Zayyan Ahmed
 Zayyan Ahmed in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Zayyan Ahmed | ||
| Date of birth | 29 January 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Leesburg, Virginia, U.S. | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Virginia Tech Hokies | 10 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | George Mason Patriots | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2025– | Bangladesh U23 | 5 | (0) |
| 2025– | Bangladesh | 4 | (0) |
| ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 November 2025 | |||
Zayyan Ahmed (Bengali: জায়ান আহমেদ; born 29 January 2004) is a professional footballer who plays as a left-back. Born in the United States, he represents the Bangladesh national team.
Early career
[edit]Born on 29 January 2004 in Leesburg, Virginia, Zayyan attended Heritage High School and played youth soccer for Loudoun SC, where he spent five years. Notably, his father, Sharif Ahmed, was a former footballer who played First Division football in Bangladesh for Eskaton Sabuj Sangha.[1] During his time with Loudoun SC, Zayyan served as team captain, earned selection to the Mid-Atlantic First Team, and won the Jefferson Cup. He also received invitations to train with the Bolton Wanderers youth academy and competed with Team USA in the Capelli Cup in Denmark.[2]
In 2022, Ahmed joined the Virginia Tech men's soccer program. He made 10 appearances for Virginia Tech Hokies in his freshman season, debuting against the University of Virginia and recording a career-high 41 minutes in a 4–0 victory over Longwood University.[3] In 2024, he switched to George Mason University, and was selected for the university team, however, did not complete the season.[4]
In 2025, he attended BFF Next Global Star organized by the Bangladesh Football Federation from 28 to 30 June.[5][6]
International career
[edit]Youth
[edit]In August 2025, following successful trials, Zayyan was included in the preliminary squad of the Bangladesh U23 team for the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers and the preparation matches leading up to the qualifiers.[7][8] On 18 August, he made his debut in a friendly match against Bahrain U23, held in Manama, Bahrain. The game ended in a 0–1 defeat.[9][10]
Senior
[edit]In September 2025, he was included in the Bangladesh national team preliminary squad for two 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification – third round matches against Hong Kong.[11] On 9 October 2025, Zayyan debuted for the senior national team in a 3–4 defeat to Hong Kong at the National Stadium, Dhaka.[12]
Career statistics
[edit]International
[edit]- As of 18 November 2025.[13]
| Bangladesh | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 4 | 0 |
References
[edit]- ^ "বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে নতুন 'আলো' জায়ান". dhakapost.com (in Bengali). 4 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Virginia Tech announces 2022 signing class". Virginia Tech Athletics. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Zayyan Ahmed - Men's Soccer 2022". Virginia Tech Athletics. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Zayyan Ahmed - Men's Soccer". George Mason University Athletics. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "'BFF Next Global Star' talent hunt to run from 28–30 June". The Business Standard. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "যুক্তরাষ্ট্র প্রবাসী জায়ান ফুটবল দলের ক্যাম্পে". dainikamadershomoy.com (in Bengali). 2 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Expat talent Zayyan joins Bangladesh U-23 camp to boost Asian Cup push". The Daily Star. 1 August 2025.
- ^ "Zayyan Ahmed called up for U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers camp". Daily Sun. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "Bangladesh U-23 suffer narrow defeat to Bahrain in friendly". New Age. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "দ্বিতীয় ম্যাচে জিততে চান জায়ানরা". dhakapost.com (in Bengali). 22 August 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
- ^ "বাবার স্বপ্ন পূরণের পথে যুক্তরাষ্ট্র প্রবাসী জায়ান". banglatribune.com (in Bengali). 28 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ "A coach without compass derailing Bangladesh football's rebirth". The Daily Star. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Zayyan Ahmed". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 13 October 2025.