Jalal is a Kurd born in Baghdad, Iraq, Jalal grew up in Hastings, East Sussex England, while attending William Parker School. He began his career at Gillingham's youth system in 1998, before joining the youth system Hastings Townin 1999, breaking into the first team in 2000. At Hastings he had been featuring for the first team whilst still a teenager, gaining attention from Football League clubs such as Tottenham Hotspur whom he signed for in August 2001, before joining Woking in May 2004. He went on trial at Oldham Athletic in May 2005. He had a trial at Leeds Unitedin September 2006, after which he joined Sheffield Wednesday on a month's loan in November, but failed to make any appearances during this spell. He moved to Peterborough United in League Two for an undisclosed fee on 9 January 2007. He was placed on the club's transfer list at his own request in December, which was followed by a move to Morecambeon loan until the end of the 2007–08 season. He joined Bournemouth on a month's loan on 1 August 2008 after having a trial at the club. Bournemouth then made this move permanent on 29 August. He signed a new two-year contract with Bournemouth in March 2010. On 12 September 2013, Jalal joined Oxford United on a one-month emergency loan deal, but returned on 2 October 2013 - 1 game short of his initial loan - due to Ryan Allsop's suspension after receiving a red card at Leeds United. On 7 February 2014, Jalal joined Leyton Orient on a one-month loan deal. On 5 June 2014, Bury announced that they had signed Jalal on a two-year contract after a successful trial at the club. He subsequently played for Northampton and Macclesfield Town. In August 2016, Jalal joined National League side Wrexham. After not featuring in the squad for the opening three matches of the 2016–17 season, Jalal made his debut on 16 August 2016, replacing Chris Dunn in the starting line-up in a 1–0 victory over Solihull Moors and keeping a clean sheet. At the end of the 2016–17 season, he was released by the club. He subsequently re-joined Macclesfield Town on a one-year deal, winning promotion from the National League as champions, before his surprise release at the end of the season. In May 2018, Jalal joined National League newcomers Chesterfield following his release and the Spireites' relegation from the EFL, signing a two-year contract.
International career
Jalal made his début for the England National Game XI in a 3–0 victory over against the Netherlands on 16 February 2005. Jalal was one of seven European based players called up by Iraq coach Wolfgang Sidka in a 34-man squad on 26 May 2011. However, he had to apologise for his absence due to an injury. On 3 June 2015 he played the first half of an unofficial friendly for Iraq against Zakho FC in the opening game of Zakho's new stadium. He kept a clean sheet in the first period and Iraq went on to win the game 2–0.
