Wilfried Zahibo


Wilfried Aimeric Jocelyn Ziri Zahibo is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for New England Revolution in Major League Soccer. Born in France, he represents the Central African Republic national football team.

Club career

Born in Marseille, Zahibo was an AC Ajaccio youth graduate, and made his senior debut with the reserves in the 2011–12 season, in the Championnat de France amateur. He first appeared with the first team on 5 January 2013, starting and scoring in a 1–1 away draw against FC Rouen for the Coupe de France.
Zahibo rejected a new contract in the middle of 2013, after expressing his desire to play in Spain, and subsequently joined Segunda División B club CF Fuenlabrada. On 24 January 2014, he signed a two-year deal with Valencia CF, being initially assigned to the B-side also in the third level.
Zahibo made his debut for the Che on 16 December 2015, playing the whole of a 2–0 home win over Barakaldo CF for the Copa del Rey. His first La Liga appearance took place on 24 January of the following year, when he started in a 1–1 draw at Deportivo de La Coruña.
On 8 July 2016, Zahibo signed a three-year deal with Segunda División side Gimnàstic de Tarragona. He made his debut in the competition on 21 August, starting in a 2–2 home draw against CD Lugo.
On 5 January 2018, Zahibo cut ties with Nàstic. Six days later, he signed with Major League Soccer side New England Revolution.
Zahibo received MLS All-Star honors for 2018, and played in the 2018 MLS All-Star Game against Juventus.

International career

Born in France and raised in Guadeloupe, Zahibo has an Ivorian father and a Central African mother. In September 2019, Zahibo was called up by the Central African Republic for a friendly match against Niger in Niamey.

Honours

Individual