Ali Al-Hamadi

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. On 2 July 2020, Al-Hamadi signed his first professional contract with Swansea, signing a one-year contract with the club. He was offered a new contract by Swansea in the summer of 2021 but decided to turn it down after failing to break into the first-team. In September 2021, Al-Hamadi went on trial with Derby County, scoring for their under-23 side in a 3–3 Premier League Cup draw against the Norwich City under-23s.

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. On 11 March 2022, Al-Hamadi joined National League side Bromley on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season. Al-Hamadi made 11 appearances for Bromley, scoring three goals. After struggling for game time at Adams Park Al-Hamadi expressed a desire to seek a transfer.

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. He scored his first goal for Wimbledon on 18 February 2023 in a 2–2 draw with Hartlepool United. In March 2023, he was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award. On 30 September, Al-Hamadi converted a hat-trick against Tranmere Rovers, his former youth club, in a 4–1 win. He was twice-awarded the PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month award while at Wimbledon, earning the honours in March and September 2023.

Ipswich Town On 29 January 2024, Al-Hamadi signed for then Championship club Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee on a four-and-a-half-year contract. He made his Ipswich debut on 3 February, in a 3–2 defeat to Preston North End. On 14 February, he scored his first goal for the club, converting a penalty in stoppage time of a 4–0 away victory over Millwall. He was a member of the team that achieved promotion to the Premier League that season, ending a 22-year absence from the top flight. On 17 August, Al-Hamadi was brought on as a substitute during Ipswich's first match of the 2024–25 season against Liverpool, becoming the first Iraqi footballer to play in the Premier League.

On 24 January 2025, Al-Hamadi joined Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. He scored on his debut helping Stoke to a 2–1 victory at Hull City. He scored the only goal against Blackburn Rovers on 12 March 2025. Al-Hamadi made 15 appearances for Stoke helping them to avoid relegation on the final day of the season.

On 2 September 2025, Al-Hamadi joined Luton Town on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy. After suffering a series of injuries, he scored his first goal for Luton Town against former club AFC Wimbledon on 6 April 2026.

On 26 August 2026, Al-Hamadi joined League One club Sheffield Wednesday on loan for the duration of the 2026–27 season. He made his debut the following weekend, coming on as a late substitute in a 7–2 win against Bromley.

International career Youth 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.

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. He was not included in the squad for the final tournament due to an injury he picked up at the training camp.

Senior 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 Iraq's first choice striker Mohanad Ali out injured and Alaa Abbas still regaining fitness after his injury. 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.

In December 2023, he was named in the 26-man squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar.

On 31 March 2026, he scored the opening goal in the intercontinental play-off final against Bolivia taking Iraq to the 2026 FIFA World Cup - their first in 40 years.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

2021–22 League One

2022–23 League One

9!!0!!0!!0!!2!!1!!2!!0!!13!!1 Bromley (loan) 2021–22 League Two

42!!23!!2!!3!!2!!0!!2!!1!!48!!27

2023–24 Premier League

2025–26 Championship

2026–27 Premier League

26!!4!!1!!0!!2!!1!!0!!0!!29!!5 Stoke City (loan) 2024–25 + List of international goals scored by Ali Al-Hamadi No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 7 September 2023 700th Anniversary Stadium, Chiang Mai, Thailand 1–1 2–2 2023 King's Cup 2 17 October 2023 Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan 2–1 2–2 2023 Jordan International Tournament 3 16 November 2023 Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq 5–1 5–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 4 13 November 2025 Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 1–0 1–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification 5 31 March 2026 Estadio BBVA, Monterrey, Mexico 1–0 2–1 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours Bromley FA Trophy: 2021–22

Ipswich Town EFL Championship runner-up: 2023–24

Luton Town EFL Trophy: 2025–26

Individual EFL Young Player of the Month: March 2023 PFA League Two Fans Player of the Month: September, November, December 2023