Arjan Singh Raikhy (born 20 October 2002) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Leicester City. He is a product of the Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion academies.

Arjan Raikhy
Personal information
Full name Arjan Singh Raikhy[1]
Date of birth (2002-10-20) 20 October 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Wolverhampton, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Leicester City
Number 47
Youth career
West Bromwich Albion
0000–2021 Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Aston Villa 0 (0)
2021–2022Stockport County (loan) 5 (0)
2022Grimsby Town (loan) 7 (0)
2023– Leicester City 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:55, 30 January 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Youth football

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Raikhy played at West Bromwich Albion in his early teens, before switching to the nearby Aston Villa Academy.[2]

Having played regularly for the under-18 side in the 2019–20 season, Raikhy featured for the Aston Villa U21 side in the EFL Trophy against Carlisle United, losing 3–1.[3]

Having been a key player in Villa's Under-18 FA Youth Cup squad that season, on 24 May 2021, Raikhy was part of the side that defeated Liverpool U18 2–1 in the final.[4]

Aston Villa debut and loans

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Raikhy was named in the Aston Villa starting line-up for his senior debut on 8 January 2021 in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool.[5] On 7 July 2021, Raikhy was one of several young players who signed a new contract with Aston Villa.[6]

On 20 August, Raikhy joined National League side Stockport County on a season-long loan.[7][8] He made his National League debut in a 1–0 victory over Southend United.[9] He made eight appearances for Stockport, including one man of the match award, before being recalled to Aston Villa on 3 January 2022.[10]

On 24 January 2022, Raikhy went on loan to the National League once again, this time joining Grimsby Town until the end of the season.[11] The following day, he made his Grimsby debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Wrexham.[12] On 5 June 2022, Raikhy played in the National League play-off final at the London Stadium as Grimsby beat Solihull Moors in extra time to secure promotion back to the Football League.[13] This marked an unusual achievement, as both of the teams he had been at loan to in that National League season had been promoted.

On 16 June 2023, Raikhy was released by Aston Villa.[14]

Leicester City

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On 17 August 2023, Raikhy signed for Leicester City.[15] On 27 January 2024, he made his debut for the club as an 81st-minute substitute in a 3–0 FA Cup home win against Birmingham City.[16]

Personal life

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Raikhy is from a British Punjabi Sikh[17] family, he was born in Wolverhampton and attended school in Telford.[18]

Career statistics

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As of 27 February 2024[19]
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 2020–21 Premier League 0 0 1 0 0 0 1[a] 0 2 0
2021–22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022–23 0 0 0 0 0 0 3[a] 0 3 0
Total 0 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 5 0
Stockport County (loan) 2021–22 National League 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
Grimsby Town (loan) 2021–22 National League 7 0 0 0 0 0 2[b] 0 9 0
Leicester City 2023–24 Championship 1 0 2 0 0 0 2[a] 1 5 1
Career total 13 0 6 0 0 0 8 1 27 1
  1. ^ a b c Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
  2. ^ Appearances in National League play-offs

Honours

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Grimsby Town

Leicester City

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2020/21 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League Website. 20 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Dean Smith sent 'special' demand after Jack Grealish watches Aston Villa youngsters dazzle". Birmingham Mail. 15 May 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  3. ^ "MATCH REPORT: United 3 – 1 Villa U21". Carlisle United F.C. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ Preece, Ashley (24 May 2021). "Aston Villa vs Liverpool FA Youth Cup final LIVE updates". BirminghamLive. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Aston Villa name young and inexperienced side for their FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool". avfc.co.uk. Aston Villa F.C. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Young Lions sign new contracts". Aston Villa Football Club. 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Raikhy joins Stockport County on loan". Aston Villa Football Club. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Exciting midfielder joins County on loan". Stockport County. 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 20 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  9. ^ "Southend United 0–1 Stockport County". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Midfielder returns to parent club". Stockport County. 3 January 2022. Archived from the original on 4 January 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Mariners Secure Raikhy On Loan! – Grimsby Town Football Club". gtfc.co.uk. 24 January 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Wrexham debutant Palmer sinks Mariners". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  13. ^ Peddy, Chris (5 June 2022). "Grimsby beat Solihull Moors to seal EFL return". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists". premierleague.com. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  15. ^ Dorsett, Rob (17 August 2023). "Arjan Raikhy: Punjabi wonderkid joins former Premier League champions Leicester after leaving Aston Villa". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 17 August 2023. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  16. ^ "FA Cup: Leicester City 3–0 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "'Dad, he looks like me' - The Aston Villa teenager who blazed a trail against Liverpool". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  19. ^ Arjan Raikhy at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  20. ^ Jackson, Elliott (5 June 2022). "Grimsby Town complete remarkable fairytale as Solihull Moors comeback earns League Two promotion". Grimsby Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  21. ^ "Championship: 2023/24: Current table". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
    "Leicester: Squad details: 2023/24". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 May 2024.