Raheem Edwards Family: Girlfriend, Son, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on September 30, 2026 by James

Raheem Edwards is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a defender and wing-back for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer. Born on July 17, 1995, in Toronto, Ontario, and raised in Mississauga, Edwards has spent most of his professional career in MLS, representing clubs including Toronto FC, CF Montréal, Chicago Fire, Minnesota United, LAFC, LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls.

Family has played an important role throughout Edwards’s journey. His parents are Peter Phillips and Carla Edwards, and Canada Soccer identifies Zachary Gowlett as his brother. Raheem is also a father himself: he has a son named Kai, whom he has publicly described as one of his greatest motivations. Edwards previously spoke openly about having a girlfriend, although reliable recent sources do not establish her identity or confirm his current relationship status.

Who Is Raheem Edwards’s Girlfriend?

Raheem Edwards has previously confirmed that he was in a relationship, but he has kept his partner’s identity largely outside the public spotlight.

In a 2019 Father’s Day interview published by the MLS Players Association, Edwards spoke directly about balancing professional football with being a father. He explained that when he travelled for matches, he regularly used FaceTime to stay connected with his son and his girlfriend.

Edwards also described his son as resembling both himself and his girlfriend, confirming that the couple were together during that period.

However, the MLS Players Association article did not identify his girlfriend by name. Reliable recent sources reviewed also do not establish whether Edwards is still in the same relationship, whether he has married, or whether his relationship status has otherwise changed.

As of now, it is therefore most accurate to say that Edwards publicly confirmed having a girlfriend in 2019 while keeping her identity private. A current partner should not be identified based solely on social-media photographs or unverified celebrity-profile websites.

Does Raheem Edwards Have Children?

Yes. Raheem Edwards has at least one publicly confirmed child, a son named Kai.

The MLS Players Association confirmed in 2019 that Edwards was in his second season as a father to Kai. Edwards spoke extensively about how fatherhood had changed both his personality and his approach to professional soccer.

He explained that becoming responsible for another person made him more focused and serious on and off the field. His comments also showed that fatherhood had become one of the most important parts of his life away from soccer.

Minnesota United later asked Edwards what motivated him to work hard, and he answered that his child and his family were major reasons. He also said that becoming a father was something that made him proud.

Kai – Raheem Edwards’s Son

Kai is Raheem Edwards’s publicly confirmed son. Edwards was already describing himself as a second-year father in June 2019, indicating that Kai had been born approximately two years earlier.

One of Edwards’s favourite memories involving Kai came during his time with the Chicago Fire. Edwards recalled the first time his son attended one of his matches in Chicago.

Kai was still very young and initially did not fully understand that his father was playing on the field. Once he recognized Raheem, Edwards remembered receiving an especially bright smile from his son.

The moment remained memorable enough for Edwards to mention it when asked about his favourite soccer experience with his child.

As of now, reliable public sources clearly establish Kai as Edwards’s son. I did not find sufficiently reliable evidence confirming additional children, so it would be inappropriate to increase the number based on unverified online claims.

Who Are Raheem Edwards’s Parents?

Raheem Edwards’s parents are Peter Phillips and Carla Edwards. Their names are officially documented by Team Canada in Edwards’s athlete biography from his participation in the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games.

His parents influenced his childhood in different ways. Team Canada states that his father introduced him to soccer when he was approximately seven years old, while reporting from his longtime youth club highlights the major sacrifices made by his mother as she supported his development.

Edwards grew up in Mississauga and spent almost his entire youth career with Erin Mills Soccer Club. Financial challenges occasionally made continuing in competitive soccer difficult, but support from his mother and the club helped keep him involved in the sport.

Peter Phillips – Raheem Edwards’s Father

Peter Phillips is Raheem Edwards’s father. Team Canada officially identifies Peter alongside Carla Edwards as Raheem’s parents.

Peter also played an important role in introducing Raheem to soccer. According to Team Canada’s official athlete biography, Edwards began playing at approximately seven years old after being introduced to the sport by his father.

That introduction ultimately became the starting point of a professional career that would take Raheem through multiple Major League Soccer clubs and into the Canadian national team.

Reliable public information about Peter’s occupation and personal life is limited. He has not maintained the type of public profile associated with his son, so details beyond his confirmed relationship to Raheem and his role in introducing him to soccer should not be inferred.

Carla Edwards – Raheem Edwards’s Mother

Carla Edwards is Raheem Edwards’s mother and appears to have played an especially important role during the difficult financial periods of his youth football journey.

