Haji Amir Wright (born March 27, 1998) is an American professional soccer player who plays for Süper Lig club Antalyaspor and the United States national team.
![]() Wright with Antalyaspor in 2021 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Haji Amir Wright[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1998-03-27) March 27, 1998 (age 24) | ||
Place of birth | Los Angeles, California, United States | ||
Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward, winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Antalyaspor | ||
Number | 9 | ||
Youth career | |||
2012–2015 | LA Galaxy | ||
2016–2017 | Schalke 04 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015 | New York Cosmos | 3 | (0) |
2015 | New York Cosmos B | 4 | (5) |
2017–2019 | Schalke 04 II | 22 | (14) |
2017–2019 | Schalke 04 | 7 | (1) |
2017–2018 | → SV Sandhausen (loan) | 15 | (1) |
2019–2020 | VVV-Venlo | 22 | (0) |
2020–2022 | SønderjyskE | 29 | (11) |
2021–2022 | → Antalyaspor (loan) | 32 | (14) |
2022– | Antalyaspor | 12 | (9) |
National team‡ | |||
2013 | United States U15 | 10 | (2) |
2013–2015 | United States U17 | 34 | (27) |
2014–2015 | United States U18 | 5 | (2) |
2016 | United States U19 | 2 | (0) |
2019 | United States U23 | 2 | (0) |
2022– | United States | 3 | (1) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of November 6, 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 14, 2022 |
Known for his finishing, ability to win headers, and quickness,[2] Wright had been dubbed by many media outlets as one of the top prospects in the United States youth system.[3][4] His success with the under-17 national team prompted him to train with Schalke 04's academy.[5]
In March 2015, Wright officially signed with NASL club New York Cosmos for an undisclosed fee and contract length.[6] Wright's contract expired following the season, and he did not re-sign.[7] During his time at Cosmos, Wright featured in 3 league games, playing a total of 80 minutes. He made his debut versus Indy Eleven on July 26, 2015.[8]
In April 2016, Wright signed with Schalke 04.[9] In his debut with the Schalke under-19 team on April 16, Wright scored a brace against Borussia Mönchengladbach U19.
Wright was promoted to the Schalke first team in May 2017.[10] He was named on the bench against FC Ingolstadt 04 on May 20, 2017.[11] In July 2018, Wright underwent a trial period with 2. Bundesliga club Union Berlin.[12] On November 24, 2018, Wright made his debut for Schalke first team when he replaced Steven Skrzybski in the 88th minute of the 5–2 win against 1. FC Nürnberg.[13]
In July 2019, Wright joined VVV-Venlo on a free transfer.[14]
In August 2020, Wright joined SønderjyskE on a free transfer.[15] He got off to a strong start in the league, with 6 goals in 8 appearances by early November, and his performances led to him being named as the Danish Superliga Player of the Month for October 2020.[16]In July 2021, Wright wanted to move on from SønderjyskE and failed to report back for pre-season training.[17] On July 21, 2021, Turkish club Antalyaspor confirmed that they had signed Wright on loan from SønderjyskE with an option to buy.[18] However, later on the same day, SønderjyskE went out and denied that the deal had gone through because they hadn't yet received any payment.[19] However, a few days later, on July 28, 2021, SønderjyskE confirmed that he had been loaned out to Antalyaspor for the 2021–22 season and also signed a new deal with Sønderjyske until June 2024.[20]
On July 19, 2022, Wright signed a three-year deal with Antalyaspor.[21]
Wright is of Liberian and Ghanaian descent. He has represented the United States at all youth levels.[22] In May 2022, Wright was called into the United States senior camp by Gregg Berhalter for a CONCACAF Nation's League window.[23]
Wright scored his first international goal on his senior debut for the United States on June 1, 2022, in a 3–0 friendly victory against Morocco.[24] In November 2022, Wright was named to the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[25]
Haji's brother Hanif plays on the under-19 team of Bonner SC.[26] Haji's cousins are also active in athletics: Joseph Putu played cornerback for the Florida Gators,[27] his second cousin, Isaac Nana Addai, played for the Liberia national under-23 football team as well as Boston City FC, and his third cousin, Joseph Addai, won Super Bowl XLI in 2007 with the Indianapolis Colts.[28]
Club | Season | League | National cup[lower-alpha 1] | Other | Total | |||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
New York Cosmos | 2015 | NASL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | |
Schalke 04 | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | Bundesliga | 7 | 1 | – | – | 7 | 1 | |||
Total | 7 | 1 | – | – | 7 | 1 | ||||
SV Sandhausen (loan) | 2017–18 | 2. Bundesliga | 15 | 1 | – | – | 15 | 1 | ||
VVV-Venlo | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | 23 | 1 | |
SønderjyskE | 2020–21 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 1[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 37 | 13 |
2021–22 | Danish Superliga | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | |||
Total | 29 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 13 | ||
Antalyaspor (loan) | 2021–22 | Süper Lig | 32 | 14 | 3 | 1 | – | 35 | 15 | |
Antalyaspor | 2022–23 | Süper Lig | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 | 9 | |
Career total | 120 | 36 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 133 | 40 |
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
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United States | 2022 | 3 | 1 |
Total | 3 | 1 |
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
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1 | June 1, 2022 | TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, United States | ![]() | 3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
New York Cosmos
Individual
Antalyaspor – current squad | |
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United States squad – 2022 FIFA World Cup | ||
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