Ali Al-Hamadi

Ali Ibrahim Karim Al-Hamadi (Arabic: علي ابراهيم كريم الحمادي; born 1 March 2002) is an Iraqi professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL League Two club AFC Wimbledon and the Iraq national football team.

Not to be confused with Ali Al-Hammadi.
Ali Al-Hamadi
Personal information
Full name Ali Ibrahim Karim Al-Hamadi[1]
Date of birth (2002-03-01) 1 March 2002
Place of birth Maysan, Iraq
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 AFC Wimbledon
Number 10
Youth career
2015–2018 Tranmere Rovers
2018–2021 Swansea City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Wycombe Wanderers 9 (0)
2022 → Bromley (loan) 10 (3)
2023– AFC Wimbledon 32 (14)
International career‡
2019– Iraq U23 2 (1)
2021– Iraq 9 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:00, 24 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17:45, 17 October 2023

Early life

Ali was born in Maysan, Iraq on 1 March 2002. In 2003 during the early stages of the Iraq War, at the age of 1, he and his family moved from Iraq to Toxteth, Liverpool where they would settle and he would grow up.[2]

Al-Hamadi’s father, Ibrahim, who was studying to become a lawyer at that point, was part of a peaceful protest against the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and he ended up being jailed. His wife was pregnant, and his father with help, was released and made his way to the UK. Like most Iraqis fleeing the war, Ali initially went to Jordan with his mother before they reunited with his father in Britain. The first time he met his father he was one year and 4 months old .[2]

Club career

Early career

In 2015, Al-Hamadi was selected to play for Liverpool Schoolboys at the age of 13 where he quickly made an impression and caught the attention of Everton and Liverpool, but ended up joining Tranmere Rovers.[2] Ali joined Tranmere’s under-14s and stayed with the club for three years, being offered a professional contract in the summer of 2018 but he instead opted for a two-year scholarship at Swansea City.

Al-Hamadi left Liverpool and his family to move to Wales as he joined Swansea City’s academy in the summer of 2018, joining on a two-year scholarship.[3] On 2 July 2020, Al-Hamadi signed his first professional contract with Swansea, signing a one-year contract with the club.[4]

In September 2021, Al-Hamadi went on trial with Derby County,[5] scoring for their under-23 side in a 3–3 Premier League Cup draw against the Norwich City under-23s.[6]

Wycombe Wanderers

On 20 November 2021, Al-Hamadi signed an eighteen-month contract with League One side Wycombe Wanderers, following a successful trial period at the club.[7]

Bromley (loan)

On 11 March 2022, Al-Hamadi joined National League side Bromley on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[8]

AFC Wimbledon

On 12 January 2023, Al-Hamadi completed a permanent transfer to League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a two-and-a-half year deal.[9] He scored his first goal for Wimbledon on 18 February 2023 in a 2–2 draw with Hartlepool United.[10] In March, 2023 he was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award. [11]

International career

Al-Hamadi was eligible to play for both England and Iraq at international level and accepted a call-up to the Iraq U23 team in 2019, declaring for the country of his birth.

Iraq U23

In late 2019, Al-Hamadi received and accepted an invitation from the Iraq under-23s to join them in their preparations for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship. Ali made his debut for and scored his first goal in October 2019.[12] He was not included in the squad for the final tournament due to an injury he picked up at the training camp.

Iraq

Ali received his first call-up to the senior national team in November 2021 as part of Iraq’s squad for their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Korea and Syria, with striker Iraq’s first choice striker Mohanad Ali out injured and Alaa Abbas still regaining fitness after his injury.[13] Al-Hamadi was named in the starting line-up and made his debut on 11 November in a 1–1 draw against Syria before gaining his second cap in a 3–0 loss to South Korea on 16 November, playing the full match.

Career statistics
As of match played 24 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Swansea City U23 2019–20 ————0000
Wycombe Wanderers 2021–22 League One 00————00
2022–23 League One 90—21—2[lower-alpha 1]0131
Total 900021—20131
Bromley (loan) 2021–22 National League 103————103
AFC Wimbledon 2022–23 League Two 19100000——1910
2023–24 League Two 1340020——154
Total 32140020—003414
Career total 5117004100205718
  1. Appearance(s) in the EFL Trophy

International
As of match played 17 October 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Iraq 202120
202230
202342
Total92
Scores and results list Iraq's goal tally first.[14]
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.7 September 2023700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai India1–12–2
(5–4 p)		2023 King's Cup
2.17 October 2023Amman International Stadium, Amman Jordan2–12–2
(5–3 p)		2023 Jordan International Tournament

Personal life

Ali Al-Hamadi was born in Amarah, Maysan to parents from Amarah and Al Diwaniyah. He has two younger siblings, a brother and sister who were both born after the family moved to England.

Al-Hamadi is a Muslim and observes Ramadan.[15]

Honours

Bromley

Individual

References
  1. "Ali Al-Hamadi". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  2. "From Saddam Hussein to Swansea City: Striker Ali Al-Hamadi's incredible journey". BBC Sport. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. "Ali Al-Hamadi, I Must Keep Performing". Swansea City FC. 15 December 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  4. "Swansea City Reveal Retained List". Swansea City FC. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  5. "Under23s Preview Charlton Athletic H". www.dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  6. "Under23s Settle For A Draw In Premier League Cup Thriller At Norwich". www.dcfc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  7. "Ali Al-Hamadi signs for Wycombe". Bromley Football Club. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  8. "Ali joins Bromley on loan". Wycombe Wanderers FC. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  9. "Ali arrives! International forward signs". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  10. "Wimbledon 2-2 Hartlepool". BBC. 18 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  11. Cornell, Rob. "Ali targets more silverware". AFC Wimbledon. AFC Wimbledon. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  12. "The traumatic back story of Ali Al-Hamadi, the Swansea City starlet who has just done something special". Wales Online. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  13. "اعلان_قائمة_المنتخب_العراقي" (in Arabic). IQPro. 3 November 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  14. "Hussein, Ayman". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  15. "Realities of Ramadan". AFC Wimbledon. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  16. "Bromley beat Wrexham to win FA Trophy". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  17. "Jack Currie | Football Stats | AFC Wimbledon | Season 2022/2023 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  18. "One to watch: Ali Al-Hamadi". www.efl.com. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  19. "Another one! Ali wins fan award". www.afcwimbledon.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
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