Ilhan Fandi

Ilhan Fandi Ahmad (born 8 November 2002) is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder and forward for Singapore Premier League club Young Lions.

Club career

Youth
Ilhan embarked on his quest to become a professional footballer in Europe, by enrolling in an English school to study and train. The teenager left for England on September 8, 2017 to study at the Queen Ethelburga's College in York for the next two years. Ilhan trains with the i2i Football Academy, which has links to English football club Leeds United. The academy also has partnerships with both York College and York St John University and will assist in linking up players with English professional and semi-professional clubs.

Young Lions
Ilhan signed with the Singapore Premier League club Young Lions in 2019. He made his debut in a 1-1 draw against Brunei DPMM on August 7, 2019. He became the third son of Fandi Ahmad to lace up his boots for the Young Lions - following in the footsteps of his brothers Irfan Fandi and Ikhsan Fandi. Ilhan made his first professional start in a league game at the age of 16 years and 331 days, where he scored his first goal in a 1-4 loss against Albirex Niigata Singapore on August 15, 2019.

Ilhan scored his third goal for the club in a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of Hougang United in the Young Lions' opening match of the 2020 Singapore Premier League season.

International career
Despite being only 17, Ilhan has been invited to train with the Singapore national under-22 and the senior team in 2019.

Style of play
Ilhan plays as a attacking midfielder, noted for his footwork, coordination and composure as cited by Singapore football legend, Noh Alam Shah. In the 2020 season, he was given the role as a false 9 as he "has really good technique and good reading of the game", pointed out by head coach Nazri Nasir.

Personal life
Ilhan is the third son of Singaporean footballing legend Fandi Ahmad and South African model Wendy Jacobs. His brothers, Irfan Fandi and Ikhsan Fandi, are also footballers playing for BG Pathum United and Raufoss respectively. He has an older sister Iman and a younger brother Iryan.

Career statistics

Club
. Caps and goals may not be correct.

Young Lions are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.

International statistics

U16 International caps

References

External links

Category:2002 births
Category:Living people
Category:Singaporean footballers
Category:Singaporean expatriate footballers
Category:Singapore Premier League players
Category:Expatriate footballers in England
Category:Singaporean people of Malay descent
Category:Singaporean people of South African descent
Category:Association football forwards
Category:Association football midfielders