Irfan bin Fandi Ahmad (born 13 August 1997), more commonly known as Irfan Fandi or mononymously as Irfan, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Thai League 1 club BG Pathum United and the Singapore national team. Earlier in his career, he played as a striker and a winger before converting into a centre-back. In 2013, he was listed as one of Goal.com's Top 20 Southeast Asian Rising Stars. In 2014, Irfan was also named as one of the top 40 best young talents in world football on The Guardian.
Irfan began his footballing career by going through the youth system at the National Football Academy (NFA), with subsequent stints and trials at various clubs before debuting as a professional at the age of 18 at top tier Chilean Primera División side Universidad Católica in 2015. Although Irfan was offered a two-year contract by the club, he rejected it to return to Singapore. For the next three years, Irfan played for local clubs the Young Lions and Home United. Around this time, he went on trials with Dutch Eredivisie side FC Groningen and Portuguese Primeira Liga side S.C. Braga, rejecting a contract offer from the latter.
In 2018, Irfan signed for Thailand's BG Pathum United FC prior to the 2019 Thai League 2 season, where he was instrumental to the club's immediate promotion back to the Thai League 1 and soon after when the club become the Champions of Thailand during the 2021–22 Thai League 1 season – becoming the first Singaporean to win Thailand's top tier league trophy. During their title winning season, Irfan led BG Pathum's defence with the club only losing a single game the entire season, while conceding just 11 goals in 24 matches and keeping 15 clean sheets.
Irfan made his senior international debut for Singapore in 2016, with a single goal as a centre-back coming against Turkmenistan in 2017, and earning 38 caps as of 2022. He has represented his country at various international tournaments, including the 2018 and 2020 AFF Championships, the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification as well as the AFC 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds.
Early life and family
Irfan was born on 13 August 1997 in Singapore. Irfan is the eldest son of Singaporean footballing legend Fandi Ahmad and South African former model Wendy Jacobs. He has four siblings, younger brothers Ikhsan, a club teammate who plays for BG Pathum United as well as Ilhan, who plays for Deinze and Iryan, who plays for Hougang United and the other being his sister Iman. His grandfather, Ahmad Wartam, was an ex-national goalkeeper. Hafiz Abu Sujad and the national team's physiotherapist Nurhafizah are the cousins of his father Fandi Ahmad.
Club career
Youth
Irfan started his career by going through the youth system of the National Football Academy (NFA).
In March 2013, Irfan had an opportunity to secure his first overseas stint, which was supposed to be with Hércules, a second-tier Spanish professional club. However, he failed to secure a contract with the club due to visa issues. He later joined Chilean side A.C. Barnechea, signing a two-year contract with the Chilean Primera División club.
Universidad Católica
Irfan then joined Chilean Primera División club Universidad Católica in 2014 and made his first team debut the following year, appearing from the bench for the club's senior team in the 81st minute, when Universidad Católica were leading 4-0 against San Luis de Quillota. However, Irfan later rejected a two-year contract from the club in order to return to Singapore and fulfil his National Service obligations.
Young Lions
On 5 March 2015, it was announced that Irfan would join S.League side Young Lions for the 2015 S.League season on a six-month contract. On the same day, he was immediately named in the starting line-up to face Tampines Rovers, due to an injury suffered by Shakir Hamzah.
Home United
In January 2016, it was announced that Irfan signed a two-year contract for Home United for the upcoming 2016 S.League season along with his brother, Ikhsan. He scored a brace against Balestier Khalsa in only his second start of the season after being away for most of the season due to National Service commitments.
On 14 March 2017, Puma was revealed to have signed Irfan on a two-year sponsorship deal. Irfan's former Chilean club, Club Deportivo Universidad Católica was also reportedly interested in re-signing him following the completion of his national service.