Following promotion with Ipswich Town
Ali Al-Hamadi set to become first Iraqi in English Premier League
NEWSROOM — Iraqi national team player Ali Al-Hamadi has become the first Iraqi to qualify for the English Premier League with Ipswich Town. The club secured second place in the EFL Championship, the second-highest division in English football, gaining automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Born in Maysan on March 1, 2003, Al-Hamadi began his career at Swansea City before moving to Wycombe Wanderers in 2021, who then loaned him to Bromley for a season. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with AFC Wimbledon in early 2023, earning the League Two Player of the Month award for March.
In January 2024, Al-Hamadi transferred to Ipswich Town, playing 14 league games and scoring four goals, helping them achieve promotion from the Championship, England’s second-tier.
Al-Hamadi has represented Iraq’s national teams in various age categories. He was called up to the Iraqi senior team by Spanish coach Jesus Casas for the 2024 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.
Nashat Akram, another prominent Iraqi footballer, previously signed for join Manchester City in 2008 but was unable to complete the move due to a work permit issue.