Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif (born 1 January 2001) is a Somali professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. He represents Somalia at international level.

Abdi Sharif
Personal information
Full name Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif[1]
Date of birth (2001-01-01) 1 January 2001 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Somalia[2]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
2010–2019 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Liverpool 0 (0)
2022–2024 Wigan Athletic 1 (0)
2023–2024AFC Telford United (loan) 2 (1)
International career
2023– Somalia 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:58, 1 April 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:58, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif was born in Somalia on 1 January 2001 before he emigrated to the United Kingdom with his family in 2004.[3] He grew up in Toxteth with his nine older brothers.[4]

Club career

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Liverpool

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Sharif spent his youth with the Academy at Liverpool, spending three years training with the club before he joined officially at the age of nine.[5] He turned professional at Anfield in July 2019.[6] He suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament injury and was given a one-year contract extension to allow him the opportunity to recover.[7][8]

Wigan Athletic

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He spent a year unattached and then joined Wigan Athletic following a successful trial in the summer of 2022.[3][9] He scored goals in friendlies against Hyde United and Alvechurch during his trial spell.[10] He made his senior debut for the club on the last day of the 2022–23 season, in a 0–0 draw with Rotherham United at the DW Stadium.[11] This made him the first Somali to play in the EFL Championship.[12][13]

He joined National League North club AFC Telford United on loan on 25 November 2023.[14] He returned to Wigan in the new year.[15]

He was released by Wigan at the end of the 2023–24 season.[16]

International career

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Sharif was called up to represent Somalia for the first time in October 2023.[17]

Style of play

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A central midfielder, he earned praise from Liverpool coach Steven Gerrard for his stamina.[18] He can also play at right-back and was a centre-forward in his youth.[6][19]

Career statistics

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As of match played 6 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool U21 2020–21 2[a] 0 2 0
Wigan Athletic 2022–23[20] EFL Championship 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2023–24[21] EFL League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
AFC Telford United (loan) 2022–23[1] National League North 2 0 0 0 2 0
Career total 3 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 6 0
  1. ^ a b Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Abdi Sharif at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  2. ^ Hassanein, Hesham (9 December 2020). "Liverpool Profiles: Get to Know Abdi Sharif". American Scouser. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  3. ^ a b Gray, Toby (25 November 2022). "Abdi Sharif". AFC Telford United. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  4. ^ Williams, Sam (16 February 2018). "Meet the Academy: Abdi Sharif". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  5. ^ "1. Abdi Sharif". Raps Management. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  6. ^ a b Lusby, Jack (2 July 2019). "The Somali-Scouser who makes Liverpool's academy tick". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  7. ^ Lusby, Jack (28 May 2020). "LFC youngster signs new deal in bid to make up for lost time". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  8. ^ Lynch, David (28 May 2020). "Liverpool youngster signs new deal after overcoming serious injury". Evening Standard. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. ^ Kelly, Andy (28 May 2020). "Abdi Sharif extends contract at Liverpool FC". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Joe Rodwell-Grant, Ethan Mitchell and Abdi Sharif join Wigan Athletic U21s!". Wigan Athletic FC. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Match Report | Latics 0 Rotherham United 0". Wigan Athletic FC. 8 May 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  12. ^ Lusby, Jack (9 May 2023). "Ex-LFC youngster makes history on Championship debut". This Is Anfield. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Somali footballer Abdi Sharif makes history in Championship debut". www.hiiraan.com. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  14. ^ Westbury, Ollie (25 November 2022). "Telford sign Wigan Athletic midfielder Abdi Sharif". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  15. ^ Jenkins, Paul (5 January 2023). "AFC Telford United sign Hednesford's Adam Livingstone with three leaving". Shropshire Star. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  16. ^ "Wigan Athletic confirms retained list following the 2023/24 season". Wigan Athletic FC. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Internationals | Five Tics stars set for action in October". Wigan Athletic FC. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  18. ^ Hunter, Steve (17 January 2018). "Steven Gerrard's guide to his FA Youth Cup squad". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  19. ^ Carson, Ste (27 June 2019). "Talented teenager signs professional contract with Liverpool". The Empire of The Kop. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Games played by Abdi Sharif in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Games played by Abdi Sharif in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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