Iryan Fandi
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Iryan bin Fandi Ahmad | ||
| Date of birth | 9 August 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Singapore | ||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[1] | ||
| Position(s) | Centre-back / Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Young Lions | ||
| Number | 17 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2021–2022 | Lion City Sailors | ||
| 2022– | Hougang United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Hougang United | 2 | (0) |
| 2025– | → Young Lions (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Singapore U20 | 1 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 March 2025 | |||
Iryan bin Fandi Ahmad (born 9 August 2006), better known as Iryan Fandi or just as Iryan, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays either as a centre-back or left-back for Singapore Premier League club Young Lions, on loan from Hougang United.
Early life
[edit]Iryan suffers from asthma which resulted in fainting spells while playing football when he was in Anglo-Chinese School (Junior). As such, he frequented the hospital and was dropped from the school team. Iryan then played rugby and competed for Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) up to when he was in Secondary 3. He tried to play football in secondary school for Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) but was rejected due to a lack of technique. Iryan then started working on his technique and started gymming. Eventually in Secondary 3, he was accepted into the school team.[1]
His asthma is now under control and he is able to complete 90 minutes but still requires an inhaler pump before warm-ups.[1]
Club career
[edit]Lion City Sailors
[edit]Iryan joined the Lion City Sailors under-16 team before making a move to Hougang United at the start of 2022.[1]
Hougang United
[edit]Iryan, an Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) student is also a member of the Hougang United under-17 team.[2] As a star performer in the Football Association of Singapore's Centre of Excellence Under-17 league, Iryan started in all 14 matches, kept 6 clean sheets and scored twice as Hougang finished second.[1]
Iryan was named on the bench for the senior side for the first time on 19 February, against Albirex Niigata (S) in the 2023 Community Shield. The match ended in a 3–0 defeat which saw Hougang United finishing as a runner-up.[3] He was named on the bench ahead of a Singapore Premier League match against Balestier Khalsa on 26 February 2023. At aged 16, Iryan made his senior professional and Singapore Premier League debut against Tampines Rovers on 16 April 2023. Iryan conceded a penalty in the 100th minute which resulted in a controversial 1–1 draw. Iryan is the fourth and last son of Fandi Ahmad to make his professional debut. He managed to appear for Hougang United in a pre season-friendly against fellow rivals Lion City Sailors in which they won 3-0 and he scored the opening goal.
Loan to Young Lions
[edit]While serving his national service, Iryan was loaned to Young Lions. Iryan was named on the match-day squad for the first time and made his debut as a substitute in a Singapore Cup tie against Tampines Rovers on 16 March 2025. He was brought on in the 75th minute to replace Andrew Aw.
International career
[edit]Iryan was called up to the under-19 for the March 2024 centralised training. Iryan was called up to the under-20 in August 2024 for the 2025 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification.[4] He made his debut in a 0–3 lost against Qatar on September 25, 2024.
Style of play
[edit]Iryan plays as a left-footed centre-back, noted for his physicality, commitment, speed and, robustness. Cited by Robert Eziakor, head coach of the Hougang under-17 team, Iryan was compared to Singapore national team captain Hariss Harun with such physicality in the region. His father, Fandi Ahmad mentioned fearlessness was what sets Iryan apart from his brothers. Iryan is not afraid to get stuck in, fly into tackles and win headers.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Iryan is the youngest son of Singaporean footballer Fandi Ahmad and South African model Wendy Jacobs. His three older brothers are also footballers. The oldest brother Irfan plays for Port. His two other older brothers, Ikhsan and Ilhan plays for BG Pathum United.[5] He has an older sister Iman.[6] His grandfather, Ahmad Wartam, was an ex-national goalkeeper.[7] Hafiz Abu Sujad and the national team's physiotherapist Nurhafizah are the cousins of his father Fandi Ahmad.[8]
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]- As of match played 29 May 2025[9]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Hougang United | 2023 | Singapore Premier League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2[a] | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Young Lions (loan) | 2024–25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
- ^ Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League Two
Honours
[edit]Hougang United
- Singapore Cup runner-up: 2023
- Singapore Community Shield runner-up: 2023[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Football: Youngest Fandi son Iryan plays catch up with band of brothers". The Straits Times. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ "Rad like dad: How Fandi Ahmad, Jack Neo and Edmund Chen bond with sons over same careers". The Straits Times. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b "2023 Community Shield". Singapore Premier League. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
- ^ "Provisional Under-19 squad announced for AFC Under 20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers". fas.org.sg. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2025.
- ^ Chandra, Alif (26 July 2019). "Spotlight on adidas footballers Marc and Ilhan – sons of Singapore legends". Goal.com. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
- ^ Toh, Ziyi (16 October 2021). "Fandi Ahmad's Wife Wendy Jacobs Laments How Fast Her 5 Gorgeous Kids Have Grown Up; Here's What They've Been Up To". 8 Days. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
- ^ "Fandi Ahmad's father, former national goalkeeper Ahmad Wartam, dies". The New Paper. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
- ^ "Nerves no longer freeze rising son". AsiaOne. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
- ^ Iryan Fandi at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
External links
[edit]- Iryan Fandi at Soccerway
