FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have signed French defensive central midfielder Wilfried Zahibo using allocation money. Zahibo will be added to the active roster pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
“As we continue to add players to the 2018 roster, we believe Wilfried is a player who will improve the quality of our team,” Revolution General Manager Michael Burns said. “He is a player capable of impacting matches from his central midfield role and we look forward to integrating him into our team as soon as possible.”
Zahibo, 24, has made more than 125 appearances and logged over 10,000 minutes played across all competitions in his seven-year professional career, which is highlighted by stints in Spain's top-flight La Liga and with French side AC Ajaccio. The right-footed midfielder's most recent experience includes two seasons with Gimnàstic de Tarragona of La Liga 2. Zahibo made 24 appearances for Nàstic and helped lead the club to a first-place finish in the 2016-17 Copa Catalunya, a tournament organized by the Catalan Football Federation.
Prior to joining Gimnàstic de Tarragona, Zahibo spent three seasons with Spanish powerhouse Valencia CF. Zahibo scored one goal in seven appearances across all competitions for Valencia, including two starts in La Liga in 2016. He also made five appearances in the 2015-16 Copa Del Rey and earned a starting nod against Barcelona in the second leg of a semifinal tie.
Zahibo added three goals in 68 appearances for Valencia II, the club's reserve team that competes in Spain's Segunda División B. Prior to joining Valencia, Zahibo spent one season with CF Fuenlabrada in Segunda B, playing more than 1,500 minutes in 19 appearances.
A native of Marseille, France, Zahibo spent his youth career and the first three years of his professional career with French side AC Ajaccio. He featured primarily for the club's reserve team, Ajaccio B, logging more than 2,000 minutes played in 24 appearances during the 2012-13 campaign. Zahibo also saw time with Ajaccio's first team in the 2012-13 Coupe de France.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution sign midfielder Wilfried Zahibo using allocation money on Jan. 11, 2018 pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
Name: Wilfried Zahibo
Number: 23
Position: Defensive Midfielder
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175 lbs.
Hometown: Marseille, France
Date of Birth: August 21, 1993 (Marseille, France)
Nationality: France
Last Club: Gimnàstic de Tarragona (ESP)
