Mukhtar Ali
Saudi Arabian footballer (born 1997)
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Mukhtar Abdullah Ali (Arabic: مختار عبد الله علي; born 30 October 1997) is a Saudi Arabian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Al-Ettifaq and the Saudi Arabia national team.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mukhtar Abdullah Ali | ||
| Date of birth | 30 October 1997 | ||
| Place of birth | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Al-Ettifaq | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2008 | Leyton Orient | ||
| 2008–2017 | Chelsea | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2017 | Chelsea | 0 | (0) |
| 2017 | → Vitesse (loan) | 6 | (0) |
| 2017 | → Jong Vitesse (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2017–2019 | Vitesse | 9 | (1) |
| 2019–2025 | Al-Nassr | 33 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Al-Tai (loan) | 11 | (2) |
| 2022–2023 | → Al-Tai (loan) | 27 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | → Al-Fateh (loan) | 27 | (0) |
| 2025– | Al-Ettifaq | 35 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2013–2014 | England U17 | 4 | (0) |
| 2017–2021 | Saudi Arabia U23 | 1 | (0) |
| 2017– | Saudi Arabia | 16 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 February 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 4 September 2025 | |||
Club career
Chelsea
In 2008, Ali joined Chelsea at under-11 level from Leyton Orient and progressed through the club's academy system.[2] He was part of the Chelsea youth side which recorded back to back triumphs in the FA Youth Cup in 2015 and 2016.[2] With 42 appearances in all competitions he was the second-leading appearance maker in the academy and was also nominated for International Somali Sportsman of the Year.[3]
Vitesse
On 29 January 2017, Ali joined Vitesse on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 campaign.[4] On 19 February 2017, Ali made his Vitesse debut in their 1–0 home defeat against Ajax, replacing Marvelous Nakamba in the 84th minute.[5] On 4 February 2017, he played his first match for Jong Vitesse against SV Spakenburg.[6] Ali went onto appear in five more league games during his loan spell.
On 17 July 2017, Vitesse permanently signed Ali on a three-year deal.[7]
Al-Nassr
On 31 August 2019, Al-Nassr signed Mukhtar Ali on a one-year deal from Vitesse.[8] On 29 January 2022, he renewed his contract with Al-Nassr until 2025 and was loaned out to Al-Tai.[9] On 29 August 2022, Mukhtar Ali rejoined Al-Tai on a one-year loan.[10] On 7 September 2023, Mukhtar Ali joined Al-Fateh on a one-year loan.[11]
Al-Ettifaq
On 29 January 2025, Ali joined Al-Ettifaq on a four-and-a-half year deal.[12]
International career
Ali represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level and was also eligible to represent Somalia, the country of his parents.[13] However, he pledged his allegiance to the Saudi Arabia national team,[14] and made his senior debut on 7 October 2017 against Jamaica. This was possibly based on the player's assertion that he was instead born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[15]
Career statistics
- As of match played 27 May 2024.[16]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vitesse (loan) | 2016–17 | Eredivisie | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Vitesse | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | ||
| Al-Nassr | 2019–20 | Saudi Pro League | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8[d] | 1 | — | 29 | 1 | |
| 2020–21 | Saudi Pro League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22 | Saudi Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
| Al-Tai (loan) | 2021–22 | Saudi Pro League | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23 | Saudi Pro League | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 2 | |||
| Total | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 4 | ||||
| Al-Fateh (loan) | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 108 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 129 | 6 | ||
- Appearance in UEFA Europa League
- Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
- Appearances in AFC Champions League
Honours
Club
Chelsea Reserves[2]
Vitesse
Al-Nassr