Ali Ibrahim Karim Al-Zubaidi (born 1 March 2002), known as Ali Al-Hamadi (Arabic: علي الحمادي), is an Iraqi professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League One side Wycombe Wanderers and the Iraq national football team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ali Ibrahim Karim Al-Zubaidi[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (2002-03-01) 1 March 2002 (age 20) | ||
| Place of birth | Maysan, Iraq | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Wycombe Wanderers | ||
| Number | 25 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015–2018 | Tranmere Rovers | ||
| 2018–2021 | Swansea City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021– | Wycombe Wanderers | 2 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Bromley (loan) | 9 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2019– | Iraq U23 | 2 | (1) |
| 2021– | Iraq | 5 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 09:54, 20 August 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 March 2022 | |||
Ali was born in Maysan, Iraq on 1 March 2002. In 2003 during the early stages of the Iraq War, at the age of 1, he and his family moved from Iraq to Toxteth, Liverpool where they would settle and he would grow up.[2]
Al-Hamadi’s father, Ibrahim, who was studying to become a lawyer at that point, was part of a peaceful protest against the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and he ended up being jailed. His wife was pregnant, and his father with help, was released and made his way to the UK. Like most Iraqis fleeing the war, Ali initially went to Jordan with his mother before they reunited with his father in Britain. The first time he met his father he was one year and 4 months old .[2]
In 2015, Al-Hamadi was selected to play for Liverpool Schoolboys at the age of 13 where he quickly made an impression and caught the attention of Everton and Liverpool, but ended up joining Tranmere Rovers.[2]
Ali joined Tranmere’s under-14s and stayed with the club for three years, being offered a professional contract in the summer of 2018 but he instead opted for a two-year scholarship at Swansea City.[citation needed]
Al-Hamadi left Liverpool and his family to move to Wales as he joined Swansea City’s academy in the summer of 2018, joining on a two-year scholarship.[3] On 2 July 2020, Al-Hamadi signed his first professional contract with Swansea, signing a one-year contract with the club.[4]
In September 2021, Al-Hamadi went on trial with Derby County,[5] scoring for their under-23 side in a 3–3 Premier League Cup draw against the Norwich City under-23s.[6]
On 20 November 2021, Al-Hamadi signed an eighteen-month contract with League One side Wycombe Wanderers, following a successful trial period at the club.[7]
On 11 March 2022, Al-Hamadi joined National League side Bromley on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[8]
Al-Hamadi was eligible to play for both England and Iraq at international level and accepted a call-up to the Iraq U23 team in 2019, declaring for the country of his birth.
In late 2019, Al-Hamadi received and accepted an invitation from the Iraq under-23s to join them in their preparations for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship. Ali made his debut for and scored his first goal in October 2019.[9] He was not included in the squad for the final tournament due to an injury he picked up at the training camp.[citation needed]
Ali received his first call-up to the senior national team in November 2021 as part of Iraq’s squad for their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Syria, with striker Iraq’s first choice striker Mohanad Ali out injured and Alaa Abbas still regaining fitness after his injury.[10] Al-Hamadi was named in the starting line-up and made his debut on 11 November in a 1–1 draw against Syria before gaining his second cap in a 3–0 loss to South Korea on 16 November, playing the full match.[citation needed]
Ali Al-Hamadi was born in Amarah, Maysan to parents from both Amarah and Al Diwaniyah[citation needed]
Al-Hamadi got 4 A*s, 4 As and a B in his GCSEs.[11]
Ali has two younger siblings, a brother and sister who were both born after the family moved to England.[citation needed]
Bromley
Wycombe Wanderers F.C. – current squad | |
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