Zidane Iqbal
Iraqi footballer (born 2003)
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Zidane Aamar Iqbal (Arabic: زيدان عمار إقبال; Urdu: زیدان عمار اقبال; 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.
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Iqbal with Manchester United in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zidane Aamar Iqbal[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 27 April 2003 | ||
| 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) |
| 2023–2026 | Jong Utrecht | 12 | (0) |
| 2023– | Utrecht | 40 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| Iraq U23 | |||
| 2022– | Iraq | 27 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:09, 20 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 06:30, 23 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Iqbal joined Manchester United's youth system aged nine. He made his first-team debut, and his only senior appearance for United, in a UEFA Champions League match in December 2021. He signed for Utrecht in 2023.
Iqbal represented Iraq at under-23 level, before making his senior international debut in January 2022. He represented Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Early life
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] His paternal side originate from Sahiwal, in the Punjab province of Pakistan.[4][5][6]
Club career
Manchester United
Iqbal signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in April 2021.[7][8] 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.[9] 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.[10][11]
Utrecht
On 23 June 2023, Iqbal announced that he would be leaving Manchester United to join a new club, subject to registration and international clearance.[12] His move to Utrecht was announced and finalised on 26 June, on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[13]
International career
Iqbal was eligible to represent England, Iraq, and Pakistan at international level.[14]
Youth
In May 2021, he received an Iraqi passport, and has represented Iraq at youth international level.[15][16] In June 2021, he was called up to the Iraq under-20 team for the 2021 Arab Cup U-20. However, Manchester United refused to let him travel, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]
In September 2021, Iqbal received his first call up to the Iraq under-23 team for a training camp in the United Arab Emirates. He made his debut on 4 September, against the UAE under-23 team, making the starting line-up. In October 2021, Iqbal was named as part of the 23-man Iraq under-23 squad for the 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia.[18] On 8 October, Iqbal scored his first goal for the under-23 team as the captain of his side.[19]
Senior
In January 2022, Iqbal was called up to the Iraq national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iran and Lebanon.[20] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Iran on 27 January 2022.[21]
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.[22]
Iqbal was included in Iraq's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[23]
Style of play
Iqbal is a versatile midfielder who mostly plays in the centre.[24]
Personal life
As one of a small number of British Asians in association football, Iqbal was part of an FA content series to support South Asian Heritage Month in 2021.[25]
Iqbal is Muslim, and cites Mesut Özil as an inspiration for him.[26][27] Iqbal has stated in interviews that he is fluent in English and can speak some Punjabi and Arabic.[28]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 20 April 2026[29]
| 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 | — | — | — | — | 3[b] | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 3[b] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||
| Manchester United | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | 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 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Eerste Divisie | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | ||
| Utrecht | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1[d] | 0 | 19 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 18 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 21 | 1 | ||||
| 2025–26 | Eredivisie | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[e] | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Total | 40 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 47 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 52 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 66 | 2 | ||
- Appearances in EFL Trophy
- Appearance in UEFA Champions League
- Appearance in Eredivisie European play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
International
- As of match played 22 June 2026[30]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 2 | |
Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.
| 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
Individual
- Eredivisie Team of the Month: December 2024,[31] March 2025[32]
