BIOGRAPHY
Jalil Anibaba was born October 19, 1988, in Fontana, California. He is a defender in Major League Soccer.
He attended Davis Senior High School, where in his senior season he was the California Gatorade Soccer Player of the year, and played college soccer at Santa Clara University for the first three years of his college career. In 2009, Anibaba captained the Broncos, who were selected for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-West Region team.
For his senior season he transferred to the University of North Carolina, where he won numerous awards, including NSCAA Second Team All-America, NSCAA First Team All-Region, First Team All-ACC, ACC All-Tournament Team and 2007 WCC Freshman of the Year. Anibaba made twelve appearances for USL Premier Development League club Carolina Dynamo during their 2010 season.
On January 14, 2011, Anibaba was drafted #9 overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft by the Chicago Fire. He made his professional debut on March 19, 2011, in Chicago's first game of the 2011 MLS season, a 1–1 tie with FC Dallas, and scored his first professional goal – a 40-yard screamer – on March 30, 2011 in a 2–1 victory over the Colorado Rapids in the qualifying round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. Anibaba would go on to tally two more goals in the 2011 season finale, heading home two strikes in the space of 19 minutes in a 3–2 win vs. Columbus Crew on October 22, 2011. Anibaba closed out his first season in MLS setting a club record for regular season appearances by a rookie with 29 and had his March 30 strike vs. Colorado voted the team's "Goal of the Year" by the team's fans following the campaign.
After three seasons with Chicago, Anibaba was traded in January 2014 with the #8 pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and a conditional third-round selection in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft to Seattle Sounders FC in exchange for the #13 pick in the 2014 SuperDraft, defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, and defender Patrick Ianni.
On December 10, 2014, Anibaba was selected by Orlando City SC with the fifth pick in the 2014 MLS Expansion Draft. After the draft, Anibaba was shipped to Sporting Kansas City as part of the trade for Aurelien Collin. Anibaba was dropped by Sporting Kansas City on November 25, 2015.
Anibaba was released by Kansas City at the end of the 2015 MLS season and later signed with the Houston Dynamo. His option was declined following the 2017 season; he signed with the New England Revolution in the 2018 preseason. Anibaba quickly became a fan-favorite in New England, partly due to his passionate celebrations following successful blocks and tackles. On March 30, 2019, Anibaba scored his only goal for the Revs in a 2–1 victory over Minnesota United FC.
On November 19, 2019, Anibaba was selected by MLS expansion side Nashville SC in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft.
On January 14, 2022, Anibaba signed a 1-year deal as a free agent with Columbus Crew.
