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Zidane Iqbal

Zidane Aamar Iqbal (Arabic: زيدان عمار إقبال, Urdu: زیدان عامر 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.

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

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.

Club career

Manchester United

Iqbal signed his first professional contract with Manchester United in April 2021. 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. 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 and Iraqi to play in the Champions League.

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. His move to Utrecht was announced and finalised on 26 June, on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.

International career

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

In May 2021, he received an Iraqi passport, and has represented Iraq at youth international level. 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.

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. On 8 October, Iqbal scored his first goal for the Iraq U23 team as the captain of his side.

Senior

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

In September 2023, Iqbal was called up for the 2023 King's Cup tournament in Thailand.

In January 2024, Iqbal is included in the squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup tournament held in Qatar where he made his first appearance in the tournament on 15 January 2024 against Indonesia.

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.

Style of play

Iqbal is a midfielder with lots of flair, and is fairly versatile. His main position is as a central midfielder however he has been deployed as a defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder before.

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.

Iqbal is Muslim, and cites Mesut Özil as an inspiration for him. Iqbal has staten in interviews that he is fluent in English and can speak a bit of Punjabi and Arabic.