Jump to content

Ali Ahmed (soccer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ali Ahmed
Image
Ahmed with Canada in 2026
Personal information
Full name Ali Ahmed[1]
Date of birth (2000-10-10) October 10, 2000 (age 26)
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Norwich City
Number 37
Youth career
North Toronto Nitros
2020–2022 Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Whitecaps FC 2 15 (0)
2022 → Vancouver Whitecaps FC (loan) 2 (0)
2023–2026 Vancouver Whitecaps FC 66 (4)
2026– Norwich City 19 (4)
International career‡
2023– Canada 28 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of May 2, 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of July 4, 2026

Ali Ahmed (born October 10, 2000) is a Canadian professional soccer player who plays as a wide midfielder or winger for EFL Championship club Norwich City and the Canada national team.

Early life

[edit]

Ahmed was born in Toronto to Ethiopian parents and grew up in Lawrence Heights.[2] He began playing youth soccer at age six with the North Toronto Nitros.[3] His mother, Muna Isa, enrolled him in a wide range of extracurricular activities from a young age, including swimming, basketball and tutoring, hoping to give him opportunities she had not had growing up.[4] Ahmed has said that although he was drawn more strongly to basketball as a child, spending many evenings watching or playing pickup games, his mother held him to his earlier commitment to soccer and insisted he continue attending training even when reluctant, a discipline he has credited as foundational to his later career.[4]

In 2018, he went on trial with the Toronto Academy, who were ready to sign him to join the academy, but he opted to head to Portugal to trial with the U19 side of C.F. Os Belenenses, but was unable to sign as he was under 18.[2] Ahmed has said the club's coaching staff were impressed with his performance during the trial, but that he was unaware at the time that international players needed to be 18 to complete a permanent move, which prevented a signing.[4] He then went to Spain, before returning to Toronto, before returning to Europe to trial in Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.[2] In November 2019, he trialed with the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy and then trialed again the following year,[2] and in August 2020, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps Academy.[5] In 2021, he played with the Vancouver Whitecaps U-23.[5] He attended pre-season camp with the first team in 2021 and 2022.[5]

Club career

[edit]

Whitecaps FC 2

[edit]

Ahmed has said his trial with the Whitecaps' second team in March 2021 went well enough that head coach Vanni Sartini promoted him to preseason training with the first team within the same week, despite Ahmed initially only hoping to make the second-team roster.[4] In March 2022, he signed a professional contract with Whitecaps FC 2 in MLS Next Pro.[6] He made his professional debut on March 26 against Houston Dynamo 2.[7] He led the team in assists with five in 2022.[8] He was named the 2022 WFC2 Player of the Year.[9]

Vancouver Whitecaps

[edit]

On April 22, 2022, he joined the first team on a short-term four-day loan ahead of their MLS league match against Austin.[10] In the match the next day, he made his official first-team debut.[11] On August 4, he signed another short-term loan with Vancouver.[12] In November 2022, he signed a permanent contract with the first team for the 2023 season, becoming the first Whitecaps FC 2 player to sign a first-team contract.[13] On May 24, he suffered what appeared to be a serious injury in a match, where he lost consciousness and was treated on-field for seventeen minutes,[14][15] but was released from hospital the next day with only a concussion.[16][17] On June 7, 2023, he won the 2023 Canadian Championship with the Whitecaps, defeating CF Montreal and won the tournament's Best Young Canadian Player Award.[18]

Norwich City

[edit]

On January 4, 2026, Ahmed moved to England, signing for EFL Championship side Norwich City on a three-and-a-half-year deal with an option for a further year.[19]

He made his debut for the club on January 17, 2026, starting the match and providing an assist within the opening 10 minutes against Wrexham.[20][21] He scored his first goal for Norwich three days later in a 5–0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.[22] On January 26, 2026, he recorded a goal and an assist in a 2–1 victory against league leaders Coventry City.[23] In a pre-season friendly against Osasuna ahead of the 2026–27 season, Ahmed suffered an ACL injury with the player expected to miss much of the forthcoming campaign.[24]

International career

[edit]

In May 2023, Ahmed was listed on the Canada preliminary roster for the 2023 CONCACAF Nations League Finals.[25][26] In June 2023, he was named to the final 23-man squad for the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.[27] Ahmed made his debut for Canada on June 27 in their tournament opener against Guadeloupe.[28][29] In June 2024, Ahmed was named to Canada's squad for the 2024 Copa América.[30] He scored his first goal for Canada in a friendly against Romania on September 5, 2025.[31]

In May 2026, Ahmed was named to Canada's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[32] Ahmed helped Canada reach the semifinals of the 2024 Copa América in the country's first appearance at the tournament.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Ahmed is a Muslim and fasts during Ramadan while playing matches.[33] Ahmed is of Oromo descent, and has said his parents' move to Canada was driven partly by a desire to give their children opportunities unavailable to them growing up.[4] He grew up playing for Oromia FC, a community team.[4] Upon moving to Vancouver to pursue his opportunity with the Whitecaps, Ahmed relied on extended family in the city, staying with an aunt and uncle.[4] His supporters, a group of friends, family and community members who travel to his matches, are known to him as the "Ali A Fan Club."[4]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played May 2, 2026[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs National cup[a] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Whitecaps FC 2 2022 MLS Next Pro 150————150
Vancouver Whitecaps 2022 MLS 20—00——20
2023 22220213[b]01[c]0303
2024 2213040002[c]0311
2025 22051339[b]000394
Total 68310194120301028
Norwich City 2025–26 Championship 194—20——214
Career total 10261011141203013811
  1. ↑ Includes U.S. Open Cup, FA Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearances in Leagues Cup

