Five Iranian Players That Play Their Football Abroad

Many players that ply their trade in Iran often look to move outside of their homeland for new opportunities. That is especially the case when it comes to football, as players look to challenge themselves in some of the most competitive leagues in the world. A number of stars have been able to make their mark in some of the biggest competitions, and these are five Iranian internationals that are currently playing their football outside of their home country.

Saman Ghoddos

Despite not being born in Iran, Saman Ghoddos has gone on to represent the Iran national team on 26 occasions since making his debut in 2017. The 28-year-old is comfortably one of the most exciting Iranian players in the world of football nowadays and is the only one that is playing in the Premier League.

Ghoddos joined Brentford while they were in the Championship in 2020-21 on a loan deal with Ligue 2 side Amiens, before making the deal a permanent one later in the season. He was a pivotal player in their promotion winning campaign, as he played 43 times and scored three goals. He made his Premier League debut earlier this season for the Bees, and is likely to be an important player if they are to maintain their status in the English top-flight.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh

There was a slight surprise earlier in the summer when it was announced that Brighton & Hove Albion had agreed to part ways with Alireza Jahanbakhsh. The winger had been a prominent player for the Seagulls throughout their Premier League stay, as he played 50 times across three seasons with the club. However, he was sold to Dutch side Feyenoord in the 2021 summer transfer window, which meant a return to the Eredivisie after four years away.

He impressed many during that initial stay in the Dutch top-flight, as he scored 34 goals in 85 league games. Jahanbakhsh is likely to be an important player once again in the league this season, as Feyenoord look to get back into the European competitions. His start to the season has already been excellent, as he has scored three goals in seven games in all competitions.

Behzad Ariayee

Not all players aim to reach the European leagues, instead some players look to find a club further afield. That is certainly the case with goalkeeper Behzad Ariayee, who is currently playing his football in Australia with Moreton Bay United. He has been with the team since 2019, and also claimed the Brisbane Silver Boot during his first season with the team.

He could yet be set to play a big part for the team when their new season gets underway later in the year. However, he could also be targeting a move away from the Australia soccer club as he looks for future opportunities in other high-quality leagues around the world.

Milad Mohammadi

One of the few Iranian players that will be playing football in one of the major European cup competitions this season will be Milad Mohammadi. The left-back currently plays for Gent, who will be playing in the Europa Conference League group stages when they get underway in September. The 27-year-old has been playing for the Belgian side since joining them in the summer of 2019 from Akhmat Grozny.

He has played 50 games across two seasons for the Belgian Pro League, and has scored two goals. He has also played in the Champions League qualifying rounds and in the Europa League group stages during his stay with the club to date. Mohammadi has been a regular in the Iranian national team set-up since making his debut in 2015, as he has played 42 times, scoring one goal.

Sardar Azmoun

Sardar Azmoun is one of the highest profile Iranian footballers to play in Europe. The 26-year- old is the highest scoring Iranian in the Champions League, and was also the youngest ever player from the country to have hit the back of the net in the competition. He has been prolific throughout his career in Russia, including in the past two seasons with Zenit St Petersburg.

Azmoun has scored 50 goals in 70 league games for Zenit since joining the team midway through the 2018-19 season from Rubin Kazan. His overall scoring record is also very impressive, as he has scored 100 goals in 244 professional games. At international level, he has also thrived, as he has scored 37 goals in 55 games for Iran.