Irfan Fandi

Irfan bin Fandi Ahmad (born 13 August 1997), more commonly known as Irfan Fandi or mononymously as Irfan, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays primarily as a centre-back for Thai League 1 club BG Pathum United and the Singapore national team.

Earlier in his career, he played as a striker and a winger before converting into a centre-back.

Irfan was born on 13 August 1997 in Singapore.

Irfan is the eldest son of Singaporean footballing legend Fandi Ahmad and South African former model Wendy Jacobs.

He has four siblings, younger brothers Ikhsan, a club teammate who plays for BG Pathum United as well as Ilhan, who plays for Deinze and Iryan, who plays for Hougang United and the other being his sister Iman.

His grandfather, Ahmad Wartam, was an ex-national goalkeeper.

Hafiz Abu Sujad and the national team's physiotherapist Nurhafizah are the cousins of his father Fandi Ahmad.

Irfan started his career by going through the youth system of the National Football Academy (NFA).

In 2013, he was listed as one of Goal.com's Top 20 Southeast Asian Rising Stars.

In March 2013, Irfan had an opportunity to secure his first overseas stint, which was supposed to be with Hércules, a second-tier Spanish professional club.

However, he failed to secure a contract with the club due to visa issues.

He later joined Chilean side A.C. Barnechea, signing a two-year contract with the Chilean Primera División club.

In 2014, Irfan was also named as one of the top 40 best young talents in world football on The Guardian.

Irfan then joined Chilean Primera División club Universidad Católica in 2014 and made his first team debut the following year, appearing from the bench for the club's senior team in the 81st minute, when Universidad Católica were leading 4-0 against San Luis de Quillota.

However, Irfan later rejected a two-year contract from the club in order to return to Singapore and fulfil his National Service obligations.

Irfan began his footballing career by going through the youth system at the National Football Academy (NFA), with subsequent stints and trials at various clubs before debuting as a professional at the age of 18 at top tier Chilean Primera División side Universidad Católica in 2015.

Although Irfan was offered a two-year contract by the club, he rejected it to return to Singapore.

For the next three years, Irfan played for local clubs the Young Lions and Home United.

Around this time, he went on trials with Dutch Eredivisie side FC Groningen and Portuguese Primeira Liga side S.C. Braga, rejecting a contract offer from the latter.

On 5 March 2015, it was announced that Irfan would join S.League side Young Lions for the 2015 S.League season on a six-month contract.

On the same day, he was immediately named in the starting line-up to face Tampines Rovers, due to an injury suffered by Shakir Hamzah.

Irfan made his senior international debut for Singapore in 2016, with a single goal as a centre-back coming against Turkmenistan in 2017, and earning 38 caps as of 2022.

In January 2016, it was announced that Irfan signed a two-year contract for Home United for the upcoming 2016 S.League season along with his brother, Ikhsan.

He scored a brace against Balestier Khalsa in only his second start of the season after being away for most of the season due to National Service commitments.

On 14 March 2017, Puma was revealed to have signed Irfan on a two-year sponsorship deal.

Irfan's former Chilean club, Club Deportivo Universidad Católica was also reportedly interested in re-signing him following the completion of his national service.

Irfan scored his first goal for the 2017 S.League season in a 0–2 victory over Hougang United, later following up with his first at the continental level, scoring in the 24th minute against Yadanarbon F.C. to give his side a 3–0 lead in an eventual 4–1 win.

The win saw Home United become the first side to advance to the zonal semi-finals.

Irfan was later nominated for the S.League's Young Player of the Season award.

His performances also drew the attention of Thailand's BG Pathum United, which he would eventually sign for, and was offered also offered a trial with English side Leeds United in December 2017.

In 2018, Irfan signed for Thailand's BG Pathum United FC prior to the 2019 Thai League 2 season, where he was instrumental to the club's immediate promotion back to the Thai League 1 and soon after when the club become the Champions of Thailand during the 2021–22 Thai League 1 season – becoming the first Singaporean to win Thailand's top tier league trophy.

During their title winning season, Irfan led BG Pathum's defence with the club only losing a single game the entire season, while conceding just 11 goals in 24 matches and keeping 15 clean sheets.

He has represented his country at various international tournaments, including the 2018 and 2020 AFF Championships, the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification as well as the AFC 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds.

Irfan returned to join the Young Lions after his national service for the inaugural 2018 Singapore Premier League season.

In February 2018, Irfan, together with his brother, Ikhsan, went on trials at Eredivisie club, FC Groningen in which his father, Fandi Ahmad who used to play for the club.

He also went on another trial with Portuguese top-tier side, S.C. Braga, and was later offered a two-year deal, with the club retaining the option to extend the contract by two additional years.

Irfan rejected the offer, citing that he felt lonely and homesick during his brief stint with the club.

He also added that the clause of having to fork out a hefty compensation of 15 million euros should he decide to leave the club during the contract was one of the other reasons that he did not accept it.

Irfan eventually rejoined the Young Lions and ended the season with 22 appearances with 3 goals.

On 11 November 2018, it was confirmed that Irfan would join BG Pathum United to fill up the club's ASEAN slot for the 2019 Thai League 2 season.