International

[edit]
As of match played July 4, 2026[35]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Canada 202340
202480
2025101
202660
Total281

Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Ali Ahmed
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1September 5, 2025Arena Națională, Bucharest, Romania18Image Romania2–03–0International Friendly

Honours

[edit]

Vancouver Whitecaps

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "EFL Professional Retain List 2025/26". efl.com. June 15, 2026. Retrieved July 4, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ahmed, Shireen Ahmed (June 16, 2026). "Family, friends of Canada's World Cup team relishing the opportunity to watch them at home". CBC.
  3. ↑ Ali Ahmed at Canada Soccer
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hassan, Mohamed (2024). "FAMILY". DARBY. No. 4. Retrieved August 31, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 McColl, Michael (March 19, 2022). "Whitecaps FC 2 are back – Get to know the new squad (Part Two)". Away from the Numbers.
  6. ↑ "WFC2 sign two Canadians and four 2022 MLS SuperDraft picks". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. March 18, 2022.
  7. ↑ Fossey, Maxim (March 26, 2022). "WFC2 open inaugural MLS NEXT Pro season with narrow 1-0 loss against Houston Dynamo 2". Vancouver Whitecaps.
  8. ↑ Durec, Nathan (October 19, 2022). "Terminal City Thoughts: A look at a few Whitecaps 2 players". Area 51 Sports Network.
  9. ↑ "Whitecaps FC announce winners for 2022 Player Awards". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. October 28, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Whitecaps FC sign WFC2 wingback Ali Ahmed and midfielder Vasco Fry to MLS short-term agreements". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. April 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ Vancouver Whitecaps FC [@WhitecapsFC] (April 24, 2022). "Ali Ahmed's MLS Debut @aliahmed51_ #VWFC #ATXvVAN" (Tweet). Retrieved November 1, 2022 – via Twitter.
  12. ↑ "Whitecaps FC sign wingback Ali Ahmed and striker Simon Becher to MLS short-term agreements". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. August 4, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Whitecaps FC sign MLS NEXT Pro wingback Ali Ahmed to an MLS contract through 2025". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 16, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Ali Ahmed posts thank you message, insists he'll be back on the pitch with Vancouver Whitecaps soon". Canadian Soccer Daily. May 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ Bahl, Andrew (May 25, 2023). "Scary Ali Ahmed injury overshadows Whitecaps' Canadian Championship win". The Third Sub.
  16. ↑ Jacques, John (May 25, 2023). "Ali Ahmed Cleared By Hospital, Returns To Team". Northern Tribune.
  17. ↑ "Whitecaps' Ali Ahmed cleared to travel with team after leaving hospital". Sportsnet. May 24, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 "Gressel and Ahmed win awards at 2023 Canadian Championship". Canadian Soccer Association. June 8, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Norwich City complete signing of Ali Ahmed". Norwich City. January 4, 2026. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  20. ↑ Que, Brandon (January 17, 2026). "WATCH: Ali Ahmed assists Norwich opener in English Championship debut against Wrexham". Canadian Soccer Daily. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  21. ↑ "STARTING XIs: Ahmed City debut against Wrexham; Slimane start". The Pink Un. January 17, 2026. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Norwich thrash West Brom to move out of drop zone". BBC Sport. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Norwich City Football Club". Norwich City Football Club. Retrieved January 26, 2026.
  24. ↑ Cresswell, Matthew (August 6, 2026). "Norwich confirm ACL injury for Ahmed". BBC Sport. Retrieved August 24, 2026.
  25. ↑ "CONCACAF drops stacked Canada preliminary Nations League roster with some surprise names". Canada Soccer Daily. May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  26. ↑ Adams, J.J. (May 24, 2023). "Scary injury to Ali Ahmed casts pall over Vancouver Whitecaps victory". The Province.
  27. ↑ "Ali Ahmed called up to Canada MNT for Concacaf Gold Cup". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. June 19, 2023.
  28. ↑ Steiner, Ben (June 28, 2023). "MLS rookies Amhed, Bombito inspire in Canada's Gold Cup opener". Major League Soccer.
  29. ↑ Nightingale, Tom (June 28, 2023). "'Fearless' Ali Ahmed's Canada debut marks latest high point for breakout Vancouver Whitecaps star". Canadian Soccer Daily.
  30. ↑ "CANMNT ANNOUNCE 2024 COPA AMÉRICA ROSTER". Canadian Soccer Association. June 15, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Canada easily shuts down Romania in friendly match". September 5, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Davies spearheads Canada squad". May 28, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
  33. ↑ Ahmed, Shireen (March 27, 2025). "Canadian national soccer player Ali Ahmed one of many athletes thriving during Ramadan fast". CBC Sports. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  34. ↑ Ali Ahmed at Soccerway
  35. ↑ Ali Ahmed at National-Football-Teams.com Edit this at Wikidata
  36. ↑ "Three-peat! Vancouver Whitecaps top Toronto FC to win Canadian Championship". Major League Soccer. September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 26, 2024.
  37. ↑ "FOUR-PEAT: Vancouver Whitecaps retain Canadian Championship title". Major League Soccer. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
  38. ↑ "'More to come': Ahmed, Gauld react to Whitecaps' CanChamp four-peat". OneSoccer. October 2, 2025. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ali_Ahmed_(soccer)&oldid=1381537936"