Early and personal life
Ali was born in Maysan, Iraq, on 1 March 2002. In 2003 during the early stages of the Iraq War, at the age of one, he and his family moved from Iraq to Toxteth, Liverpool, where they would settle and he would grow up. [3] Al-Hamadi's father, Ibrahim, who was studying to become a lawyer at that point, was part of a peaceful protest against the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and he ended up being jailed. His wife was pregnant, and with his father's help, was released and made his way to the UK. Like most Iraqis fleeing the war, Ali initially went to Jordan with his mother before they reunited with his father in Britain. The first time he met his father he was one-year and four-months old. [3] Al-Hamadi is a Muslim. [4]
Club career
Early career
In 2015, Al-Hamadi was selected to play for Liverpool Schoolboys at the age of 13 where he quickly made an impression and caught the attention of Everton and Liverpool, but ended up joining Tranmere Rovers. [3] Al-Hamadi joined Tranmere's under-14s and stayed with the club for three years, being offered a professional contract in the summer of 2018 but he instead opted for a two-year scholarship at Swansea City's academy. [5] On 2 July 2020, Al-Hamadi signed his first professional contract with Swansea, signing a one-year contract with the club. [6] He was offered a new contract by Swansea in the summer of 2021 but decided to turn it down after failing to break into the first-team. [7] In September 2021, Al-Hamadi went on trial with Derby County, scoring for their under-23 side in a 3–3 Premier League Cup draw against the Norwich City under-23s. [8] [9]
Wycombe Wanderers
On 20 November 2021, Al-Hamadi signed an eighteen-month contract with League One side Wycombe Wanderers, following a successful trial period at the club. [10] On 11 March 2022, Al-Hamadi joined National League side Bromley on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season. [11] Al-Hamadi made 11 appearances for Bromley, scoring three goals. [12] He scored his first senior goal on 24 August 2022 in a 3–1 EFL Cup defeat against Bristol City. [13] After struggling for game time at Adams Park Al-Hamadi expressed a desire to seek a transfer. [14]
AFC Wimbledon
On 12 January 2023, Al-Hamadi completed a permanent transfer to League Two side AFC Wimbledon on a two-and-a-half-year deal. [15] He scored his first goal for Wimbledon on 18 February 2023 in a 2–2 draw with Hartlepool United. [16] In March 2023, he was awarded the EFL Young Player of the Month award. [17] On 30 September, Al-Hamadi converted a hat-trick against Tranmere Rovers, his former youth club, in a 4–1 win. [18] He was twice-awarded the PFA League Two Fans' Player of the Month award while at Wimbledon, earning the honours in March and September 2023. [19] [20]
Ipswich Town
On 29 January 2024, Al-Hamadi signed for then Championship club Ipswich Town for an undisclosed fee on a four-and-a-half-year contract. [21] He made his Ipswich debut on 3 February, in a 3–2 defeat to Preston North End. [22] On 14 February, he scored his first goal for the club, converting a penalty in stoppage time of a 4–0 away victory over Millwall. [23] He was a member of the team that achieved promotion to the Premier League that season, ending a 22-year absence from the top flight. [24] On 17 August, Al-Hamadi was brought on as a substitute during Ipswich's first match of the 2024–25 season against Liverpool, becoming the first Iraqi footballer to play in the Premier League. [25]
On 24 January 2025, Al-Hamadi joined Stoke City on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. [26] He scored on his debut helping Stoke to a 2–1 victory at Hull City. [27] He scored the only goal against Blackburn Rovers on 12 March 2025. [28] Al-Hamadi made 15 appearances for Stoke helping them to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. [29] [30]
On 2 Spetember 2025, Al-Hamadi joined Luton Town on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy. [31]
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