Ryen Jiba

Ryen Jiba
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-04-29) April 29, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth South Sudan
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Full-back
Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Union Omaha
Number 27
Youth career
0000–2019 Sparta United
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 SLCC Bruins 48 (25)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021 Park City Red Wolves 1 (1)
2022 Union Omaha 28 (0)
2023 Minnesota United 0 (0)
2024– Union Omaha 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:27, 6 March 2024 (UTC)

Ryen Jiba (born 29 April 2001) is a South Sudanese professional footballer who plays as an full-back for Union Omaha.

Career

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Early career

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Jiba was born in South Sudan, but grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, attending East High School.[1][2] He played club soccer with Sparta United, and was the Tosh Athlete of the Year in 2019.[3]

In 2019, Jiba attended Salt Lake Community College to play college soccer. Between 2019 and 2021, Jiba made 48 appearances for the Bruins, scoring 25 goals and tallying 20 assists.[4] Jiba earned regional first team honors three times and was the 2019 NJCAA Region 18 Player of the Year.[5]

In 2021, Jiba also played in the USL League Two with Park City Red Wolves, making a single appearance and scoring a single goal.[6]

Professional

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On 18 February 2022, Jiba signed with USL League One side Union Omaha.[2] He made his professional league debut for Omaha on 9 April 2022, starting in a 2–2 draw with Forward Madison FC.[7]

In December 2022, it was announced Jiba was eligible for selection in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.[8] On 21 December 2022, Jiba was selected 19th overall by Minnesota United FC.[9] On 12 January 2023, it was announced that Jiba had officially signed with Minnesota United for a USL League One record transfer fee received.[10][11]

In March 2024, Jiba returned to Union Omaha.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Ryen Jiba - East High School Boys Soccer". Deseret News.
  2. ^ a b "UNION OMAHA SIGNS UNO STANDOUT HUGO KAMETANI AND COLLEGE STAR RYEN JIBA".
  3. ^ "AGM UYSA Awards Gala 2019". Sparta United Soccer Club. February 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Ryen Jiba - Men's Soccer". Salt Lake Community College Athletics.
  5. ^ USLLeagueOne com Staff (February 18, 2022). "Union Omaha Sign Pair of Collegiate Standouts". USL League One.
  6. ^ "Park City Red Wolves SC | uslleaguetwo.com". www.uslleaguetwo.com.
  7. ^ "Match Center | USLLeagueOne.com". www.uslleagueone.com.
  8. ^ "MLS SuperDraft 2023 eligible players | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  9. ^ "Draft Tracker: MLS SuperDraft 2022 presented by adidas | MLSsoccer.com". mlssoccer.
  10. ^ "Minnesota United Signs MLS SuperDraft Pick Ryen Jiba | Minnesota United FC". MNUFC.
  11. ^ USLLeagueOne com Staff (January 12, 2023). "Omaha transfer Ryen Jiba to Minnesota United FC for record-breaking fee". USL League One.
  12. ^ "UNION OMAHA RE-SIGNS YOUNG MLS TALENT RYEN JIBA". www.unionomaha.com. March 5, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
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