LONDON (SW): English football club Bolton Wanderers is set to sign Afghanistan international Yousuf Shirdel to become the first English side ever to sign an Afghanistan international.
As revealed by Sun journalist Alan Nixon, the Afghan player Shirdel; described as a ‘big wide man’ would join the club tomorrow. Winger Shirdel, 23, was born in Hamburg and began his youth career with Hamburg and St Pauli, before scoring 8 goals in 45 games for Hamburg's reserve team, Hamburger SV II between 2012 and 2015. After leaving Hamburg, Shirdel, who is tall for a winger (6ft 1), had trials last year at West Ham United and Rangers, as well a trial at MLS side Orlando City last May.
According to the English press, Shirdel spent last season at German fourth division side ETSV Weiche, where he scored six times in 28 games, and helped Weiche finish 3rd. Despite being born in Germany, Shirdel plays international football for Afghanistan. Shirdel was called up for Afghanistan for the 2015 SAFF Championship games but did not compete because of illness. He eventually made his debut in March 2016 against Japan, a game in which Japan won 5-0.
Shirdel scored his first goal in his second match for Afghanistan in a 2-1 win against Singapore. Prior to this, a number of other English and Scottish clubs have expressed interest in acquiring Shirdel.
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