Jeff Attinella was drafted by Real Salt Lake in the 2011 SuperDraft, but he would be cut in preseason and play his first few seasons as a pro with the USL side Tampa Bay Rowdies.
After signing with RSL again in 2013, Attinella would play just 29 matches over the course of 4 seasons before being left unprotected in the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft. Although he was selected by Minnesota United the plan all along was for Attinella to end up with the Portland Timbers. Attinella has since played 36 matches over the course of his two seasons with Portland.