Nashville SC claimed central defender Jalil Anibaba from the New England Revolution in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft Wednesday night.
Anibaba, 31, is an MLS veteran coming off his second year with the Revolution. He scored one goal in 22 appearances for New England last season, and was mostly used as a depth piece.
That said, Anibaba was also a locker room leader and energized his Revolution teammates on the field with his trademark fist-pumps whenever he’d make a defensive block.
Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts, a Nashville native, announced that the club had selected Anibaba with the third of its five picks during a live watch party with fans and VIPs at the Ole Red Tavern in Nashville.