Otis Khan

Otis Jan Mohammed Khan (born 5 September 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger who is currently a free agent. Born in England, he represents the Pakistan national team.

Khan came through the youth academy at Manchester United before going on to turn professional for Sheffield United. He has also played professionally for Barnsley, Yeovil Town, Mansfield Town, Newport County, Tranmere Rovers, Walsall and Leyton Orient. He has also spent brief loan spells at non-League sides Buxton, Matlock Town and Barrow. He made his international debut with Pakistan, following a call up in May 2023 for the 2023 SAFF Championship in India.

Early career
Khan started his career in Manchester United's youth system before joining Sheffield United's academy in the summer of 2012. Khan made his first team début in March 2014 in an away game at Crawley Town.

While at Sheffield United, Khan played on loan at Buxton before joining Matlock Town on loan on 16 January 2015.

On 30 October 2015, he was loaned to Barrow on a one month deal. He made his debut scoring a goal in a 3–1 home defeat against Grimsby Town. Afterwards, he scored two goals in a 4–0 victory against Torquay United, earning the man-of-the-match accolade. He scored his last goal with Barrow against Southport on 28 December 2015, finishing with 4 goals in 8 appearances during his stint at the team.

Barnsley
Khan was released from his contract by Sheffield United on 25 January 2016. That same day, League One side Barnsley announced that Khan had signed an 18-month deal with the club after a successful trial.

Yeovil Town
On 30 June 2016, Khan joined Football League Two side Yeovil Town on a one-year deal. Khan scored on his debut for Yeovil in a 2–0 opening day victory against Notts County.

Mansfield Town
On 29 June 2018, Khan signed for fellow League Two side Mansfield Town for an undisclosed fee. He scored twice in his debut in a 3–0 victory against Newport County at Field Mill.

Newport County loan
On January deadline day 2020, Khan joined fellow League Two side Newport County on a six-month loan. He made his debut for Newport as a second-half substitute in the 1–0 defeat against Cambridge United on 8 February 2020. He was released by Mansfield at the end of the 2019–20 season.

Tranmere Rovers
On 10 August 2020, following his release from Mansfield, Khan joined League Two club Tranmere Rovers on a one-year deal, turning down offers from League One clubs. He started in the 2021 EFL Trophy final at Wembley Stadium as Tranmere were defeated 1–0 by Sunderland.

Walsall
On 18 October 2021, Khan joined League Two side Walsall on a short-term deal. On 19 January 2022, Khan left the club following the expiration of his short-term deal.

Leyton Orient
Later that same day of his departure from Walsall, Khan signed an 18-month contract with League Two side Leyton Orient.

Grimsby Town
On 1 July 2022, Khan joined newly promoted League Two club Grimsby Town on a two-year deal.

Khan was part of the Grimsby team that reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1939. He scored twice in the 2–1 away victory over Cambridge United in the second round, and came on as substitute in the 2–1 win away at Premier League side Southampton that secured that achievement. He started in the quarter-final against Brighton & Hove Albion which Grimsby lost 5–0.

Hartlepool United loan
On 25 January 2024, it was announced that Khan had signed for National League club Hartlepool United on loan until the end of the season.

Following his return from loan, Khan was released from Grimsby Town at the end of the 2023–24 season.

International career
Khan is eligible to play for both India and Pakistan, the former as it is the birthplace of his grandfather, and the latter due to citizenship as his grandfather moved to Pakistan after the partition in 1947. In January 2015, Khan was called up to play for Pakistan in a friendly against Afghanistan but he missed the match as he did not get the necessary visas and vaccinations; he was however confirmed selected for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in March 2015.

Khan then declined to consider any call-ups to the Pakistan national side in the hope of playing for England in the future. However by 2022, due to continued appearances in the lower leagues restricting any England prospects, Khan had a change of heart and rekindled his interest to represent Pakistan internationally. Khan was called up by Pakistan manager Shahzad Anwar alongside fellow English-Pakistani players Adil Nabi and Easah Suliman for the June window as well as the 2023 SAFF Championship. On 23 May 2023, the Pakistan Football Federation confirmed that Khan was given international clearance by FIFA to represent Pakistan.

Khan made his Pakistan debut on 11 June 2023, in a 3–0 defeat against Mauritius.

In October 2023 he was ruled ineligible to represent Pakistan, on the basis that his grandfather had been born in Delhi and later moved to Pakistan following the partition of India, but in November he was deemed eligible.

On 16 November 2023, Khan captained the Pakistan side for the first time in their FIFA World Cup qualification match against Saudi Arabia, which ended in a 4–0 loss.

Personal life
Khan is of Pakistani heritage, through his paternal grandfather who was born in India's capital New Delhi but migrated to Faisalabad in Pakistan following the 1947 partition. He later settled in England with his wife, Otis' grandmother, who was from the Gorton area of Manchester.

In 2016, Khan appeared on the second series of the ITV assault course game show Ninja Warrior UK, completing the course in a time of 2:41.

In 2024, Khan was named as brand ambassador of the Pakistan Super League cricket team Multan Sultans alongside Fatima Sana.

Honours
Tranmere Rovers
 * EFL Trophy runner-up: 2020–21