Erin Mills Soccer Club has described Carla as a single parent during part of Raheem’s development. According to the club, Edwards at one stage considered quitting soccer because he saw how difficult it was for his mother to manage the costs associated with his participation.

Erin Mills helped the family wherever possible so that Raheem could continue playing.

The experience appears to have stayed with Edwards throughout his career. He remained with Erin Mills from childhood until approximately age 19 and has repeatedly expressed gratitude toward the community club for giving him the opportunity to continue pursuing football.

Toronto FC has also provided small glimpses of Raheem’s relationship with his mother. When discussing growing up as a Toronto FC supporter, Edwards recalled repeatedly asking his mother to take him to matches at BMO Field, although she would not agree at the time.

Years later, he eventually reached the same stadium as a Toronto FC professional.

Does Raheem Edwards Have Siblings?

Yes. Canada Soccer identifies Zachary Gowlett as Raheem Edwards’s brother.

Edwards has also spoken about growing up with an older brother who played soccer and strongly influenced his competitive personality.

Canada Soccer records Edwards describing his childhood household as highly competitive. Because his older brother played soccer, Raheem constantly wanted to prove that he could be the better player.

Rather than damaging their relationship, the competition helped push Edwards to improve and became part of the mentality that eventually carried him into professional soccer.

Zachary Gowlett – Raheem Edwards’s Brother

Zachary Gowlett is the brother publicly identified in Raheem Edwards’s official Canada Soccer biography.

Edwards has described his older brother as someone who pushed him to become a stronger soccer player. While growing up, Raheem wanted to outperform him, which helped create the competitive drive that characterized his development.

Zachary did not go on to develop the same widely documented Major League Soccer career as Raheem, and reliable public information concerning his adult occupation or personal life is limited.

Because he maintains a comparatively private profile, details beyond the sibling relationship and childhood soccer connection should not be inferred from social-media accounts.

Raheem Edwards’s Childhood in Mississauga

Edwards was born in Toronto but grew up in Mississauga, Ontario. Canada Soccer states that he started playing soccer at approximately six years old with Erin Mills Soccer Club.

Edwards remained associated with Erin Mills for most of his childhood and teenage development, eventually spending roughly a decade with the organization.

He has described those years as some of his happiest football memories. Growing up in the Greater Toronto Area also allowed him to compete against several players who later became Canadian internationals, including Cyle Larin and Jordan Hamilton.

The family household itself was highly competitive. Edwards has said that having an older soccer-playing brother made him determined to prove himself from an early age.

How Raheem Edwards’s Mother and Youth Club Kept His Dream Alive

Edwards’s rise to professional soccer was not straightforward. Financial pressures meant that continuing competitive youth soccer was sometimes difficult for his family.

Erin Mills Soccer Club later revealed that Raheem considered quitting because he did not want his mother to continue struggling as a single parent to support the expense of his football.

The club stepped in and provided assistance that allowed him to remain involved.

Edwards has never forgotten that support. In a later interview, he credited Erin Mills with playing a major role in his development and emphasized how much he owed the organization for helping him progress.

His story therefore involved not only individual talent but also sacrifices from his mother and support from the local community around the family.

Raheem Edwards’s Parents and the Beginning of His Soccer Career

Interestingly, both parents feature in different parts of Edwards’s early football story.

Team Canada credits his father, Peter Phillips, with introducing him to the sport at approximately seven years old. His mother Carla, meanwhile, became particularly important in ensuring that he could continue playing during financially difficult periods.

Those two pieces of information are not contradictory. They reflect different stages and roles within Edwards’s development: his father introduced the game, while his mother later made major sacrifices to help maintain his involvement.

From Erin Mills, Edwards moved through Sheridan College and eventually Toronto FC’s academy structure, turning his childhood interest into a professional career.

Raheem Edwards’s Time at Sheridan College

Before becoming an established professional, Edwards played college soccer for the Sheridan Bruins.

His 2014 season was particularly successful. Edwards scored eight goals in seven appearances and was named Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Freshman of the Year.

He was also part of Sheridan’s Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association championship-winning team.

The experience was crucial because teammate Mo Babouli encouraged Edwards to believe he was good enough to pursue an opportunity with Toronto FC.

Edwards later admitted that he initially doubted whether he belonged at that level. Babouli helped convince him to attend a Toronto FC trial, beginning the next stage of his career.

Raheem Edwards’s First Toronto FC Journey

Edwards entered Toronto FC’s system in 2015 and quickly moved into Toronto FC II.

