 Kaleemullah playing forSacramento Republic FC in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1992-09-20)20 September 1992 (age 33) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Chaman, Pakistan[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007-2008 | Young Afghan[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Afghan Chaman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2014 | Khan Research Laboratories | 94 | (72) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Dordoi Bishkek | 22 | (20) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Sacramento Republic FC | 8 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2017 | Tulsa Roughnecks | 24 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | →K-Electric (loan) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Serhat Ardahanspor | 11 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Igdirspor | 5 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Araklıspor | 2 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | Al-Najaf | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Zakho | 4 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2014 | Pakistan U23 | 7 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011– | Pakistan | 27 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 July 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 18 November 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kaleemullah Khan (Urdu:کلیم الله خان; born 20 September 1992[1]) is a Pakistani professionalfootballer who plays as aforward for thePakistan national team. Currently afree agent since 2021, he last played forIraqi Premier League clubZakho SC.
He is the first Pakistani footballer to play and score in theUnited States,[3] and also the first Pakistani player to score 100 career goals in club competitions.[4] He has been praised for his positioning, teamwork and stamina, and has shown consistency in scoring and creating goals.
Belonging to theAchakzai tribe of ethnicPashtuns,[5] Khan was born in the city ofChaman, in theBalochistan province of Pakistan.[6][7] He started playing for his school team, the Government High School Chaman.[2] In the beginning, his parents were not supportive of his interest in the sport due to the lack of football support and infrastructure in the country, but agreed to it when he signed a contract with the clubAFC Chaman.[6]
Khan made hisPakistan Premier League debut forAFC Chaman in the2008–09 season.KRL scouted him in a match against the team in 2009 when he came as a substitute and decided to sign him along with his fellow midfielderMehmood Khan.[2][6]
He made his debut with KRL on 27 July 2009 in a 3–0 win againstPAF F.C., scoring his first goal in the 69th minute.[8] He finished the 2009-10 season with 4 goals in all competitions, as the club won theleague andChallenge Cup, and qualified for theAFC President's Cup. During the 2010-11 season, Khan was soon promoted to the first team by KRL managerSajjad Mehmood. Khan was an important player in KRL'sChallenge Cup-winning squad of the2010-11 season, scoring the second goal of the 4–0 win againstPakistan Navy in thecup final. Khan also made his debutAFC President's Cup on 10 May 2010 in a 2–1 win againstNaga Corp fromCambodia, scoring both the goals in the continental club competition.
Khan won thePakistan Premier League with Khan Research Laboratories in2012 as KRL set a Pakistan Premier League record scoring the most points in a season in the Pakistan Premier League with 77 points.[9] Khan also won the Challenge Cup with KRL (1–0) against rivalsK-Electric in 2011.
During the2012-13 season, he became involved in the first-team under then managerTariq Lutfi who replaced manager Sajjad Mahmood the previous season; Khan established himself as a key player – playing almost in every match and scored 35 times to make him the league's all-time record top goal scorer.[10] The club clinched a historicdouble; winning the league title, the domestic cup and qualified for theAFC President's Cup[11] for the following season – finishing runners-up in the competition losing (1–0) toTurkmenistan'sBalkan.[9][12] Khan finished as the second top goal scorer of the continental cup with 7 goals behindMirlan Murzaev, scoring 5 goals in an 8–0group stage win againstYeedzin following with goals in 1–0 victory overDordoi Bishkek fromKyrgyzstan and a 2–0 win againstHilal Al-Quds fromPalestine in thefinal group stage.[13][14]
Khan was awarded the player of the year award byPakistan Football Federation and was declared the best player in the Pakistan Premier League for his performances domestically in the league and internationally atAFC President's Cup in 2013. In the2013-14 season, Khan won his fourth and last league title with theRawalpindi side.[15]
Kaleemullah signed forFC Dordoi Bishkek in 2014, who was soon joined by his former club andPakistan national team playersMuhammad Adil andSaddam Hussain, by former Pakistan coachZaviša Milosavljević, after his performances inAFC President's Cup 2013 on an initial five-month contract,[16] wearing the Number 9 shirt.[17] After impressing during this five-month stint, Khan extended his contract by signing a new two-year contract with Dordoi in July 2014.[18]
He played a major role in helping the team win atreble; theleague title,league cup andsuper cup, finishing as top goal scorer, scoring 18 goals in 17 appearances in theleague with 3 goals out of 3 appearances in the domestic league cup.[19] Khan's remarkable form and greater goals to appearance ratio for Dordoi Bishkek in theShoro Top League as well asKyrgyzstan Cup andKyrgyzstan Super Cup in 2014 edition earned him the best player award in the league by theFootball Federation of the Kyrgyz Republic.[20][19] In total, Kaleemullah finished with 21 goals in 21 matches in the 2014 season for his new club in all competitions.
