Muhammad Zulfahmi bin Mohd Arifin (born 5 October 1991) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United and the Singapore national team. He is noted for being a technical player with set pieces and playmaking abilities. He is also capable operating at full-back and center back.[2]

Zulfahmi Arifin

Personal information
Full name	Muhammad Zulfahmi bin Mohd Arifin[1]
Date of birth	(1991-10-05) 5 October 1991 (age 31)
Place of birth	Singapore
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Hougang United
Number	37
Youth career
	National Football Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2012	Young Lions	46	(1)
2013–2015	LionsXII	22	(3)
2016–2017	Home United	23	(1)
2017–2018	Hougang United	21	(0)
2018	Chonburi	15	(0)
2019–2021	Hougang United	20	(1)
2020	→ Suphanburi (loan)	8	(0)
2020–2021	→ Samut Prakan City (loan)	7	(0)
2021	Kelantan F.C.	8	(1)
2022–	Hougang United	7	(1)
National team‡
2013	Singapore U23	7	(0)
2022	Singapore SEA Games	2	(0)
2013–	Singapore	53	(1)
Honours Men's football Representing  Singapore Asean Football Championship Winner AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 2012
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 December 2021 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2022

Club career

Young Lions

Zulfahmi began his footballing career with Young Lions in the S.League. After two seasons with the club, he was selected in the LionsXII squad for the 2013 season of the Malaysia Super League.[3][4]

LionsXII

Zulfahmi failed to play any part in the first 6 games of the season. He was given his first start against Pahang in the MSL on 16 February 2013. Two more appearances followed until a road traffic accident in mid-April set him back a month.[5] He managed one further start and a substitute appearance on his return as LionsXII won the 2013 Malaysia Super League.

Zulfahmi's potential was recognised as he had a run of six starts in the beginning of the 2014 campaign. Poor performances however meant that he was dropped to the bench in favour of Firdaus Kasman for the next three games.[6] He marked his return to the starting line-up on 22 March by curling a free kick into the PKNS net to score his first LionsXII goal.[7]

Home United

After LionsXII was disbanded, Zulfahmi went to sign for Home United for the 2016 S.League. He made 17 appearances for the protectors before leaving the club at the end of the season.[8]

Hougang United

Zulfahmi signed for the Cheetahs ahead of the 2017 S.League season, joining former coach Phillipe Aw.

Chonburi FC

Zulfahmi's journey to Thailand happened after he made contacts with a Thai agent. Zulfahmi was on trial with second-tier Angthong FC who had wanted to start negotiations after a day. However, Zulfahmi, on the advice of his agent, traveled to Chonburi instead for a 4-day trial. After playing 60 minutes in a 2–3 friendly defeat to Thai Port FC, Chonburi offered him a contract which is only slightly higher than what he received at Hougang.[9]

Zulfahmi became only the third Lion to play in the Thai top tier, after Hassan Sunny and John Wilkinson.[10] Zulfahmi made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Chiangrai United.[11] He has started Chonburi's first two games of the Thai League 1, helping them to a draw and a loss.[12]

Hougang United

After spending a season with Chonburi, Zulfahmi re-signed for Hougang United FC for the 2019 Singapore Premier League season.[13]

Suphanburi

After a year back in his native Singapore, helping Hougang to a 3rd-place finish, Zulfahmi found himself back in the Thai League 1 after an agent contacted him about Suphanburi's interest. Suphanburi's coach Adebayo Gbadebo had watched videos of Zulfahmi's previous games before expressing an interest in signing him.[14] Zulfahmi suffered a difficult 2020, playing just 8 of Suphanburi's 15 league matches in a disrupted season, having returned to Singapore in August to be with his ailing mother, who later died from breast cancer. However, he was a fixture of Suphanburi's midfield before and after he returned to Singapore. He started their first four matches before the league's coronavirus-enforced hiatus and, following his return to Thailand, he started three of Suphanburi's last four league games and came off the bench in the other one.[15]

Samut Prakan City

Zulfahmi signed a 1+1⁄2-season deal with top-tier Thai team Samut Prakan City, after his contract with Thai League 1 side Suphanburi expired. He will play alongside his international teammate, goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, 30, who joined the club in September.[15]

International career

Zulfahmi was first called up to the Singapore national team for a friendly match against Thailand on 24 August 2011.[16] He was also part of the 2012 AFF Championship winning squad although he did not made any appearances in the competition.[9]

Zulfahmi was handed his first international start against Laos on 10 October 2013.[17]

Along with Hariss Harun, he has been identified by national coach Bernd Stange as the future of Singapore's midfield.[6]

Zulfahmi had also been part of the Singapore squad for the 2014 and 2016 AFF Championships.[18]

Zulfahmi finally got his first goal after winning 40 caps for the Lions in a 1–1 draw with Oman on 23 March 2019, scoring via a free-kick from about 23 yards out.[19]

Singapore Selection Squad

Zulfahmi was selected as part of the Singapore Selection squad for The Sultan of Selangor's Cup to be held on 6 May 2017.[20]

Career statistics

26 Sept 2021

Club

As of match played 20 Nov 2021. Caps and goals may not be correct.

• Young Lions and LionsXII are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
• Young Lions withdrew from the 2011 and 2012 Singapore Cup, and the 2011 Singapore League Cup due to participation in AFC and AFF youth competitions.

International

International goals

As of match played 24 March 2019. Singapore score listed first, score column indicates score after each Zulfahmi goal.

International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	23 March 2019	Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia	40	Oman	1–1	1–1	Friendly

Honours

Club

LionsXII

• Malaysia Super League: 2013

International

Singapore

• AFF Championship: 2012

References

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