Siad Haji


Siad Haji is a soccer player who currently plays for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer and the Somalian national team. Haji played two years of college soccer for the VCU Rams, and one year with the New England Pilgrims.

Early life

Born in Kenya, Haji spent his young childhood in Kenyan refugee camp Kakuma until the age of five. In 2004, he moved to the United States and settled in a refugee community near downtown Manchester, New Hampshire, played youth soccer for the New Hampshire Classics, and was offered a spot on the New England Revolution youth academy's under-16 team. However, the distance and financial logistics made it difficult for him to accept a spot in the academy. He would continue to play for the Classics through high school.

Career

Youth and college

Upon graduating, Haji did not have the eligibility to play in NCAA Division I, so he played for the NCAA Division III, New England College during his first year. With the Pilgrims, he scored nine time in fourteen appearances. Between Haji's first and second years, he transferred from New England College to Virginia Commonwealth University where he was a starting midfielder for the VCU Rams men's soccer team, and earned the Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year award in 2018.

Professional

Haji played two seasons in USL League Two, then known as the Premier Development League with the Portland Timbers U23s. He made 21 appearances over the two seasons scoring five goals.
On January 3, 2019, he signed a Generation Adidas contract with Major League Soccer and was eligible for the 2019 MLS SuperDraft. Haji, by many mock drafts was considered a top five draft pick, and some cases, the first overall draft pick. He was ultimately drafted second overall in the 2019 MLS SuperDraft by the San Jose Earthquakes, the highest ever drafted alumnus from VCU.
Ahead of the 2019 USL Championship season, Haji went on loan to Reno 1868. He made his professional debut and his Reno debut on March 16, 2019 in a 2–1 win against Austin Bold; subbed on at halftime for Gilbert Fuentes.

International

He played for various youth teams for the United States. In 2020, he was called up by the Somalia national team ahead of their first games at home in Mogadishu.