Aston Villa academy graduate Easah Suliman makes Sumgayit switch as Pakistan team-mate Rahis Nabi trains in Cyprus | Football News

Isa Suleiman will play league football in Azerbaijan after joining Sumgayit FK.

sky sports news It was revealed last week that Sulaiman, who was recently named in the first British South Asians of his kind in the football team of the season, had flown to Azerbaijan to complete the transfer.

The central defender has signed a two-year deal with Sumgait, ending his three-and-a-half-year stint with Portuguese top-flight side Vitória Guimarães.

A graduate of the Aston Villa academy, Sulieman is a former England youth captain who shot to fame after scoring the opener off Mason Mount in the final in 2017 when England won the U19 European Championship.

The 25-year-old made his Villa debut under former manager Steve Bruce in a League Cup tie against Wigan in 2017.

Sulaiman made his international debut for Pakistan in a match against Kenya in Mauritius last month, three days after Grimsby Town midfielder and fellow British-Pakistani Otis Khan made his international debut for Shaheen.

Pakistan International Nabi Training in Cyprus

West Brom academy graduate and Pakistan international Rahees Nabi He is training in Cyprus and considering his next destination, sky sports news It has been told.

Nabi is a former England U18 international player and has been dubbed ‘Pakistani Pirlo’ The country returned to international football in his homeland after several impressive performances in midfield most recently at the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.

Rahis, who previously had a spell at Burnley, is the younger brother of former Dundee attacker Adil Nabi, who recently made a move to Doxa Katokopias.

The 24-year-old has had offers in England and is now weighing his options ahead of the new season.

Fox ready to sign Raikhi

FA Youth Cup winner and former Aston Villa midfielder Arjan Raikhi is set to join Leicester City.

sky sports news It was revealed earlier this month that Punjabi wonderkid Raikhi was ready to decide his future amid interest from clubs across all divisions.

Raikhi rose to prominence in November 2020 after a surprise goal for Villa’s U18 side against Chelsea.

The technically gifted midfielder made his senior first team debut just two months later in an FA Cup third round tie against Liverpool, a moment described by supporters group Punjabi Villans as “incredible”.

Raikhi capped off a memorable season by assisting Ben Chrisin’s opener in a 2–1 win against Liverpool as Villa’s U18s won the FA Youth Cup.

The central midfielder enjoyed another productive campaign the following season as he earned the distinction of helping two teams – Stockport County and Grimsby Town – to be promoted back to the Football League during two separate loan spells.

Despite impressing for Villa during their winter break in Dubai ahead of last year’s World Cup, Raikhi was one of eight players – including Ashley Young and Jade Steuer – who were released at the end of last season.

Raikhi attends Sporting Khalsa vs Punjab United

Raikhi and fellow Sikh-Punjabi professional footballer Mal Benning recently appeared at an event to celebrate South Asians at The Game, held ahead of Sporting Khalsa’s pre-season friendly against Punjab United.

The two clubs came together with the Football Association and the Three Lions to make 200 match tickets available free of charge to the community, having previously organized a showcase event – ​​which highlights players from South Asian backgrounds who have broken the glass ceiling to play competitive football in England.

The guests enjoyed a Talent ID tester session and had the opportunity to learn more about the players who were included in the season’s first-of-its-kind team created by… sky sports news Journalist and FA Level 2 scout Dev Trehan and Zohaib Rashid, founder of Desi Bowlers.

Sporting Khalsa’s game with Punjab United was the third annual match for both teams, with the match ending 3–3 after Punjab United made a late comeback from 3–1 down and earned a share of the spoils.

A traditional Punjabi drummer previously led the teams onto the pitch for a match, which was officiated by Jarnail Singh, the first turbaned Sikh referee in the history of the English Football League.

Singh, whose elder son Sunny Singh Gill is the country’s highest-ranked British South Asian referee, presided over the games as part of a South Asian caretaker team with the aim of showcasing refereeing talents and avenues in the sport.

British South Asians in football

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