Mohamed Ilan Imran

Mohamed Ilan Imran
Ilan with Valencia in 2023
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Personal information
Full name Mohamed Ilan Imran
Date of birth (2009-01-17) 17 January 2009[1]
Place of birth Malé, Maldives
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Maziya
Number 19
Youth career
2016–2017 ETFA
2017–2018 New Radiant
2019–2023 Iskandhar School
2018–2021 TC Sports Club
2022–2023 Club Valencia
2024– Maziya
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023 Valencia 8 (1)
2024– Maziya 0 (0)
International career‡
2023 Maldives U16 3 (1)
2024– Maldives U17 4 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:00, 12 August 2025 (UTC+5)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:00, 24 September 2024 (UTC+5)

Mohamed Ilan Imran (Dhivehi: މުޙައްމަދު އިލާން އިމްރާން; born 17 January 2009) is a Maldivian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Dhivehi Premier League club Maziya.

Early life and youth career

Ilan began playing football at the age of seven,[2] with Early Touch Football Academy, before moving through the youth setups of New Radiant, TC Sports Club and Club Valencia.[2] He rose to prominence in the 2022 FAM U14 Youth League, scoring 35 goals in eight matches for Valencia and leading the club to the title. In 2023, he continued his rise by scoring 38 goals in just five matches for Iskandhar School, winning the U15 Inter School Championship.[3]

Club career

Valencia

In 2023, Ilan was promoted to the Valencia senior squad, which was recognized as the youngest side in the Dhivehi Premier League era.

At the age of 14 years, 2 months and 29 days, he made his senior debut when he started in the 2023 President’s Cup match against Super United Sports, which ended in a 5–0 defeat.[4]

Although he was an unused substitute in Valencia’s 2023 Dhivehi Premier League opener against Club Eagles,[5] he was competing at the same time in the Inter School Athletics Championship, where he won gold medals in the 100m,[6] 200m and long jump events, was named Best U15 Male Athlete, and also set a new 100m meet record.[5][7][8]

He made his Premier League debut on 8 May 2023 against TC Sports Club, a match Valencia lost 2–0, becoming the youngest player ever to start in a league match.[9]

On 24 August 2023, Ilan became the youngest goal scorer in Dhivehi Premier League history when he scored in a 2–2 draw against Club Green Streets at the age of 14 years, 7 months and 7 days.[10][11] Before scoring the first goal, on 8 August 2023, Ilan became the youngest player to assist a goal in the Premier League, at the age of 14 years, 6 months and 22 days, helping Ethan Ibrahim Zaki score against United Victory where they were defeated 2–1.[10][11][12][13]

After the 2023 season, Ilan trialed with Al Ain FC Academy in the United Arab Emirates.[3] He eventually chose to remain in the Maldives to complete his O‑Level studies, spending the remainder of the year training with Maziya.

Maziya

On 1 September 2024, Ilan signed with Maziya at the age of 15.[14] The following year, he played a key role in helping the club win the FAM U19 Championship, their first youth title in 14 years. He scored twice in the final and finished as the tournament’s top scorer with nine goals, earning the Golden Boot.[15]

In May 2025, Ilan made his senior debut for Maziya in the FAM League Cup, a competition organized by the FAM Normalization Committee in consultation with FIFA, after delays to the start of the new Maldivian domestic club season. On 5 May, he came on as a substitute in the 70th minute against New Radiant and scored in the 83rd, as Maziya won 5–1.[16] Four days later, he scored the opener against TC Sports Club in a 2–0 win, once again coming off the bench at half-time.[17] At the age of 16, Ilan finished the tournament as the top scorer with four goals, including a brace in the final against Odi SC. All of his goals in the tournament were scored as a substitute.[18][19][20]

On 12 August 2025, Ilan made his official debut for Maziya, in the 2025–26 AFC Challenge League Qualifying play-off, coming on as a half-time substitute for Miljan Škrbić in a 4–0 defeat to Al-Arabi of Kuwait at the National Football Stadium in Malé.[21]

International career

Ilan represented the Maldives at U16 level before progressing to the U17 team, featuring in the 2024 SAFF U17 Championship and the 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification.[22]

In December 2022, at the age of 15, he was invited by Italian coach Francesco Moriero to train with the Maldives senior national team ahead of friendlies against Singapore and Malaysia.[23]

In 2025, he was also included in the Maldives U19 preparations for the 2025 SAFF U-19 Championship, though his O-Level examinations limited his participation.[24] During the same period, he was active for Maziya in the FAM League Cup, only because he does not have to travel outside Malé.

Style of play

A versatile forward, Ilan is noted for his pace, finishing ability, and athletic background, often compared to modern attacking forwards who combine sprinting speed with technical skill. He has been compared to Polish striker Robert Lewandowski for his positioning and clinical finishing, and is often referred to by fans as “Ilangoalski”.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 August 2025[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup President's Cup Asia Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Valencia 2023 Premier League 8 1 — 2 0 — — 10 1
Maziya 2025–26 Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[a] 0 6[b] 4 7 4
Career total 8 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 6 4 17 5
  1. ^ Appearances in 2025–26 AFC Challenge League Preliminary stage
  2. ^ Appearances in 2025 Football Association of Maldives League Cup

Honours

Club Valencia U14

  • FAM Youth League: 2023

Maziya U19

Maziya

  • FAM League Cup: 2025

Individual

  • 2023 FAM Youth League top scorer
  • 2025 FAM Youth Championship top scorer
  • FAM League Cup top scorer

References

  1. ^ a b "Mohamed Ilan Imran Statistics". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Youngster Ilan scores 38 goals from 6 matches". Adhadhu.mv (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Youngster Ilan earns chance at UAE's Al-Ain". Adhadhu.mv (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  4. ^ "SUS defeats the young Valencia squad". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Important win for Eagles against Valencia". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Stars shining in Athletics after Football". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Ahmadhiyya the most prestigious in this year's Inter School Athletics Championship". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Inter School Athletics Championship's best athletes". Dharivaru.mv (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  9. ^ "A hope for Valencia though TC took away the three points". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Ilan's record; Youngest goal scorer and assist provider in first division". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Ilan; youngest first division player to score and assist". Edition.mv. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  12. ^ "A historic record for 14 year old Ethan and Ilan". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Ethan and Ilan set new league record at the age of 14". Edition.mv. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  14. ^ "Aspiring young forward Ilan signs for Maziya". Edition.mv. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Maziya wins Youth Championship with a record win". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  16. ^ "Hamza with a hattrick, a winning start to League Cup by Maziya". Adhadhu.mv (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Maziya defeats TC with a goal from 16 year old Ilan". Adhadhu.mv (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  18. ^ "Maziya wins FAM League Cup". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Aged 16; super-sub wins golden boot". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Breaking through at 16: Ilan's golden moment". Edition.mv. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  21. ^ "PS - Maziya Sports & RC (MDV) 0-4 Al Arabi SC (KUW)". AFC. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  22. ^ "Maldives' Rising Football Star: Mohamed Ilan Imran". Sidibari.com. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  23. ^ "Ilan with Maldives senior national football team aged 13". Adhadhu.mv (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Maldives squad weakens due to O'levels". Mihaaru (in Dhivehi). Retrieved 16 August 2025.
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