Khan made hisAFC Cup debut on 9 February 2015 in a 1–0 defeat againstTurkmenistan sideAhal in thepreliminary round.[21] In an interview withExpress Tribune, Khan revealed that he has received letters fromÞróttur Reykjavík fromIceland andChongqing Lifan from China stating that 'they want him to train with the teams for at least a week'. In May, Khan went on trial withUnited Soccer League sideSacramento Republic for their 2015 season campaign.[22]
On 18 June 2015 it was announced that Kaleemullah had signed with theSacramento Republic FC of theUSL, the third tier of theUnited States soccer league system on a four-month contract.[23] At that time, it was believed that he was the first Pakistani-born player to sign a contract with a professional soccer club in the United States.
"The signing of Kaleemullah demonstrates the continued mission of Republic FC to bring the best players from around the world to our Capital City... His scoring prowess is well documented..."
He made his debut for the club on 20 June 2015, two days after signing, entering the match as a 66th-minute substitute for captainJustin Braun. The Republic won that match 2–1.[26] During the match, he made several runs and showed his skill on the ball and eye for passing. He later described the match as a "dream debut."[27]
On 16 December 2015,Tulsa Roughnecks FC announced the signing of Kaleemullah for the2016 USL season.[28] In an interview after the move, Kaleemullah said he "couldn't settle in California [withSacramento]" but that he hoped his transfer would reignite hopes of a "dream move" to the MLS.[29] On May 1, 2016, Khan scored his first goal for his club and first goal on American soil. By doing so, he became the first Pakistani football player to play in US and score there.
"I finally scored a goal and this was important for me. I played as striker for the first time for Roughnecks and scored. Earlier, I was playing as a winger. So this has given me the confidence that I am good enough. I just want to thank everyone who supported me. My coach was very supportive; he took a chance by letting me play as a striker and I delivered a good performance... He was happy for me that I started scoring. He said that this will benefit the team. He also told me that winning or losing is a part of the game and I just need to continue my game."
On 22 December 2016,Dawn in an interview with Kaleemullah reported that he has joinedK-Electric on a loan deal from Tulsa Roughnecks until March 2017.[31]
On 20 September 2017, Kaleem signed for Turkish clubSerhat Ardahanspor.[32][33] The move would make the third country in the career, after previous spells playing inPakistan,Kyrgyzstan andUnited States.
On 28 July 2018 Khan signed a contract with Turkish clubIzmirspor. His signing ceremony was attended by club's President Mustafa Gürkan. However, in August 2018, Khan parted ways with izmirspor because he didn't get international clearance certificate.[34]
Khan went on to the sign a contract with a clubIgdirspor which played in the sameTurkish Regional Amateur League as Izmirspor did. On 23 September 2018, Khan made his debut for the club in a 4–0 win. Khan scored a goal and provided an assist in that match. On October 15, Khan scored in 68th minute against Cayelispor, it marked as Khan's 100th club career goal, making Khan the only Pakistani footballer to achieve this feat.
