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Zidane Iqbal

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Zidane Iqbal
Iqbal with Manchester United in 2021
Personal information
Full name Zidane Ammar Iqbal[1]
Date of birth (2003-04-27) 27 April 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth Manchester, England[2]
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Utrecht
Number 14
Youth career
Sale United
–2021 Manchester United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Manchester United 0 (0)
2023 Jong Utrecht 1 (0)
2023– Utrecht 35 (1)
International career‡
2021 Iraq U23 2 (0)
2022– Iraq 22 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:13, 19 August 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025

Zidane Ammar Iqbal (Arabic: زيدان عمار إقبال; born 27 April 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Utrecht. Born in England, he plays for the Iraq national team.

Iqbal joined Manchester United's youth system aged nine. He made his first-team debut in a UEFA Champions League match in December 2021. Iqbal represented Iraq at under-23 level before making his senior international debut in January 2022.

Early life

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Born in Manchester to a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, Iqbal played for local side Sale United from the age of four before joining Manchester United at the age of nine.[3]

Club career

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Manchester United

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Iqbal signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in April 2021.[4][5] He made his first-team debut for Manchester United on 8 December 2021 as an 89th-minute substitute in a UEFA Champions League match against Young Boys.[6] Thus, he became the first British-born South Asian as well the first Iraqi to play for the club, and the first ever British South Asian to play in the Champions League.[7][8]

Utrecht

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On 23 June 2023, Iqbal announced that he would be leaving Manchester United to join a new club, subject to registration and international clearance.[9] His move to Utrecht was announced and finalised on 26 June, on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[10]

International career

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Iqbal was eligible to represent England, Iraq, and Pakistan at international level.[11]

In May 2021, he received an Iraqi passport, and has represented Iraq at youth international level.[12][13] In June 2021, he was called up to the Iraq under-20 team for the 2021 Arab Cup U-20. However, he was refused to travel by Manchester United, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]

In September 2021, Iqbal received his first call up to the Iraq U23 for a training camp in UAE. He made his debut on 4 September against the UAE U23, making the starting line-up. In October 2021, Iqbal was named as part of the 23-man Iraq U23 squad for the 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia.[15] On 8 October, Iqbal scored his first goal for the Iraq U23 team as the captain of his side.[16]

Senior

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In January 2022, Iqbal was called up to the Iraq national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Lebanon.[17] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Iran on 27 January 2022.[18]

On 26 March 2024, Iqbal scored his first international goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Philippines in a 5–0 away win.[19]

Style of play

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Iqbal is a tricky and versatile midfielder who mostly plays in the centre.[20]

Personal life

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As one of a large number of British Asians in association football, Iqbal was part of an FA content series to support South Asian Heritage Month in 2021.[21]

Iqbal is Muslim, and cites Mesut Özil as an inspiration for him.[22][23] Iqbal has stated in interviews that he is fluent in English and can speak some Punjabi and Arabic.[24]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 6 April 2025[25]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Manchester United U21 2021–22[26] — — — — 3[b] 1 3 1
2022–23[27] — — — — 3[b] 0 3 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 6 1
Manchester United 2021–22[26] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[c][note 1] 0 — 1 0
2022–23[27] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0
Jong Utrecht 2023–24 Eerste Divisie 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Utrecht 2023–24[31] Eredivisie 17 0 1 0 — — 1[d] 0 19 0
2024–25[32] Eredivisie 18 1 3 0 — — — 21 1
2025–26[33] Eredivisie 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 — 0 0
Total 35 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 40 1
Career total 36 0 4 0 0 0 1 0 7 1 48 2
  1. ^ Includes KNVB Cup
  2. ^ a b Appearances in EFL Trophy
  3. ^ Appearance in UEFA Champions League
  4. ^ Appearance in Eredivisie European play-offs

International

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As of match played 14 October 2025[34]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Iraq 2022 2 0
2023 2 0
2024 13 1
2025 3 1
Total 20 2

Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 26 March 2024 Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines 10  Philippines 4–0 5–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 11 October 2025 King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 19  Indonesia 1–0 1–0 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

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Individual

Notes

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  1. ^ Soccerbase's stats for the match between Manchester United and Young Boys on 8 December 2021 don't include the late substitutions of Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata for Zidane Iqbal and Charlie Savage, respectively.[28][29] Therefore, until and unless they correct it, he should have one more appearance for Manchester United than given on his Soccerbase page.[30]

