Abdi Sharif

Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif (born 1 January 2001) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Wigan Athletic. He represents Somalia at international level.

Early life
Abdulrahman Mohamoud Sharif was born in Somalia on 1 January 2001 before he emigrated to the United Kingdom with his family in 2004. He grew up in Toxteth with his nine older brothers.

Liverpool
Sharif spent his youth with the Academy at Liverpool, spending three years training with the club before he joined officially at the age of nine. He turned professional at Anfield in July 2019. He suffered an Anterior cruciate ligament injury and was given a one-year contract extension to allow him the opportunity to recover.

Wigan Athletic
He spent a year unattached and then joined Wigan Athletic following a successful trial in the summer of 2022. He scored goals in friendlies against Hyde United and Alvechurch during his trial spell. He made his senior debut for the club on the last day of the 2022–23 season, in a 0–0 draw with Rotherham United at the DW Stadium. This made him the first Somali to play in the EFL Championship.

He joined National League North club AFC Telford United on loan on 25 November 2023. He returned to Wigan in the new year.

International career
Sharif was called up to represent Somalia for the first time in October 2023.

Style of play
A central midfielder, he earned praise from Liverpool coach Steven Gerrard for his stamina. He can also play at right-back and was a centre-forward in his youth.