#16
Defender
Nabilai Kibunguchy
Club
Minnesota United
League
MLS
Region
USA
Signed
2021
Estimated peak value · 2021
$150,000 / KSh 16m
Estimated, not a transfer fee — our own valuation of his draft season at Minnesota United, at KSh 109 to the dollar.
Profile
UC Davis and the draft
A centre-back born in the United States to Kenyan parents who made All-Big West first team at UC Davis in 2017 and 2019 and went 18th overall to Minnesota United in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.
Three countries
Sacramento Republic, MNUFC2, Orlando City B, Hougang United in the Singapore Premier League and Indy Eleven followed — 122 senior appearances and 12 goals.
Choosing Kenya
With an American career open to him, he chose to represent Kenya, and he runs the Keep It Pushin' programme for young players.
Cup and continental record
NCAA tournament football with UC Davis, then US Open Cup and USL Championship play-off football in the United States and Singapore Cup football with Hougang United.
Managers he played under
Dwayne Shaffer coached him at UC Davis, and Adrian Heath was head coach at Minnesota United when they drafted him 18th overall in 2021.
Did you know
A first-team all-conference defender who chose Kenya
Kibunguchy was born in the United States to Kenyan parents, made All-Big West first team at UC Davis in 2017 and 2019, and went 18th overall to Minnesota United in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He has since played in MLS, the USL and the Singapore Premier League with Hougang United — and, with an American career open to him, chose to represent Kenya. That decision is the diaspora pathway working in the direction this plan needs it to.
18th
Overall pick, 2021 MLS SuperDraft
2
All-Big West first-team selections
3
Countries played in as a professional
Did you know
A US youth international who switched to Kenya
Born in Sacramento, he came through four seasons at UC Davis — 52 matches and repeated all-conference selection — and was taken 18th overall by Minnesota United in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft. He had played youth football for the United States, but chose Kenya at senior level, debuting for the Harambee Stars in a World Cup qualifier against Seychelles on 20 November 2023.
18th
Overall pick, 2021 MLS SuperDraft
52
College matches at UC Davis
2023
His Kenya debut, against Seychelles
Did you know
He went to Singapore to get back into a Kenya shirt
After Minnesota, Sacramento Republic and Orlando City B, he moved in 2025 to Hougang United in the Singapore Premier League, making 24 appearances and scoring three goals, and said openly that he was using it as a stepping stone towards the national team. In July 2026 he signed for Indy Eleven in the USL Championship. Four leagues on two continents, all of it aimed at one shirt.
24
Appearances in Singapore
3
Goals from defence there
July 2026
Signed for Indy Eleven
Career record
Centre-back drafted 18th overall by Minnesota United in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, with spells at Sacramento Republic, Minnesota United 2, Orlando City B and Hougang United, before joining Indy Eleven in July 2026. Has played for Kenya.
Career appearances and goals reconciled against Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabilai_Kibunguchy)
122
Appearances
12
Goals
0
Assists
1
Caps
0
Int'l goals
AI score breakdown
| Criterion | Score | Max |
|---|---|---|
| League Strength | 18 | 25 |
| Club Prestige | 10 | 20 |
| Titles Won (weighted) | 3.8 | 20 |
| Impact | 10 | 15 |
| Total | 41.8 | 80 |
Either side of him in the ranking
