Omar Faraj (Arabic: عمر فرج; born 9 March 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Egyptian Premier League club Zamalek. Formerly a two-time international for Sweden in friendlies, he represents Palestine since 2024.
 Faraj in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 March 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Stockholm, Sweden | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Zamalek | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2013 | Vasalund | ||
| 2013–2016 | AIK | ||
| 2016–2019 | Brommapojkarna | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Brommapojkarna | 36 | (14) |
| 2021–2022 | Levante B | 29 | (7) |
| 2022 | Levante | 1 | (0) |
| 2022 | → Degerfors (loan) | 16 | (4) |
| 2023–2024 | AIK | 36 | (4) |
| 2024– | Zamalek | 1 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2022–2023 | Sweden U21 | 5 | (4) |
| 2023 | Sweden | 2 | (0) |
| 2024– | Palestine | 3 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
editEarly career and Brommapojkarna
editFaraj was born in Stockholm to Palestinian parents, and was an AIK and IF Brommapojkarna youth graduate. He made his first team debut on 14 June 2020, starting and being sent off in a 1–0 Ettan Norra away win over IK Frej.
Faraj scored his first senior goal on 28 June 2020, netting his team's second in a 3–3 home draw against Team TG FF.[1] He finished his first senior season with five goals, and renewed his contract until 2023 on 18 March 2021.[2]
Faraj scored a brace in a 4–1 home routing of IFK Haninge on 2 May 2021,[3] and also netted a hat-trick in a 6–0 thrashing of Täby FK late in the month.[4]
Levante
editOn 6 August 2021, Faraj moved abroad and signed a five-year contract with La Liga side Levante UD, being initially assigned to the reserves in Segunda División RFEF.[5] He was the B-side's top goalscorer during the season with seven goals, as the team was unable to avoid relegation.
Faraj made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 20 May 2022, coming on as a late substitute for Alejandro Cantero in a 4–2 away success over Rayo Vallecano, as the Granotes were already relegated.[6]
On 21 July 2022, Faraj was loaned to Degerfors IF back in his home country, until December.[7]
AIK
editOn 26 October 2022, it was officially announced that Faraj would join his boyhood club AIK on a permanent deal in January 2023, signing a three-year contract in the process.[8]
Zamalek
editIn September 2024, Faraj joined Egyptian side Zamalek by signing a contract until June 2027.[9]
International career
editSweden
editFaraj made his full international debut for Sweden on 9 January 2023, replacing Hugo Larsson 68 minutes into a friendly 2–0 win against Finland.[10]
Palestine
editBorn to parents with Palestinian descent, Faraj is also eligible to represent Palestine. On 2 June 2024, he received his first call up to the Palestine national team for the World Cup qualification games against Lebanon and Australia.[11]
Career statistics
editInternational
edit| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 2023 | 2 | 0 |
| Palestine | 2024 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 0 | |
Honours
editZamalek
References
edit- ^ "Team TG tappade ledning till oavgjort mot Brommapojkarna" [Team TG lost the lead to a draw against Brommapojkarna] (in Swedish). Aktuella Nyheter. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Omar Faraj förlänger" [Omar Faraj renews] (in Swedish). IF Brommapojkarna. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Omar Faraj i målform när Brommapojkarna vann" [Omar Faraj in goal form as Brommapojkarna win] (in Swedish). Sport Bladet. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ ""Jag borde explodera – känner att det är mitt år"" ["I should explode – feel like it's my year"] (in Swedish). Expressen. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "Omar Faraj se une a las filas del Atlético Levante UD" [Omar Faraj joins the ranks of Atlético Levante UD] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "El Levante se va de Primera con una dulce victoria" [Levante bid farewell from Primera with a sweet victory] (in Spanish). Marca. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
- ^ "El delantero Omar Faraj se marcha cedido al equipo sueco Degerfors IF tras el acuerdo con el Levante UD" [Forward Omar Faraj moves out on loan to Swedish club Degerfors IF after the agreement with Levante UD] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Omar Faraj klar för AIK Fotboll" [Omar Faraj signs for AIK]. AIK Fotboll (in Swedish). 26 October 2022. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
- ^ "OFFICIAL: Zamalek announce signing of Palestinian forward Omar Faraj". KingFut. 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Sverige - Finland - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll". www.svenskfotboll.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "PFA announces 27-man squad for upcoming WCQs vs. Lebanon and Australia". Football Palestinian. 2 June 2024.
- ^ "Omar Faraj". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
External links
edit- Omar Faraj at BDFutbol
- Omar Faraj at Soccerway