College and amateur
Farrell moved to Louisville from Peru before his sophomore year in high school. That year, he began playing for United 1996 FC (based in Louisville), as well as Atherton High School. Near the end of high school, Farrell accepted a soccer scholarship to the University of Louisville.
As a freshman at Louisville, Farrell started five games and appeared in 20 for the Cardinals being only one of two freshmen to break into the starting lineup. As a junior, he started in all 23 games for the Cardinals as a midfielder before moving back as a defender for the final nine games of the season. He was named to the NCAA Division I First-Team All-America and won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year Award after the Cardinals only allowed an average of 0.62 goals per game.
Farrell also spent the 2012 season in the USL Premier Development League with the Bradenton Academics and the River City Rovers. [6] [7]
Professional
On January 3, 2013, Farrell signed a Generation Adidas contract with the MLS, making him eligible for early entry into the 2013 MLS SuperDraft. [8] [9] Two weeks later, he was drafted first overall in the MLS SuperDraft by the New England Revolution, making him the first ever no. 1 pick in club history. [10] [11] [12]
On March 9, 2013, Farrell made his professional debut in the Revs 1–0 away victory over the Chicago Fire in the club's first game of the 2013 season. [13] [14] He made 32 appearances for the Revolution during his rookie season, [15] and recorded his first assist in a Revolution jersey on June 2, 2013, setting up Kelyn Rowe's 94th minute goal in the Revolution's 5-0 win over the LA Galaxy. [16] MLS listed Farrell at no. 9 on its annual "24 under 24" list of best young players. [17]
Farrell became a fixture on the Revolution over the coming seasons, leading the club in matches started in 2017, 2021, and 2022. [15] He additionally led the team in minutes played in 2017 and 2021. [15]
Farrell was named Revolution team Defender of the Year a club-record five separate occasions (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022). [18] In doing so, he became the first Revolution player to win the honor in back-to-back seasons since Michael Parkhurst in 2007 and 2008, and the only Revolution player to ever win the honor in back-to-back seasons on two separate occasions. [15]
In 2016, Farrell was named an MLS All-Star. [19] He was also named Revolution team Humanitarian of the Year in 2018, 2023, and 2024. [15] [20] [21]
Farrell's scored his first professional goal on April 6, 2018, in the Revolution's 4-0 win over the Montreal Impact. [22] That game also marked Farrell's 163rd career start, which tied him with Taylor Twellman for 7th-most in club history. [22]
On August 8, 2021, Farrell set a new club record making his 255th career start in a 2–1 win over the Philadelphia Union, passing the previous all-time starts mark set by Shalrie Joseph. [23] Farrell also holds the club record for minutes played, which was achieved on August 18, 2021, in a 3–2 win over D.C. United. [24] On September 30, 2023, Farrell made his 350th career start for the Revolution across all competitions, the most of any player in Revolution history. [25]
