Field Insider
28
23.1%
Ratingi
30.7
59.1%
Seasoni
4.8
Valuei

Profile

Full nameNkosi Tafari Burgess
PositionCentre-back
NationalityUSA
Age29
Date of birth23 Mar 1997
BirthplaceManhattan
Height193 cm
Shirt number#91
ClubLos Angeles FC
Centre-back

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
26
Appearances
0
Goals
0
Assists
2001
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Los Angeles FC.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
Major League Soccer260020016.99
Leagues Cup300957
CONCACAF Champions League300196.55

Scout report

Project playerBall-winning Central defender

N. Tafari is a 29-year-old central defender at Los Angeles FC, enjoying a standout season — 0 goals and 0 assists in 26 appearances, a Season grade of 31, top 20% of Major League Soccer centre-backs. On long-term scout potential he's rated 28, ranking 335th of 513 in the Major League Soccer. An experienced operator, he has been a regular starter (60.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 4.23 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Tafari.

Judged on this season alone, Tafari graded 31 — a strong campaign that ranks top 20% of the 87 centre-backs in the Major League Soccer, on 7 clean sheets and 4.228 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 19 → 31). Across the 5 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 28, 52nd of 87 of the 87 centre-backs in the Major League Soccer. At 29 Tafari is in his prime years, and a market index of 4.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Tafari is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending up
Current potential52nd of 87 centre-backs · Major League SoccerCurrent seasonTop 20% centre-backs · Major League Soccer17th-best centre-back in the Major League Soccer335th in the Major League Soccer · potential52nd-highest potential centre-back in the Major League Soccer
28
Ratingi
52nd of 87 centre-backs
30.7
Seasoni
below regular-starter level
60.1%
Minutes
a regular starter
4.23
Def. actions / 90
solid defensive volume

Output in context · Los Angeles FC finished 3rd of 15 · an upper-table side

4.23
Def. / 90
41
Tackles
26
Interceptions
7
Clean sheets

4.23 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 7 clean sheets across 26 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (3rd of 15) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume.

Strengths

  • Availability. On the pitch for 60.1% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
  • Defensive volume. 4.23 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

  • Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 28, Tafari carries the 52nd-highest potential of the centre-backs in the Major League Soccer of 87. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (4.23 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.1× now → 0.8× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.