Three months later on 18 January 2019, Kaleemullah moved toAraklıspor in the same regional league,[32] where he had a short stint scoring two goals in two matches.[1][35]
On 8 March 2019, Khan signed a four-month contract withIraqi Premier League clubAl-Najaf FC forRs. 5 million.[36] On 4 May, Khan scored his first goal for his club in a 3–2 win overAl-Talaba SC.[37]
On, 24 August 2019, Kaleemullah Khan posted two photos regarding his new club but he didn't disclose his new club's name.[38] Later on, In September 2019, it was announced that Kaleemullah signed toZakho SC.[39]
In 2020, he received a shin injury during the2019–20 Iraqi Premier League season which left him unsettled for more than a year.[40] He consequently had to leave the country due toCOVID-19 and security issues.[41] The league was postponed due to the2019–2020 Iraqi protests and the COVID pandemic,[42][43] and ultimately cancelled on 3 June 2020.[44] He trained at his hometown in Chaman to maintain his fitness level.[41] In October 2021, he recovered from his injury with his contract due to expire in one month, and hinted he had received offers from clubs fromQatar,Russia,United States, and his previous Kyrgyzstan's clubDordoi Bishkek for his next move.[40]
After 2021, Khan spent the ensuing years asfree agent. In 2023, he started playing forKarachi club Abdul FC.[45] In 2024, he participated in the Futsal National Cup with the club, finalising as runner-up of the phase in Karachi after falling to Forza FC in the final in the penalties.[46]
Khan representedPakistan at various youth levels, starting with the under-23s in 2010. He was called up to theunder-23 team for the2010 Asian Games making his debut in a 6–0 group stage defeat againstThailand. The following year, he represented the Olympic under-23 team in a test series againstPalestine.
With less opportunity to try out new players, and with the national team facing crucial2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification, Pakistan managerTariq Lutfi felt that Khan was needed at the national level. He was called in the senior squad and earned his first senior cap for Pakistan in a 1–3 loss againstIndia on 23 March 2011 at the2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification. Throughout the year, he later featured at the2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification,2014 FIFA World Cup qualification and the2011 SAFF Championship.[1]
At the2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification he scored his first international goal againstMacau asPakistan won the match 2–0 on 21 March 2013.[47] He also scored againstBangladesh at the2013 SAFF Championship in a 2–1 victory,[48] and the opening goal against Philippines at thePhilippine Peace Cup in the eventual 1–3 defeat.[49] In 2014, Khan was named captain for the national team for a tour to Lebanon,[50][51] where he scored the lone goal during a friendly against theLebanon national team in the eventual 1–3 defeat. Khan also captained theunder-23 team at the2014 Asian Games, and also toured India with the under-23 side recording a goal in a 2–0 victory of arch-rivalsIndia by afree-kick.[52]
Khan was also called up for thequalifiers for the 2018 World Cup againstYemen and played in legs of the matches which were played at neutral venues in March 2015, due to security concerns in their respective countries. Pakistan could not beat the strong Yemen national team and lost 3–1 away inQatar, and drew 0–0 at the home leg inBahrain. Pakistan ended up getting knocked out of the World Cup Qualifiers on an aggregate score of 3–1.
Khan missed international exposure for the next 3 years, as Pakistan was suspended from all football activities by FIFA on 10 October 2017.[53][54] For three years since March 2015, Pakistan remained suspended from any international competition because of the crisis created inside the Pakistan Football Federation.[54] Khan along with other national team players meanwhile participated with Pakistan during localLeisure Leagues exhibitions matches involving Brazilian starRonaldinho andRyan Giggs in 2017.[55][56]
Upon return of Pakistan at international stage in 2018, Khan had a dispute with PFF authorities as the former spoke out on the federation's incompetence which ultimately led him not to be selected for the2018 SAFF Championship. PFF banned the Pakistani players to speak about this matter on any platform.[57][58] In response, Khan questioned how PFF could implement such an order considering none of the players are centrally contracted to them.[59] To further complicate matters, PFF's Sardar Naveed Haider Khan accused the striker of signing a contract with Turkish fifth-tier side Izmirspor 'for the money' and neglecting national duty. However Khan disagreed by saying "My name was specifically omitted from the list by PFF president because of the statements I'd given about the working of the PFF and it's very petty-minded of them to do that really."[57]
In January 2020, Khan was named in Pakistan's squad for a two-match friendly tour inMalaysia.[60] On 22 January, he scored the opening goal in the 5th minute againstUKM in the eventual 2–2 draw.[61] In the second and last match the next day againstFelda United, he scored a disallowed goal ruled out in the dying minutes of the match in the eventual 2–0 victory.[62]
