Abdi Sharif

Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif (born 1 January 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for EFL League One club Wigan Athletic. 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[1]
Place of birth Somalia[2]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Wigan Athletic
Number 32
Youth career
2010–2019 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2021 Liverpool 0 (0)
2022– Wigan Athletic 1 (6)
2023–2024 → AFC 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

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

Liverpool

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

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 Somalian 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]

International career

Sharif was called up to represent Somalia for the first time in October 2023.[16]

Style of play

A central midfielder, he earned praise from Liverpool coach Steven Gerrard for his stamina.[17] He can also play at right-back and was a centre-forward in his youth.[6][18]

Career statistics
As of match played 6 December 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup EFL Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Liverpool U21 2020–21 ———2[lower-alpha 1]020
Wigan Athletic 2022–23[19]EFL Championship1000000010
2023–24[20]EFL League One0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
Total 1000001020
AFC Telford United (loan) 2022–23[1]National League North20——0020
Career total 3000003060
  1. Appearances in the EFL Trophy

References
  1. 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. 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. 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. "Internationals | Five Tics stars set for action in October". Wigan Athletic FC. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  17. Hunter, Steve (17 January 2018). "Steven Gerrard's guide to his FA Youth Cup squad". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  18. Carson, Ste (27 June 2019). "Talented teenager signs professional contract with Liverpool". The Empire of The Kop. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  19. "Games played by Abdi Sharif in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  20. "Games played by Abdi Sharif in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
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