.jpg) Iqbal withManchester United in 2021 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zidane Aamar Iqbal[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2003-04-27)27 April 2003 (age 21) | ||
| Place of birth | Manchester, England[2] | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[2] | ||
| Position(s) | 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– | Jong Utrecht | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | Utrecht | 35 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2021 | Iraq U23 | ||
| 2022– | Iraq | 17 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:07, 30 March 2025 (UTC). | |||
Zidane Aamar Iqbal (Arabic:زيدان عمار إقبال,Urdu:زیدان عامر اقبال; born 27 April 2003) is a professionalfootballer who plays as amidfielder forEredivisie clubUtrecht. Born in England, he plays for theIraq national team.
Iqbal joinedManchester United's youth system aged nine. He made his first-team debut in aUEFA Champions League match in December 2021. Iqbal represented Iraq atunder-23 level before making his senior international debut in January 2022.
Born inManchester to a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother, Iqbal played for local side Sale United from the age of four before joiningManchester United at the age of nine.[3]
Iqbal signed his first professional contract withManchester United in April 2021.[4][5] He made his first-team debut for Manchester United on 8 December 2021 as an 89th-minute substitute in aUEFA Champions League match againstYoung Boys.[6] 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.[7][8]
On 23 June 2023, Iqbal announced that he would be leaving Manchester United to join a new club, subject to registration and international clearance.[9] His move toUtrecht was announced and finalised on 26 June, on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[10]
Iqbal was eligible to representEngland,Iraq, andPakistan at international level.[11]
In May 2021, he received an Iraqi passport, and has represented Iraq at youth international level.[12][13] In June 2021, he was called up to theIraq under-20 team for the2021 Arab Cup U-20. However, he was refused to travel by Manchester United, due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[14]
In September 2021, Iqbal received his first call up to theIraq U23 for a training camp in UAE. He made his debut on 4 September against theUAE U23, making the starting line-up. In October 2021, Iqbal was named as part of the 23-man Iraq U23 squad for the2021 WAFF U-23 Championship in Saudi Arabia.[15] On 8 October, Iqbal scored his first goal for the Iraq U23 team as the captain of his side.[16]
In January 2022, Iqbal was called up to theIraq national team for the2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers againstIran andLebanon.[17] He made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Iran on 27 January 2022.[18]
In September 2023, Iqbal was called up for the2023 King's Cup tournament in Thailand.
In January 2024, Iqbal is included in the squad2023 AFC Asian Cup tournament held in Qatar where he made his first appearance in the tournament on 15 January 2024 againstIndonesia.
On 26 March 2024, Iqbal scored his first international goal during the2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match againstPhilippines in a 5–0 away win.
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.[19]
As one of a large number ofBritish Asians in association football, Iqbal was part of anFA content series to support South Asian Heritage Month in 2021.[20]
Iqbal isMuslim, and citesMesut Özil as an inspiration for him.[21][22] Iqbal has stated in interviews that he is fluent inEnglish and can speak a bit ofPunjabi andArabic.[23]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Manchester United U21 | 2021–22 | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 1 | 3 | 1 | |||||
| 2022–23 | — | — | — | — | 3[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | ||||||
| Manchester United | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 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 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Jong Utrecht | 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Utrecht | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 27 | 1 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iraq | 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 1 | |
| Total | 15 | 1 | |
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 |
Event occurs at 3:41
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