British South Asians in Football: Man Utd’s Zidane Iqbal poised to leave Old Trafford and join Dutch side FC Utrecht | Football News

Table of Contents

Zidane Iqbal poised to leave Manchester United and join Dutch Eredvisie side FC Utrecht; Iqbal, 20, has spent more than a decade at Man Utd and featured on the bench seven times in the Premier League last term; Iqbal is the first British South Asian ever to play for Manchester United

By Dev Trehan, @DevTrehan

22:18, UK, Tuesday 20 June 2023

Manchester United trailblazer Zidane Iqbal is closing in on a permanent move to FC Utrecht, Sky Sports News has been told.

Academy graduate Iqbal is set to put pen-to-paper on a contract with Eredivisie club, ending his decade-plus long association with United where he has progressed through the age groups.

Zidane Iqbal paid tribute to his friends, family and coaches on social media after becoming the first British South Asian footballer in Manchester United’s history

Iqbal made history in December 2021 when he appeared in the Champions League game against Young Boys to become the first British South Asian to play for Manchester United.

The Manchester-born midfielder, whose mother is Iraqi and father is Pakistani, appeared on United’s bench on seven occasions during the most recent Premier League campaign.

Iqbal recently turned 20 and penned a new United contract last season.

Manchester United youngster Zidane Iqbal was destined to achieve big things in the game, says his first football coach Stewart Hamer

But the Iraq international now looks on course to continue his career in the top division of Dutch football, with his departure from Old Trafford first reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein.

Manchester United have been approached for comment.

Arjan Raikhy leaves Aston Villa

News of Iqbal’s departure comes less than a week another leading light from Britain’s South Asian community, Arjan Raikhy, elected to leave Aston Villa.

Raikhy, who is reportedly a transfer target for Wolves and Leicester, shot to prominence with a wonder goal against Chelsea for Villa’s U18s back in November 2020.

The technically-gifted midfielder made his senior first-team debut just two months later in an FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool, described by supporters’ group Punjabi Villans as “incredible”.

Raikhy ended a memorable season by setting up Ben Chrisene’s opener in a 2-1 victory against Liverpool as Villa’s U18s lifted the FA Youth Cup.

The Sikh-Punjabi enjoyed another productive campaign the following season as he earned the distinction of helping two teams – Stockport County and Grimsby Town – get promoted back to the Football League during two separate loan spells.

Despite impressing for Villa during their winter break in Dubai ahead of last year’s World Cup, Raikhy has been released along with a number of other players ahead of next season.

British South Asians in Football

For more stories, features and videos, visit our groundbreaking South Asians in Football page on skysports.com and South Asians in the Game blog and stay tuned to Sky Sports News and our Sky Sports digital platforms.