red Bulls 114 (7)
2025– Holstein Kiel 38 (1)
International career‡
2018–2019 United States U17 8 (0)
2023–2024 United States U23 11 (0)
2023– United States 10 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  United States
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Runner-up2025 Canada–United States
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 18, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of November 18, 2025

John Michael Tolkin (born July 31, 2002), nicknamed "JMi", is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left-back for 2. Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel and the United States national team. He competed for the United States at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[3]

Club career

[edit]

Early career

[edit]

Tolkin was raised in Chatham Borough, New Jersey,[4] where he attended Chatham High School.[5] Tolkin joined the New York Red Bulls Academy in 2015.[6] During the 2019 USL Championship season he appeared for New York Red Bulls II.[7] He made his professional debut on July 10, 2019, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 4–3 victory over Bethlehem Steel. During the match, he recorded his first professional assist on Tom Barlow's equalizer in the 82nd minute.[8]

New York Red Bulls

[edit]

After appearing for New York Red Bulls II in 2019, Tolkin moved up to the club's MLS roster on January 14, 2020.[9] Tolkin made his MLS debut on May 8, 2021, appearing as a substitute against Toronto FC in a 2–0 victory.[10] On May 29, 2021, Tolkin made his first start for the club in a 2–1 victory over Orlando City SC, earning praise for his play during the match.[11] Tolkin scored his first professional goal on August 18, 2021, in a 1–0 win against the Columbus Crew.[12]

On May 10, 2022, Tolkin scored his first goal of the season for New York in a 3–0 victory over DC United, helping his club advance to the round of 16 in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.[13] On August 18, 2022, Tolkin helped New York to a 2–1 victory over Atlanta United scoring the deciding goal.[14] On October 5, 2022, Tolkin signed a new contract with New York tying him to the club until 2027, with an option for 2028 [15] On November 18, 2022, Tolkin was named New York Red Bulls Defender of the Year for the 2022 season.[16]

Tolkin (in black) playing in the 2023 MLS All-Star Game against Arsenal in 2023

On August 20, 2023, Tolkin scored his first goal of the season for New York, an 88th-minute free kick, to help his club to a 1–0 victory over rival DC United.[17] On October 21, 2023, Tolkin scored from the penalty spot in stoppage time to lead New York to a 1–0 victory over Nashville SC. With this win the club qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for a record 14 straight seasons.[18] On October 25, 2023, Tolkin scored on a freekick and assisted on two other goals for New York in a 5–2 victory over Charlotte FC, helping his club advance to the first round of the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.[19]

On 1 June 2024, Tolkin made his 100th league appearance for New York, a match in which he scored on a free kick in a 1–0 victory over Orlando City SC.[20] On 30 November 2024, Tolkin assisted Andrés Reyes on his headed set piece goal against Orlando City SC, sending the Red Bulls to MLS Cup 2024 in a 1–0 victory,[21] where they went on to lose 2-1 to the LA Galaxy.

Holstein Kiel

[edit]

On January 16, 2025, Tolkin transferred to Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel for a transfer fee of $3 million including a sell on fee.[22] A day after the signing, due to outcry from some fans, the club released a statement in which Tolkin distanced himself again from his controversial social media likes, maintaining they are incompatible with his personal values and that he respects all people.[23] Tolkin had previously liked social media posts mocking the LGBTQ community, critical of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, questioning the existence of gravity and the January 6 United States Capitol attack and supporting flat Earth beliefs.[24][25] Tolkin had also previously apologized for the behavior in a CBS Golazo interview during the 2024 Olympic games.[26]

Tolkin made his debut for Holstein Kiel, when he came on in the 79th-minute for Dominik Javorček in a 2–2 draw with VfL Wolfsburg on January 24.[27][28]

Personal life

[edit]

Tolkin's uncle gave him the nickname "JMi" when he was young, and his teammates and family refer to him as "JMi".[29] He says he does not answer to "John".[30]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played August 30, 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
New York Red Bulls II
2019 USL 130———130
2020 120———120
2021 10———10
Total 260———260
New York Red Bulls 2020 MLS ————00
2021 281——1[a]0291
2022 31151—1[a]0372
2023 273204[b]03[a]1364
2024 282——5[a]0332
Total 114771401011359
Holstein Kiel 2024–25 Bundesliga 110———110
2025–26 2. Bundesliga 27141——312
Total 38141——422
Career total 17881124010117711
  1. 1 2 3 4 Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
  2. ↑ Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

