Kaku built a career spanning Argentina, MLS, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE before leading Paraguay into the World Cup.
Here’s a full breakdown of Alejandro Romero Gamarra’s net worth, salary, and earnings as he takes the global stage.
Alejandro Romero Gamarra’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alejandro Sebastián Romero Gamarra |
| Known As | Kaku |
| Date of Birth | January 11, 1995 |
| Age | 31 |
| Nationality | Argentine-born, represents Paraguay |
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) |
| Position | Attacking Midfielder / Winger |
| Current Club | Al Ain FC (UAE Pro League) |
| Turned Professional | 2013 (Huracán) |
| Net Worth | Approximately $6 million |
| Annual Salary | Approximately £1.7 million (per Salary Sport estimates) |
| Market Value | €4.50 million (Transfermarkt) |
| Relationship Status | Married, wife Karen, two children |
Early Life and Career
Kaku grew up in Ciudadela, a working-class neighborhood just outside Buenos Aires, near the area made famous by Carlos Tevez’s upbringing. He was one of twelve siblings — six sisters and five brothers — in a household where football quickly became a way out.
His mother played a defining role in his early life, helping shape his approach to money and discipline long before he signed his first professional contract, a connection he later honored by wearing “R. Gamarra,” her surname, on the back of his New York Red Bulls jersey.
He joined the Huracán academy as a boy and worked his way up through the club’s youth ranks in a country famous for producing technically gifted attacking players.
Standing out in a market saturated with talent wasn’t easy, but coaches noticed his game intelligence and composure early.
He signed his first professional terms with Huracán in 2013 and made his senior debut not long after, stepping into Argentina’s lower-division football before the club’s eventual promotion back to the Primera División.
His breakout moments came in continental competition. He scored in the Copa Libertadores against Alianza Lima in 2015, and a year later netted the only goal in a famous away win over Peñarol at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario.
By the time he scored his first Argentine top-flight goal in 2016, Kaku had established himself as one of Huracán’s most creative outlets, a reputation that would eventually carry him beyond Argentina.
Professional Career
Kaku’s rise through Huracán peaked with the 2013–14 Copa Argentina and Supercopa Argentina titles, and he became a regular contributor in both league and continental competitions, finishing his Huracán spell with 109 appearances, 10 goals, and 13 assists between 2013 and 2017.
His performances for the club, including a penalty equalizer against Boca Juniors and a decisive goal that helped Huracán avoid relegation in 2017, made him one of the most sought-after creative midfielders in the Argentine league.
In December 2017, Huracán agreed to transfer him to the New York Red Bulls for a reported $6.25 million, and after a visa delay pushed the move back, he officially signed in February 2018 as the club’s first-ever Young Designated Player, a milestone the New York Red Bulls’ official player records still highlight.
He delivered immediately, recording six goals and a league-leading 14 assists in his debut MLS season.
Across three seasons with the Red Bulls, he made 87 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals and providing 21 assists, and by 2020 his MLS regular-season assist tally had climbed to 25, placing him among the league’s most productive playmakers at the club.
After his Red Bulls spell ended in 2021, Kaku moved to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun before completing a transfer to Al Ain FC in the UAE Pro League in 2023, a move that Transfermarkt’s transfer history values at around €5 million.
At Al Ain, he has continued to feature prominently, and his ESPN player profile tracks his role in continental competition alongside teammates such as Park Yong-Woo.
Internationally, Kaku represents Paraguay, earning 33 senior caps and scoring 5 goals, and Paraguay’s official 2026 World Cup squad announcement confirmed his place in Gustavo Alfaro’s group-stage roster against Germany.
Wife
Kaku is married to his wife, Karen, whom he met at age 14 growing up around the corner from each other in Ciudadela.
The couple have two young children together and split their time between his playing career abroad and regular visits back to Argentina, which Kaku has said are important so his kids stay connected to where the family comes from.
Karen’s parents are also of Paraguayan descent, mirroring Kaku’s own family background.
Alejandro Romero Gamarra’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Alejandro Romero Gamarra’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $6 million.
He built this wealth through a professional career spanning Argentina’s Primera División, Major League Soccer, the Saudi Professional League, and the UAE Pro League, supported by two notable transfer fees: a $6.25 million move to the New York Red Bulls in 2018 and a roughly €5 million transfer to Al Ain in 2023.
Contract
Kaku’s current deal with Al Ain FC runs through June 30, 2026, having joined the club on July 1, 2023.
Transfermarkt lists his market value at €4.50 million, reflecting his continued role as a regular starter in the UAE Pro League and his consistent performances in continental competition.
No contract extension has been officially confirmed as of this writing, and his market value will likely be reassessed depending on his role for Paraguay at the World Cup.
Salary
Salary databases, including Salary Sport’s player wage tracker, place Kaku’s current earnings at roughly £33,000 per week, or about £1.7 million annually, during his time at Al Ain.
His highest-earning seasons came earlier in his career, particularly during his Designated Player years with the New York Red Bulls and his subsequent move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Taawoun, both of which carried salary structures well above typical MLS and Pro League averages for non-marquee players.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2013–2017 | Huracán | Developed through youth ranks to first team; transfer fee of $6.25 million paid by New York Red Bulls |
| 2018–2021 | New York Red Bulls | Signed as club’s first Young Designated Player; among MLS’s top playmakers |
| 2021–2023 | Al-Taawoun | Moved to Saudi Pro League |
| 2023–present | Al Ain FC | Joined for a reported €5 million transfer fee; contract through June 2026 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huracán (2013–2017) | 109 | 10 | 13 |
| New York Red Bulls (2018–2021) | 87 | 14 | 21 |
| Al Ain FC (since 2023, latest recorded run) | 61 (league) | 15 (league) | — |
| Paraguay (international) | 33 caps | 5 | — |
FAQs
What is Alejandro Romero Gamarra’s net worth?
Kaku’s estimated net worth is approximately $6 million, built through his club career across Argentina, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
How much does Kaku earn at Al Ain FC?
Reported figures place his salary at around £33,000 per week, or roughly £1.7 million per year, while playing for Al Ain in the UAE Pro League.
Why is Kaku playing for Paraguay instead of Argentina?
Although born in Argentina, Kaku qualifies for Paraguay through family heritage and has represented the Paraguay national team since 2018, earning 33 caps.
What was Kaku’s transfer fee to the New York Red Bulls?
Huracán transferred Kaku to the New York Red Bulls in February 2018 for a reported $6.25 million, making him the club’s first Young Designated Player.
Is Kaku married?
Yes, Kaku is married to his wife Karen, whom he has known since childhood in Ciudadela. The couple have two children together.
