Abdi Salim

Abdi Muya Salim (born 1 April 2001) is a Somali professional footballer who plays as a defender.

Early years Born a refugee in Nairobi, Kenya, Salim grew up in the Dagahaley refugee camp in Dadaab. Having applied for asylum in the United States before Salim was born, his parents were granted a visa in 2003 and relocated once Salim had recovered from malaria. They settled in Buffalo, New York. Salim attended Hutchinson Central Technical High School and played his first-ever organized soccer game with youth club Delaware SC in 2013. In 2018, he was recruited for Rochester-based Empire United where he captained the US Developmental Academy under-17 and under-19 teams during a two-year spell.

College career In 2019, Salim began playing college soccer for the Buffalo State Bengals, a Division III State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) program at Buffalo State University where older brother Saleman had already played the 2018 season.

Ahead of the 2020 season, Salim entered the transfer portal and joined Division I program Syracuse Orange of the Atlantic Coast Conference. With the season disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, he started the first eight games of the season before suffering an anterior cruciate ligament tear against Bowling Green Falcons on 23 February 2021 and underwent surgery, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2020–21 spring season and the subsequent 2021 fall campaign. He returned for the 2022 season, playing in 22 of a possible 25 games including every minute of all three ACC Tournament games and all five in the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse did the clean sweep of 2022 ACC regular season, 2022 ACC tournament and 2022 NCAA Division I tournament titles, the first national championship win in program history.

Club career Ocean City Nor'easters In May 2022, during the college offseason, Salim joined USL League Two side Ocean City Nor'easters. He made seven appearances as Ocean City went undefeated and topped the Mid Atlantic Division.

Orlando City On 21 December 2022, Salim was selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City. After training with the club in preseason, he was signed to a one-year contract with three additional club option years on 14 February 2023. On 4 March, Salim made his debut for the team when he started in a scoreless draw with FC Cincinnati. Later on 26 March, Salim made his debut with the reserve team, Orlando City B, and scored his first professional goal in a 3–1 road victory over Philadelphia Union II.

ON 27 February 2024, Salim made his continental debut when he came on as a 64th-minute substitute for Rafael Santos as Orlando City defeated Cavalry FC 3–1 in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup. On 5 December 2024, it was announced that Orlando City were allowing Salim's contract to expire at the end of the season and that they were not interested in pursuing an extension.

Loan to Detroit City On 24 June 2024, Salim joined USL Championship team Detroit City on loan for the remainder of the season. He had previously made a trial appearance for the club in a friendly against Liga MX side Pumas UNAM, in which he scored the winning goal, two days earlier. On 19 November it was announced that Salim would be returning to Orlando City at the conclusion of the season.

San Antonio FC Salim joined Major League Soccer club FC Cincinnati's preseason tour in Clearwater, Florida in January 2025, but he was not signed. On 20 June, Salim signed with USL Championship club San Antonio FC on a twenty-five day contract. A day later, Salim made his debut for the team when he came on as a 46th-minute substitute for Almir Soto in a 4–2 loss to New Mexico United. On 22 July, San Antonio FC signed Salim for the rest of the season following the expiration of the short-term contract.

International In October 2023, Salim was called up to represent the Somalia national team at senior level. He made his debut on 14 October, captaining the team in a 3–0 defeat to Niger.

Career statistics College

Club

Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Ocean City Nor'easters 2022

Syracuse Orange Atlantic Coast Conference regular season: 2022 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament: 2022 NCAA College Cup: 2022

Individual SUNYAC Rookie of the Year: 2019 SUNYAC Defensive Player of the Year: 2019