Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Ilijah Paul Gindiri | ||
Date of birth | July 26, 2002 | ||
Place of birth | Gilbert, Arizona, United States | ||
Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Real Salt Lake | ||
Number | 23 | ||
Youth career | |||
San Tan Legacy | |||
Arizona SC | |||
Valparaiso United | |||
2018–2019 | Real Salt Lake | ||
2019 | Phoenix Rising | ||
2019–2020 | Barça Residency Academy | ||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2020–2021 | San Francisco Dons | 1 | (0) |
2021–2022 | Washington Huskies | 39 | (11) |
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2019 | Phoenix Rising | 0 | (0) |
2019 | → FC Tucson (loan) | 3 | (0) |
2022 | Crossfire Redmond | 6 | (3) |
2023– | Real Salt Lake | 2 | (0) |
2023– | Real Monarchs | 2 | (1) |
2023 | → Larne (loan) | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:31, 17 December 2023 (UTC) |
Ilijah Paul Gindiri (born July 26, 2002) is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake. [1]
Paul played soccer for a variety of clubs at youth level, spending time with local sides San Tan Legacy and Arizona Soccer Club, before joining Valparaiso United FC, helping the team to end a fifteen year title drought for Arizona teams at the U.S. Youth Soccer National Championships. [2] In 2018, he left Arizona to join the Real Salt Lake academy in Utah. In for the U16/17 side, Paul made sixteen appearances and led the team with ten goals. [3] [4] 2019 saw Paul join the Phoenix Rising academy, but also sign a USL academy contract that allowed him to retain his college eligibility. [5] In September 2019, he was loaned to Phoenix's USL League One affiliate side FC Tucson, where he made three appearances. [6] In late 2019, Paul joined his final academy side, the Barça Residency Academy, scoring six goals in as many appearances. [7] [8] [9]
In 2020, Paul committed to playing college soccer at the University of San Francisco. [9] During the 2020–21 season, which was truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic, Paul only made a single appearance for the Dons. [2] In 2021, Paul transferred to the University of Washington, where he went on to score 11 goals and tallying five assists in 39 appearances for the Huskies. In his sophomore season, he was a MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist, Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, Pac-12 All-Conference First Team, and United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region First Team. [10] [11]
During the 2022 season, Paul also played with National Premier Soccer League side Crossfire Redmond, scoring three goals in six games. [12]
In December 2022, it was announced that Paul would leave college early and sign a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer, and enter the 2023 MLS SuperDraft. [13] [14]
On December 21, 2022, Paul was selected 7th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake. [15] [16] [17]
Real Salt Lake (RSL) is an American professional soccer club based in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The club competes as a member club of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Western Conference. Founded in 2004, the club began play in 2005 as an expansion team of the league.
Craig Waibel is a former American soccer player who spent eleven seasons in Major League Soccer. He was hired as the sporting director of Seattle Sounders FC in April 2021 and became their general manager in 2022.
Nikolas Besagno is an American former soccer player who is currently the manager of Washington Crossfire of the USL Premier Development League.
Blake Wagner is an American soccer coach and former player who currently is the assistant coach of USL League Two side, Tampa Bay United SC.
Robert Findley is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward. He was capped 11 times by the United States national team, having made his international debut in 2007.
Conor Chinn is a former American soccer player.
Devon Sandoval is an American former professional soccer player who played as a forward.
Donald Austin "Donny" Toia is an American professional soccer player.
The 2014 Real Salt Lake season was the team's tenth year of existence and also the first year with new head coach Jeff Cassar. The team's first game was on March 8 at StubHub Center.
Cristian Roldan is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC and the United States national team. He was the 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year while playing for El Rancho High School in Pico Rivera, California, and played collegiate soccer for the Washington Huskies. Roldan was picked by the Sounders in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft and developed into a regular starting player for the club with over 250 total appearances as of 2022.
Joshua David Heard is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for and captains Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League.
Corey Jacob Baird is an American professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.
Bryce Michael Duke is an American professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club CF Montréal.
Tanner Dieterich is an American soccer player who plays as a midfielder.
James Tanner Beason is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club San Jose Earthquakes.
Frederik Gerd Kleemann is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL Championship.
Calvin Jay "CJ" Fodrey is an American soccer player who plays as a forward for Major League Soccer club Austin FC.
Bret Halsey is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati.
Ryan Joseph Sailor is an American professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami.
Pedro Fonseca is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for South Georgia Tormenta in the USL League One.