Non-League and Academy football writer

Ahmed Abdulla is a footballer who has real quality. Having played top level academy football for Arsenal and West Ham United, Ahmed would progress up to the West Ham United reserve team, during his time in east London. Born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during his time at West Ham United, Ahmed Abdulla played in the same West Ham reserve team as Junior Stanislas and Freddie Sears. A former professional footballer with West Ham, the midfielder would spend some time out on loan at Swindon Town, and at Dagenham & Redbridge United, before leaving West Ham permanently in 2012. Ahmed would return to Dagenham & Redbridge, for a while, before then signing for Barnet, making a good number of appearances for them, from 2012 until 2014.

Ahmed Abdulla is vastly experienced, not only in football in general, but in non-League football as well. Since leaving Barnet in 2014, he has played for clubs such as Whitehawk, Ware, Concord Rangers and Barking, Ahmed was also the caretaker of manager of Bedford, for a short stint. Last season (2023/24), the 32 year old was an assistant coach at Spanish side Castellón, during a season in which they won promotion to the second tier of Spanish football. After what must have been a fantastic learning experience in coaching for Ahmed, he has since returned to England, and he is currently playing his football at step 6 of the non-League system. A good friend and former teammate of FC Baresi player and first team coach, Marvin Hamilton, Ahmed is currently playing for FC Baresi, in the Thurlow Nunn League First Division South.

This season (2024/25) is the first time that I’ve actually seen Ahmed Abdulla play, as I have covered a number of FC Baresi games that he has been involved in, so far this season. He has made ten competitive appearances so far, for the newly promoted step 6 side, scoring one goal. In my opinion his quality and the fact that he has played at such a high level of non-League football, and also of course higher up, is obvious. The tenacious player who doesn’t turn 33 until November, has played for FC Baresi before this season, but from the games that I’ve seen him involved in so far this season, he is a really technical midfielder. A player who can turn well under pressure and who is always looking to play the ball forward, the accuracy of his passing is superb, and he is always looking to play a clever ball/pass in behind the defence.

Ahmed Abdulla is a very intelligent player who is confident in his own ability, and I’ve been really impressed (he didn’t play much football at all last season) with his performances so far this season. Although he went off injured in a recent FC Baresi match (against NW London), Ahmed Abdulla is someone who has tremendous technique as a footballer, and I’m sure that he will be a really important player for FC Baresi, during the remainder of this long 2024/25 season. For someone who has  played professionally, coached at a very good level already, and who still wants to give back to football, Ahmed has a lot to be proud of, of his footballing journey/achievements so far. As he plays more and more games for a real footballing side in FC Baresi, over time I’m sure that Ahmed will impress even more for them.