[edit]
As of match played November 18, 2025[31]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 202330
202410
202560
Total100

Honors

[edit]

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "National team roster – 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals: USA" (PDF). CONCACAF. May 19, 2023. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  2. ↑ "John Tolkin". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ↑ "TOLKIN John". Paris 2024 Olympics. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. (alternate link)
  4. ↑ Havsy, Jane. "Chatham teen to represent U.S. in CONCACAF U-17 championship", Daily Record (Morristown), April 22, 2019. Accessed October 1, 2019. "John Tolkin of Chatham has been called in to the U.S. Soccer under-17 national team ahead of the CONCACAF U-17 Championship at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida."
  5. ↑ John Tolkin, TopDrawerSoccer.com. Accessed October 1, 2019. "High School: Chatham"
  6. ↑ "New York Red Bulls". nyrb.ussoccerda.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  7. ↑ "John Tolkin - uslchampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com.
  8. ↑ "Match Recap: NYRB II Complete Three-Goal Comeback at Bethlehem". newyorkredbulls.com.
  9. ↑ "NYRB sign academy product John Tolkin". www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  10. ↑ "Red Bulls earn second shutout". www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  11. ↑ "Recap: New York Red Bulls 2, Orlando City SC 1". www.mlssoccer.com.
  12. ↑ "Recap: New York Red Bulls 1, Columbus Crew 0". www.mlssoccer.com.
  13. ↑ "Red Bulls Roll to 3–0 Victory, Advance to Open Cup Round of 16". www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  14. ↑ "TOLKIN SCORES LIFT RED BULLS PAST ATLANTA UNITED 2–1". www.foxsports.com.
  15. ↑ "New York Red Bulls Sign Chatham, N.J. Native John Tolkin to a New MLS Contract".
  16. ↑ "New York Red Bulls Announce 2022 Team Awards". newyorkredbulls.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  17. ↑ "JMi's Free Kick Goal Secures Win vs. D.C." newyorkredbulls.com. August 20, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
  18. ↑ "'New Finish Line': Red Bulls Win When It Means The Most, Look To Start 'Real Season'". newyorkredbulls.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  19. ↑ "New York Red Bulls make statement in Wild Card rout: "Not too bad, huh?"". mlssoccer.com. October 26, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Tolkin Free Kick Powers Red Bulls to Three Points". newyorkredbulls.com. June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Red Bulls Win, Advance to MLS Cup". New York Red Bulls.
  22. ↑ "Rekordtransfer perfekt: Kiel holt Tolkin aus den USA" [Record transfer perfect: Kiel sign Tolkin from the USA]. Kicker (in German). January 16, 2025. Retrieved January 16, 2025.
  23. ↑ "KSV-Stellungnahme zu Kritik an John Tolkin". Holstein Kiel (in German). January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  24. ↑ Vertelney, Seth (January 17, 2025). "Tolkin regrets social media activity amid outcry from Holstein Kiel fans". Pro Soccer Wire. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  25. ↑ "US national team player John Tolkin says he has regrets over past social media activity". Associated Press. January 17, 2025. Retrieved January 19, 2025.
  26. ↑ @CBSSportsGolazo (July 26, 2024). "NY Red Bulls and USYNT defender John Tolkin addresses the controversial social media posts he interacted with recently" (Tweet). Retrieved January 19, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  27. ↑ "Wolfsburg vs. Holstein Kiel". Soccerway. January 24, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Holsten Kiel strikes late to grab point at Wolfsburg and end road losing streak". Associated Press. January 24, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  29. ↑ "New York Red Bulls - John Tolkin". Red Bull. February 28, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024. New York Red Bulls defender John Tolkin—known professionally as JMi—has always wanted more from life.
  30. ↑ Davis, Noah (May 24, 2023). "John Tolkin's hair, impressive play are impossible to ignore". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
  31. ↑ John Tolkin at National-Football-Teams.com
  32. ↑ "2023 MLS All-Star Team Roster". Major League Soccer. July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Tolkin&oldid=1369680001"