Born in Toronto, Franklin began playing soccer at age four with Beach Community Soccer.[1][2] Shortly after he began to play with Power Soccer Academy.[3] When he was 9, his family moved to Chicago, where he began playing with Evanston SC before quickly joining the academy of Major League Soccer club Chicago Fire.[3] He later returned to Toronto, joining the Toronto FC Academy in February 2017.[4]
Club career
He made his senior debut playing for the Senior Academy team, Toronto FC III, on August 19, 2018, in League1 Ontario against Ottawa South United, scoring a 94th minute goal, becoming the youngest ever goal scorer in League1 Ontario at the age of 15 years, 3 months.[5]
On May 13, 2021, he signed his first professional contract with Toronto FC II of USL League One to join the team for the 2021 season.[4] He made his debut for Toronto FC II on May 22, 2021, against North Texas SC.[6] He scored his first professional goal on August 18 against Forward Madison.[7] On October 1, he recorded two assists and set up a third goal (although was not credited with a third assist) in a 3–0 victory over North Carolina FC.[8] For the 2021 season, he was named a league First Team All-Star and was a finalist for both the USL League One Young Player of the Year and Defender of the Year awards.[9][10] He was subsequently invited to training camp with the first team ahead of the 2022 season (and once again for the 2023 season).[11]
On April 1, 2022, he joined the first team, Toronto FC on a short-term four-day loan.[12] He signed additional four day loans on April 23, May 4, and May 7.[13][14][15] He made his Major League Soccer debut on May 4, 2022, as a second half substitute against FC Cincinnati.[16] In February 2023, he signed a two-year homegrown player contract with two option years with Toronto FC.[17][18] After a few substitute appearances, Franklin made his first start on April 29, 2023 against New York City FC.[19][20] On August 4, 2024, he scored his first goal for the club, netting the winning goal, in a 2-1 victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the 2024 Leagues Cup.[21][22]