Aqsa Mushtaq

Last updated
Aqsa Mushtaq
Personal information
Full name Aqsa Mushtaq
Date of birth (1998-08-15) August 15, 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Bradford, England
Position(s) Midfielder / Winger
Team information
Current team
OFI Crete W.F.C.
Number 12
Youth career
Bradford
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2016–2020 Lenoir–Rhyne University 72 (24)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2021 Napoli 0 (0)
2020–2021Roma (loan)
2021–2022 Avantes Chalkidas
2022–2023 Ergotelis
2023 Lewes 7 (0)
2023– OFI 42 (13)
International career
2025– Pakistan 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Aqsa Mushtaq (born 15 August 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for OFI Crete. Born in England, she plays for the Pakistan women's national football team.

Contents

Early life & education

Born and raised in Bradford, England, to a Pakistani family, Mushtaq joined Bradford City’s youth academy. She later moved to the U.S. to attend Lenoir–Rhyne University (2017–2020), where she scored 13 goals in 17 games and was named South Atlantic Conference Player of the Year 2019–20. [1]

Club career

In August 2020, Mushtaq became the first player of Pakistani descent to sign a professional contract in Italy, joining SSD Napoli Femminile. [2]

She later joined Greek club Avantes Chalkidas, where she earned league MVP honors. In July 2024, she signed for OFI Crete W.F.C., scoring 10 goals and registering 8 assists in her first season. [3]

International career

In June 2025, Mushtaq was named in the Pakistan squad for the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification, as part of the national team’s strategic inclusion of overseas talent. [4]

Style of play

Mushtaq is a left-footed winger known for her technical dribbling, vision, and passing. In a 2023 interview, she described her game as “quick, technical and composed,” and named Steven Gerrard as her inspiration. [5]

Personal life

Mushtaq supports Liverpool F.C. and admires former captain Steven Gerrard. She has visited Pakistan multiple times and remains closely connected to her heritage. [6]

Mushtaq is featured in the British South Asians in Football timeline compiled by Sky Sports, marking her contributions to the sport and her historic signing in Italy. [7]

References

  1. "Aqsa Mushtaq signs first pro contract with Napoli Women". SprintMG. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  2. "Aqsa Mushtaq signs for Napoli Femminile". SprintMG. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  3. "South Asians in Football Weekly: Aqsa Mushtaq completes OFI Crete move". Sky Sports. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  4. "Pakistan squad to feature diaspora players for Women's Asia Cup qualifiers". The News International. 13 June 2025. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  5. "Women and Football – Interview with Napoli's Aqsa Mushtaq". The Cult of Calcio. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  6. "Interview: Aqsa Mushtaq on identity, football, and dreams". The Cult of Calcio. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  7. "South Asians in Football Weekly – Aqsa Mushtaq in focus". Sky Sports. Retrieved July 5, 2025.