FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – At just 21 years old, Brooklyn Raines already brings five years of MLS experience to New England. The midfielder signed with the Houston Dynamo when he was 16 years old, working his way up to becoming a regular starter for the Western Conference side before heading east to join the Revolution this past December.

Raines has been a fixture in the United States Youth National Team system, elevating from the U-17s to the U-21s and competing at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile. His performances on the international stage earned him a nomination for U.S. Soccer’s 2025 Young Male Player of the Year and a spot on MLS’s 22 Under 22 list.

There are plenty of reasons proving why Raines has earned a place in New England’s starting lineup this season, but if you ask him, he’ll say it’s all because of his mom.

“She’s my biggest supporter, so I give a lot of props to her,” Raines said. “One of my goals in my career is to give back and make enough money – not that money is my main goal – but just so she doesn’t have to work anymore. She’s done so much for me and my siblings, so that’s one of my motivations when I play. It’s always in the back of my mind that my mom is the reason why I play this game.”

Raines was born in Liberia, but when he was just over a year old, he was adopted by his mom and grew up in Chicago. As a schoolteacher, she had a lot on her plate as she raised Raines and his four siblings, who were also all adopted.

“My mom is a single mom, raising five kids. I can't imagine what that was like just because we were all a disaster when we were young,” he said with a laugh.

As she supported Raines and his siblings through all their sports and activities, he found himself inspired to follow in her footsteps. His mom, a soccer player herself, played through college. He tried basketball and baseball, but nothing stuck like soccer. Now, he gets to continue bonding with her through the sport.

“Soccer was the only thing that I really wanted to do. At that time, I always wanted to go pro, but I didn't think about the process,” he explained. “At the club level when I was about 13, just going through the ranks at the Barca Academy, I think that's when I realized that this is something I’m really good at and can take a step further. It was something that would not only benefit me, but also my family, so from that standpoint it motivated me a lot.”

Now, Raines not only has his family inspiring him, but he’s also gained extra confidence since reuniting with head coach Marko Mitrović, who worked with him at the United States U‑17 level through the 2025 U‑20 World Cup.

“I don’t have a negative thing to say about Marko. He’s helped me so much in my career, and to be here with the Revs and with him just having that trust that I can help the team, it really makes me feel so good to have a head coach who puts so much trust in me,” Raines explained. “In my time here, I’ve gained the trust of the team and other players. I've built a lot of chemistry with Carles (Gil), and hopefully we can continue to build off that and the rest of the guys, too.”

While Raines feels confident in where he is and what the team is building in New England, he also knows that he’s in a unique position. As such a young player who has already spent years in the professional ranks, it takes a strong mentality to balance how far he’s come with how far he still wants to go. He grounds himself in remembering that his journey is his own.

“I heard this saying like, ‘how can you be behind when you're the only one who is on your path?’ That always reminds me that it is a process, but to enjoy the process,” he said. “Finding that balance in between soccer and life outside of soccer definitely helps and just taking it one step at a time. Again, I know I say it a lot, but always being humble, while always wanting to take things a step higher.”

With the Revs sitting second in the Eastern Conference standings, carrying a seven-game unbeaten streak, and owning a perfect 6‑0-0 record at home, New England feels like the place where Raines can grow. He’s part of the identity the Revs are building, and as the Revolution continue to take steps forward, with his mom always watching, it feels like his career will rise right along with them.