In 2022, the Pakistan Football Federation organised trials inviting 90 players for the men's senior team camp after three-and-a-half years of inactivity because of thePakistan Football Federation's suspension byFIFA, which didn't include Khan, despite him being available and expressing dissatisfaction with his omission. After a perception of his retirement, Khan denied he had retired from football.[63]
In September 2025, Khan recalled to thenational football team for their2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification matches againstAfghanistan on 9 & 14 October 2025.[64]
Khan is known for being an attacking all-rounder, capable of playing in different forward positions. As he came through the youth system ofYoung Afghan, he was seen primarily as aleft back, often pushing forward to support the attack, which later led to his transition into midfield and then into more advanced roles. After joiningKhan Research Laboratories, he shifted his position as awinger and later ascentre forward.[2] He has also played on occasions asmidfielder.[6][65]
Khan has been praised for his maturity, pace, technique, awareness and positioning. He has been compared withLionel Messi due to his goal scoring record by the local media in Pakistan.[2]
Kaleemullah is the cousin of formerPakistan national team captainMuhammad Essa Khan.[66] He is also nephew of politicianAbdul Khaliq Khan Achakzai.[5] He lost his father in 2010 at the age of 18, when he was atMyanmar at that time playing in the2010 AFC President's Cup withKRL, which followed the demise of his mother three years earlier in 2007.[6]
In 2017, Khan was named as brand ambassador ofPakistan Super League cricket teamQuetta Gladiators alongsideMMA fighter Ahmed Mujtaba.[67]
In 2022, Khan acted as convenor of the Sindh Super League, a franchise-based football league held in the province ofSindh.[68]
In 2023, he partnered with Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, the founder ofKarachi club Abdul FC, to launch a football facility at the Rahat Football Ground inClifton, Karachi.[69]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup1 | Continental2 | Other3 | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Khan Research Laboratories | 2009–10[70] | Pakistan Premier League | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 4 | ||
| 2010–11[71] | Pakistan Premier League | — | 8 | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 11 | ||
| 2011–12[72] | Pakistan Premier League | — | 12 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 13 | |||
| 2012–13[73] | Pakistan Premier League | — | 35 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 35 | ||
| 2013–14[74] | Pakistan Premier League | — | 18 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 7 | — | — | 33 | ||
| Total | 94 | 72 | — | 11 | 12 | 9 | — | 134 | 96 | |||
| Dordoi Bishkek | 2014[19] | Shoro Top League | 17 | 18 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 21 |
| 2015[19] | Shoro Top League | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 22 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 30 | 23 | ||
| Sacramento Republic | 2015[75] | United Soccer League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Tulsa Roughnecks | 2016[75] | United Soccer League | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 |
| 2017 | United Soccer League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| K-Electric (loan) | 2016–17 | Pakistan Premier League | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Total | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 4 | ||
| Serhat Ardahanspor | 2017–18[76] | Turkish Regional Amateur League | 11 | 4 | — | — | — | 11 | 4 | |||
| Iğdırspor | 2018–19[76] | Turkish Regional Amateur League | 5 | 4 | — | — | — | 5 | 4 | |||
| Araklıspor | 2018–19[76] | Turkish Regional Amateur League | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | |||
| Total | 18 | 10 | — | — | — | 18 | 10 | |||||
| Al-Najaf | 2018–19[1] | Iraqi Premier League | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Zakho | 2019–20 | Iraqi Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Iraqi Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 173 | 104 | 27 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 220 | 133 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 2011 | 8 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 13 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 27 | 4 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 March 2013 | Spartak Stadium,Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |  Macau | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualification |
| 2 | 5 September 2013 | Halchowk Stadium,Kathmandu, Nepal |  Bangladesh | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2013 SAFF Championship |
| 3 | 15 October 2013 | Panaad Stadium,Bacolod, Philippines |  Philippines | 1–0 | 1–3 | Philippine Peace Cup |
| 4 | 19 February 2014 | Saida Municipal Stadium,Beirut, Lebanon |  Lebanon | 1–2 | 1–3 | Friendly |
K-Electric
"Football is a family tradition for me," Kaleemullah, a cousin of former Pakistan captain Mohammad Essa, told Dawn. "I played football at home and Essa was always there to help me in my early days. He was the biggest inspiration for me when I was young.
