The First Iraqi to Ever Play in the Premier League
By Umair Mirxa
On 17th August 2024, when Ipswich Town lined up at Portman Road to play Liverpool on the first matchday of the new Premier League season, the day marked an historic occasion for the Tractor Boys.
One of the 22 inaugural members of the English Premier League, the Suffolk based club had returned to the top flight for the first time since 2001-02.
In the 74th minute of the match, they made history once more by bringing on Ali Al-Hamadi, the first ever Iraqi footballer to play in the Premier League.
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Who is Ali Al-Hamadi?
Ali Ibrahim Karim Al-Hamadi was born on 1st March 2002 in Maysan, Iraq. However, he moved to—and grew up in—Toxteth, Liverpool in 2003, after his family fled the Iraq War.
He impressed scouts at Liverpool and Everton while playing for the Liverpool Schoolboys at the age of 13 but joined the under-14s side at Tranmere Rovers instead in 2015.
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First Professional Contract and Senior Football
Three years later, in 2018, he opted to sign the two year scholarship offer from Swansea City rather than the professional contract at the Rovers.
Al-Hamadi signed his first professional contract with Swansea in July 2020. He scored seven goals and provided one assist in 28 matches for the club’s U18 and U21 teams.
In November 2021, having failed to break into the first team with the Swans, he joined League One side Wycombe Wanderers.
From there, he was sent out on loan to National League side Bromley, where he made his senior debut on 15th March 2022. In total, he scored three goals and provided two assists for the club across ten appearances.
He played in his first match for the Chairboys in the League Cup away against Northampton on 9th August 2022, and made his League One debut one week later on 16th August, away at Exeter City. Across all competitions, he made 13 appearances at Wycombe, and scored one goal.
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One Step Back for One Massive Leap Forward
Al-Hamadi signed permanently for AFC Wimbledon in League Two on 12th January 2023. The drop down the pyramid afforded him greater opportunities to play and showcase his talents. In 48 total appearances for the Dons across all competitions, he scored 27 goals and provided eight assists.
The performances, and his overall form, earned him his move to current club Ipswich Town, then playing in the Championship and vying for promotion to the Premier League.
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The First Iraqi to Play in the Premier League
Al-Hamadi joined Ipswich Town in January 2024, and signed for four-and-a-half years. He made his debut for the Blues against Preston North End in the Championship on 3rd February, and scored his first goal for the club 11 days on Valentine’s Day from the penalty spot against Milwall.
On 17th August 2024, he made history by becoming the first ever Iraqi player to feature in the English Premier League, replacing Liam Delap in the 74th minute against Liverpool on the first matchday of the 2024-25 season.
Iraq became the 124th nation to have been represented in the Premier League.
In total, he has scored five goals and provided one assist in 18 appearances in all competitions for the Tractor Boys.
Al-Hamadi represented Iraq at the U23 level, scoring one goal in two matches. He made his senior debut for the Iraqi national football team in November 2021, and has since scored three goals in twelve appearances.
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