He made his professional debut that year and continued progressing until earning first-team opportunities in 2016.

Toronto signed him permanently to the MLS first team in 2017, making Edwards the 14th academy graduate in club history to receive a first-team contract.

That season became one of the most successful in Toronto FC history. Edwards was part of the squad that won the Canadian Championship, Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup.

For a player who had grown up close to Toronto and once asked his mother to take him to games at BMO Field, becoming an MLS Cup winner with the club represented a remarkable transformation.

Fatherhood Changed Raheem Edwards

Edwards became a father relatively early in his professional career, and he has spoken openly about how the experience changed him.

In his 2019 interview with the MLS Players Association, Edwards explained that fatherhood created greater responsibility in his life. Knowing that he needed to provide for his son made him more serious and focused.

Travel was one of the more difficult aspects of combining professional football with parenting. Edwards said he regularly used video calls while away so that he could remain connected with Kai and his girlfriend.

By the time he played for Minnesota United, he was still identifying his child and family as the primary motivation behind his work.

Why Being Closer to Family Became Important

Edwards spent several years away from the Toronto area as his MLS career moved him around North America.

He played for Montréal, Chicago, Minnesota, LAFC and LA Galaxy before returning to Montréal for the 2024 season.

When the LA Galaxy traded Edwards to CF Montréal in December 2023, the club specifically noted that the move would allow him to be closer to his family in Canada.

That statement demonstrated that family remained an important consideration even as Edwards entered the veteran stage of his professional career.

After spending the 2025 season with the New York Red Bulls, another opportunity eventually brought him even closer to home.

Raheem Edwards’s Return to Toronto FC

Edwards returned to Toronto FC in February 2026 after being waived by Red Bull New York.

The move reunited him with his original MLS club almost nine years after his first spell ended.

Edwards later explained that Toronto was immediately the club he wanted to join once he became available. Being a Greater Toronto Area native made the move particularly meaningful.

Toronto FC’s current roster lists him as a defender wearing number 44, the number closely associated with his original period with the club.

His return also placed him back in the region where his parents, brother and childhood soccer experiences had helped shape his career.

Raheem Edwards’s Family Heritage

Edwards was born in Canada and has represented Canada internationally, but his family also has Jamaican roots.

That heritage became particularly notable when Canada faced Jamaica during Edwards’s international career, highlighting the multicultural family backgrounds shared by many players in the Canadian national-team program.

Edwards nevertheless grew up entirely within the Canadian football environment, spending his childhood in Mississauga and eventually representing Canada at Under-23 and senior level.

Frequently Asked Questions About Raheem Edwards’s Family

Who are Raheem Edwards’s parents?

Raheem Edwards’s parents are Peter Phillips and Carla Edwards. Team Canada officially identifies both in his athlete biography.

Who is Raheem Edwards’s father?

Raheem’s father is Peter Phillips. Team Canada states that his father introduced him to soccer when he was approximately seven years old.

Who is Raheem Edwards’s mother?

Raheem Edwards’s mother is Carla Edwards. Erin Mills Soccer Club has documented the sacrifices she made as a single parent while trying to keep Raheem involved in youth soccer.

Does Raheem Edwards have siblings?

Yes. Canada Soccer identifies Zachary Gowlett as his brother. Edwards has also spoken about how competing against his older brother during childhood pushed him to become a better soccer player.

Who is Zachary Gowlett?

Zachary Gowlett is Raheem Edwards’s brother. He played soccer during their childhood and helped create the competitive environment that Raheem credits with improving his own game.

Does Raheem Edwards have children?

Yes. Edwards has at least one publicly confirmed child, his son Kai.

Who is Raheem Edwards’s son?

His son is named Kai. Edwards has publicly discussed fatherhood and described Kai as a major source of motivation in his life and career.

Who is Raheem Edwards’s girlfriend?

Edwards confirmed in 2019 that he had a girlfriend and that she was the mother of his son, but the reliable source did not identify her by name. As of now, reliable current sources do not clearly establish his relationship status.

Is Raheem Edwards married?

As of now, I found no reliable public source clearly confirming that Raheem Edwards is married.

Does Raheem Edwards have more than one child?

Reliable sources clearly confirm his son Kai. As of now, I found no sufficiently authoritative source confirming additional children, so Kai is the only child who can be confidently identified publicly.

Where did Raheem Edwards grow up?

Edwards was born in Toronto and grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, where he spent most of his youth career with Erin Mills Soccer Club.