Walker Zimmerman played two years at Furman University before making the leap to professional soccer. In the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, FC Dallas selected the center back with the No. 4 overall pick. Opportunities were hard to come by for a young Walker Zimmerman. In his rookie year, he played in just seven games. Somehow, he managed to score two goals from his CB position in those limited appearances, including his first career goal against Sporting Kansas City, a dramatic equalizing header. He earned himself a run of starts at the start of 2014, though it did not last. He ended up playing in just 10 games, being not quite able to break through into the main team.
His appearance number doubled in 2015, increasing to 20. Still, he barely broke the 1,000 minute mark and made just 10 starts. Zach Lloyd and Matt Hedges continued to lock down the two central defensive positions. In the 2015 playoffs, Zimmerman scored another late header to help defeat the Seattle Sounders, but Portland sent his team home later on. It was in 2016 that Walker Zimmerman finally got his chance, and he pounced on it from the outset. In his first year as one half of the CB partnership with Hedges, FC Dallas won the Supporters' Shield. Zimmerman scored his first of 4 goals on the year in a 2-1 win over the Timbers. The 4 goal season is tied for his career-high with two other campaigns. In September, he anchored Dallas in a US Open Cup title run, defeating New England 4-2 in the final. He scored against the Galaxy at the end of the season. The Seattle Sounders' flying first leg performance ended in an upset loss for FCD. Zimmerman's back line kept a career-high 11 clean sheets.
In 2017, Zimmerman was forced to miss 11 games with an MCL strain, which is the most he has ever missed in his career. As a result, he did not play a whole lot of minutes. He scored one goal on the season, a consolation goal whilst visiting the Columbus Crew. He also recorded his first career assist back in April in a victory over Minnesota United. Zimmerman played his last ever match with FC Dallas in a 0-0 draw with Orlando City SC.
On December 10, 2017 LAFC got their center back in exchange for $500K in allocation money. Zimmerman became an immediate starter for the expansion club in their inaugural season of play. His first goal in Black and Gold came in a pair of two, as he scored both goals in a 2-0 win over San Jose. He flicked a header home, before sending a free header in off a Carlos Vela corner kick. He added 2 more October goals to extend his season total to 4, including a first-time volley during a 4-2 win against the Dynamo. LAFC finished third in the Western Conference in their first season. Real Salt Lake sent them home in upset fashion.
Things got even better for LAFC in 2019, as they won the Supporters' Shield, the second of Zimmerman's career. Their 72 point season was the best season in MLS history at the time. He notched a single goal, scoring against the team that knocked LAFC out of the playoffs just months prior. No one expected the big man to set and fire in stoppage time, as he laced the winner in front long range. As the first overall seed in the playoffs, LAFC pushed past the Galaxy in a wild 5-3 El Trafico match. In the next round, the experienced Seattle Sounders ended their season, and Walker Zimmerman's LAFC career. The year 2019 was the beginning of his domination of MLS awards, earning a place in the Best XI and All-Star Team.
Ahead of the 2020 season, Zimmerman was moved to a different expansion side. LAFC traded him to Nashville SC in exchange for $1.25m GAM. He joined Nashville for their inaugural MLS season. In his debut, and the team's debut, Walker Zimmerman poked one in that marked the first in club history against Atlanta United. He scored against New England as the season came to its end. Nashville qualified for the playoffs in the extended format of 2020, and made some waves. After defeating Inter Miami in the play-in round, they went onto dominate the #2 seed in Toronto FC. Columbus knocked them out and went onto win it all. Zimmerman made the 2020 MLS Best XI and added the MLS Defender of the Year Award to his resume.
Nashville improved in the 2021 regular season, earning third place in the East. Zimmerman scored his third goal of the season in one of the crazier matches out there, a 6-3 road win. Their first round win against Orlando City advanced Nashville onto a matchup wtih the Philadelphia Union. After drawing 1-1, Nashville proceeded to miss every single penalty in the shootout and lose the match in heartbreaking fashion. Once again Zimmerman was a part of the MLS Best XI and All-Star Team. He also won the MLS Defender of the Year Award for a second straight year after keeping 10 clean sheets. 2022 was more of the same. Zimmerman made his fourth straight Best XI and third All-Star Game. He added another 4 goals to his career total. Nashville opened up the brand new GEODIS Park in May. Zimmerman's first goal in the new building took place in an August match with Toronto FC. Nashville played 2022 in the West, finishing fifth and losing to the Galaxy in the first round. Walker had more important business to attend to, representing the USA at the World Cup. He conceded a penalty against Wales, but played 90 in the 0-0 draw with England. The defender has 42 caps for the United States.
In 2023, Walker Zimmerman made his whopping fifth straight Best XI, with this one being the most controversial. He was forced to miss 9 games across two separate injuries, clocking less than 2,000 minutes. Regardless, he also made the All-Star team once again as well. Zimmerman provided 2 MLS goals. The first happened in an opening day victory over NYCFC. He added one versus FC Cincinnati in the summer. He did score an additional 2 goals in Leagues Cup, scoring a header on Club America. Nashville made it to the final, but lost to Inter Miami there. Nashville's seventh-placed finish matched them up with Orlando City, who swept them in two games. Walker Zimmerman, now 30 years of age, is already one of the best defenders in MLS history. His personal resume and achievements since joining Nashville SC are unprecented. He comes in at #10.
YEAR | CLUB | MINUTES | GOALS | ASSISTS | CS |
2023 | NSH | 1,844 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
2022 | NSH | 2,519 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
2021 | NSH | 2,041 | 3 | 2 | 10 |
2020 | NSH | 1,955 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
2019 | LAFC | 2,169 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
2018 | LAFC | 2,321 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
2017 | DAL | 1,602 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
2016 | DAL | 2,700 | 4 | 0 | 11 |
2015 | DAL | 1,084 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2014 | DAL | 770 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
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