Mukhtar Abdullahi Ali (Arabic: مختار علي; born 30 October 1997) is a professional footballer, of Somali origin,[2] who plays as a midfielder for Al-Tai on loan from Al-Nassr and the Saudi Arabia national football team. He was born in Jeddah and moved to London as an infant.[1]
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Mukhtar Abdullahi Ali | ||
Date of birth | (1997-10-30) 30 October 1997 (age 25) | ||
Place of birth | Jeddah, Saudi Arabia[1] | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Club information | |||
Current team |
Al-Tai (on loan from Al-Nassr) | ||
Number | 7 | ||
Youth career | |||
0000–2008 | Leyton Orient | ||
2008–2017 | Chelsea | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017 | Chelsea | 0 | (0) |
2017 | → Vitesse (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2017 | → Jong Vitesse (loan) | 4 | (0) |
2017–2019 | Vitesse | 9 | (1) |
2019– | Al-Nassr | 25 | (0) |
2022 | → Al-Tai (loan) | 11 | (2) |
2022– | → Al-Tai (loan) | 0 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2012 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
2013–2014 | England U17 | 4 | (0) |
2017–2021 | Saudi Arabia U23 | ||
2017– | Saudi Arabia | 4 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 June 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2020 |
In 2008, Ali joined Chelsea at under-11 level from Leyton Orient and progressed through the club's academy system.[3] He was part of the Chelsea youth side which recorded back to back triumphs in the FA Youth Cup in 2015 and 2016.[3] With 42 appearances in all competitions he was the second-leading appearance maker in the academy and was also nominated for International Somali Sportsman of the Year.[3]
On 29 January 2017, Ali joined Vitesse on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 campaign.[4] On 19 February 2017, Ali made his Vitesse debut in their 1–0 home defeat against Ajax, replacing Marvelous Nakamba in the 84th minute.[5] On 4 February 2017, he played his first match for Jong Vitesse against SV Spakenburg.[6] Ali went onto appear in five more league games during his loan spell.
On 17 July 2017, Vitesse permanently signed Ali on a three-year deal.[7]
On 31 August 2019, Al-Nassr signed Mukhtar Ali on a one-year deal from Vitesse.[8] On 29 January 2022, he renewed his contract with Al-Nassr until 2025 and was loaned out to Al-Tai.[9] On 29 August 2022, Mukhtar Ali rejoined Al-Tai on a one-year loan.[10]
Ali represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level, however, pledged his allegiance towards the Saudi Arabia national team,[11] and made his senior debut on 7 October 2017 against Jamaica. This was possibly based on the player's assertion that he was instead born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[12]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Vitesse (loan) | 2016–17 | Eredivisie | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||
Vitesse | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 2] | 0 | 6 | 0 |
2018–19 | Eredivisie | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | ||
Al Nassr | 2019–20 | Saudi Pro League | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8[lower-alpha 3] | 1 | — | 29 | 1 | |
2020–21 | Saudi Pro League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[lower-alpha 3] | 0 | — | 8 | 0 | ||
Club total | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 1 | ||
Career total | 40 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 2 |
Chelsea Reserves[3]
Vitesse
Al-Tai FC – current squad | |
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Saudi Arabia men's football squad – 2020 Summer Olympics | ||
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