singaporean football player
Irfan bin Fandi Ahmad ( give birth 13 August 1997 ) is a singaporean professional football player [ 2 ] who plays as a center rear for Thai League 1 clubhouse BG Pathum United and the Singapore national team. Irfan has besides been occasionally deployed as a striker .

Club career [edit ]

youth [edit ]

Irfan started his career at the National Football Academy ( Singapore ). In 2013, he was listed as one of Goal.com ‘s top 20 southeast asian Rising Stars. [ 3 ] In 2014, Irfan was besides named as one of The Guardian ‘s 40 best young talents in world football. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] In March 2013, Irfan had an opportunity to secure his first oversea stint, which was supposed to be with Hércules, a second-tier spanish professional club. however, he failed to secure a contract with the club due to visa issues. [ 6 ] He late joined Chilean side A.C. Barnechea, signing a biennial narrow with the Chilean Primera División club. [ 7 ]

Universidad Católica [edit ]

Irfan then joined Chilean Primera División club Universidad Católica in 2014 and made his first team debut the pursue year, appearing from the bench for the club ‘s senior team in the 81st minute, when Universidad Católica were leading 4-0 against San Luis de Quillota. [ 8 ] however, Irfan subsequently rejected a biennial contract from the club in club to return to Singapore and fulfil his National Service obligations. [ 9 ]

youthful Lions [edit ]

On 5 June 2015, it was announced that Irfan would join S.League slope Young Lions for the 2015 S.League season on a six-month contract. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] [ 12 ] On the same sidereal day, he was immediately named in the starting line-up to face Tampines Rovers, due to an wound suffered by Shakir Hamzah. [ 13 ]

dwelling United [edit ]

In January 2016, it was announced that Irfan signed a biennial narrow for Home United for the approaching 2016 S.League season along with his brother, Ikhsan. He scored a brace against Balestier Khalsa in merely his second beginning of the season after being away for most of the season due to National Service commitments. [ 14 ] On 14 March 2017, Puma was revealed to have signed Irfan on a biennial sponsorship deal. Irfan ‘s former clubhouse Club Deportivo Universidad Católica was besides reportedly interest in re-signing him following the completion of his national serve. [ 9 ] Irfan scored his inaugural finish for the 2017 S.League season in a 0-2 victory over Hougang United, by and by following up with his first at the continental level, scoring in the 24th minute against Yadanarbon F.C. to give his side a 3-0 lead in an eventual 4-1 acquire. [ 15 ] The win saw Home United become the beginning side to advance to the zonal semi-finals. [ 16 ] Irfan was later nominated for the S.League ‘s Young player of the Season award. [ 17 ] His performances besides drew the attention of Thai League side Bangkok Glass and was offered a trial with English Championship side Leeds United in March 2018. [ 18 ] [ 19 ]

Return to Young Lions [edit ]

Irfan returned to join the Young Lions after his national military service for the 2018 Singapore Premier League season. In February 2018, Irfan, in concert with his brother, Ikhsan, went on trials at Eredivisie club, Groningen. [ 20 ] He besides went on another test with portuguese top-tier side, S.C. Braga, and was late offered a biennial cope, with the clubhouse retaining the choice to extend the compress by two extra years. Irfan rejected the offer, citing that he felt lone and was bored during his brief stint with the golf club. He would besides have to compensate 15 million dollars should he decide to leave the baseball club after the first two years of the contract. [ 21 ] Irfan finally rejoined the Young Lions and ended the season with 22 appearances with 3 goals.

BG Pathum United [edit ]

On 11 November 2018, it was confirmed that Irfan would join BG Pathum United to fill up the golf club ‘s ASEAN slot for the 2019 Thai League 2 season. Irfan agreed to join the Thai side despite their relegation as they had been matter to in signing him for two years. [ 22 ] [ 23 ] In his inaugural season, he helped BG Pathum batten promotion back to the Thai League 1. [ 24 ] however, he was sent off in the first half of his beginning top-flight game in Thailand, when BG Pathum trailed Muangthong United 1-0. The clubhouse finally won the plot 2-1. [ 25 ] Irfan became the first Singaporean to win the Thai League 1 title after his club swooped to the title having garnered an impregnable 19-point cushion over second-placed Buriram United F.C., with six games left. [ 26 ] [ 27 ] Irfan was key to their prevail with the defense having only conceded barely 11 goals in 24 matches, while keeping 15 clean sheets. [ 26 ]

International career [edit ]

youth [edit ]

Irfan was part of the Singapore U16 side in the twenty-fifth edition of the Canon Lion City Cup held in 2013, impressing against Arsenal U15 and Eintracht Frankfurt U15. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] He made his Singapore U23 debut on 14 February 2015, scoring against the Japan U22s, and was selected by coach Aide Iskandar for the 2015 Southeast asian Games. [ 28 ] [ 29 ]

senior [edit ]

In September 2016, Irfan was called up by national team bus V. Sundramoorthy for the friendlies against Malaysia and Hong Kong on 7 October and 11 October respectively. He made his introduction for the aged national team against Hong Kong at the Mongkok Stadium, starting the game in a 2-0 loss for Singapore. [ 30 ] He earned his second gear cap in a friendly against Afghanistan before securing his first begin against Bahrain in Singapore ‘s first third-round pit of the 2019 AFC asian Cup qualification, helping the Lions earn a 0-0 off draw. [ 31 ] [ 32 ] Irfan was selected as function of the Singapore Selection police squad for The Sultan of Selangor ‘s Cup to be held on 6 May 2017. [ 33 ] He besides made his AFF Championship debut in the 2018 iteration on 9 November, with a 1-0 win over Indonesia .

personal life [edit ]

Irfan is the eldest son of Singaporean footballing caption Fandi Ahmad and South African model, Wendy Jacobs. He has four siblings, including younger brothers Ikhsan who plays for Jerv and Ilhan who represents the Young Lions .

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of 20 Nov 2021

International [edit ]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

Read more: Willem Dafoe

[edit ]

National team Year Apps Goals
Singapore 2016 1 0
2017 10 1
2018 10 0
2019 5 0
Total 26 1

Appearances in chronological orderliness [edit ]

International goals [edit ]

Scores and results list Singapore’s goal tally first.[34]

International U23 goals [edit ]

Honours [edit ]

club [edit ]

BG Pathum United

International [edit ]

Singapore U22

References [edit ]