References

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  1. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2020/21 retained lists". premierleague.com. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b Zidane Iqbal at WorldFootball.net
  3. ^ "Who is Zidane Iqbal? Manchester United teenager profiled after Champions League call-up". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  4. ^ Luckhurst, Samuel (7 April 2021). "Manchester United teenager Zidane Iqbal signs professional contract". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 27 January 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  5. ^ Kumari, Priyanca (9 April 2021). "Sports: Pakistani-Origin Zidane Iqbal Signs Professional Contract with Manchester United". britasia.tv. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  6. ^ Stone, Simon (8 December 2021). "Man Utd 1-1 Young Boys: Youthful United side held in final Champions League group game". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  7. ^ Varley, Ciaran (9 December 2021). "Zidane Iqbal becomes Manchester United's first British South Asian player". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Zidane Iqbal becomes first British South Asian to play in the UEFA Champions League". skysports.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  9. ^ Bostock, Adam (23 June 2023). "Iqbal's emotional post as he departs United". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  10. ^ Marshall, Adam (26 June 2023). "Iqbal transfer confirmed". ManUtd.com. Manchester United. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Zidane Iqbal: Manchester United youngster called up by Iraq". BBC Sport. 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  12. ^ "لاعب مانشستر يونايتد "زيدان إقبال" يتسلم الجواز العراقي" [Manchester United player Zidane Iqbal receives Iraqi passport]. shafaq.com (in Arabic). 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  13. ^ Feliciano, Daniel (10 July 2021). "Manchester United video suggests Zidane Iqbal may be the next David Beckham in the making". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 May 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  14. ^ "مانشستر يونايتد يرفض التحاق زيدان بمنتخب الشباب" [Manchester United refuse Zidane to join the youth team]. ina.iq (in Arabic). 10 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ^ "3 لاعباً في قائمة منتخبنا الأولمبي لبطولة غرب آسيا" [Iraqi Olympic team squad]. Iraq FA (in Arabic). 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Zidane Iqbal captains Iraq under-23s and scores". United In Focus. 9 October 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Zidane Iqbal: Iraq set to hand Manchester United teenager international debut away in Iran". Sky Sports. 20 January 2022. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Zidane Iqbal becomes 32nd international player in Manchester United squad". Manchester Evening News. 27 January 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  19. ^ Web, G. C. (26 March 2024). "Philippines 0-5 Iraq - Philippine Football Federation". Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Zidane Iqbal Positions". FootballCritic. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  21. ^ "A New Content Series will be Released to Support South Asian Heritage Month". thefa.com. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  22. ^ Holt, Matthew (3 August 2021). "Iqbal Enjoying the 'Rollercoaster Ride'". manutd.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  23. ^ Wood, Liam (3 August 2021). "Manchester United academy star Zidane Iqbal names his football idol". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 May 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  24. ^ ""They Were All Swinging Their Shoes" 🥴 | Zidane Iqbal | Spotlight Questions 💬". YouTube. 28 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 May 2023. Retrieved 20 May 2023. Event occurs at 3:41
  25. ^ Zidane Iqbal at Soccerway. Retrieved 20 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b "Zidane Iqbal | Football Stats | FC Utrecht | Season 2021/2022 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Zidane Iqbal | Football Stats | FC Utrecht | Season 2022/2023 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  28. ^ UEFA.com. "History: Man Utd 1-1 Young Boys: UEFA Champions League 2021/22 Group stage". UEFA.com. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Charlie Savage: Robbie Savage watches son make his Man Utd debut". BBC Sport. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Zidane Iqbal | Football Stats | FC Utrecht | Age 22 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  31. ^ "Zidane Iqbal | Football Stats | FC Utrecht | Season 2023/2024 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  32. ^ "Zidane Iqbal | Football Stats | FC Utrecht | Season 2024/2025 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  33. ^ "Zidane Iqbal | Football Stats | FC Utrecht | Season 2025/2026 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  34. ^ "Zidane Iqbal Internationals". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  35. ^ "8 clubs provide players for the Eredivisie Team of the Month for December". Eredivisie. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  36. ^ "Sparta Rotterdam leads Eredivisie Team of the Month for March". Eredivisie. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
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