Get to know Alhassan Yusuf, the fast-rising Nigerian midfielder

Get to know Alhassan Yusuf, the fast-rising Nigerian midfielder

Steve Njuguna
January 21, 2024 at 9:36 PM
In this article:
Nigeria logo
Nigeria
Nigeria
21
UEFA Champions League logo
UEFA Champions League
Royal Antwerp logo
Royal Antwerp
Belgium
18

Alhassan Yusuf is a Nigerian professional footballer who is a midfielder for Belgian top-flight side Royal Antwerp and the Nigerian national team. Yusuf has impressed many football fans worldwide with his energetic performances and is seen as one of the best midfield prospects in the world. This article goes into Yusuf's career so far and his achievements.

Alhassan Yusuf
Alhassan Yusuf during an Antwerp game vs KV Mechelen in September 2023. Photo by Isosport/MB Media
Source: Getty Images

Alhassan started his career in his native country, Nigeria, in the FC Hearts academy youth system. Good performances at the 2018 Gothia Youth World Cup in Sweden saw him seal a move to Swedish top-flight side IFK Goteborg, where he started off his professional career.

Alhassan Yusuf's profile summary

Name

Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi Pigui

Date of birth

20 July 2000

Place of birth

Kano, Nigeria

Nationality

Nigerian

Age

23 as of January 2024

Hair colour

Black

Occupation

Professional footballer

Playing position

Midfielder

Height in feet

5 ft 9

Height in centimetres

175 cm

Weight in pounds

145 lbs

Weight in kilograms

66 kg

Previous clubs

FC Hearts Nigeria

IFK Goteborg

Young Reds Antwerp

Current Club

Royal Antwerp

Relationship status

Single

Children

None

Place of residence

Antwerp, Belgium

National team caps

2 (As of January 18 2024)

Net worth

$1 million

Social media

Instagram

How old is Alhassan Yusuf?

Alhassan Yusuf (aged 23 as of January 2024) was born on 20 July 2000. Yusuf was born in Kano, which is situated in Northern Nigeria.

Alhassan Yusuf's biography

Yusuf started his career at FC Hearts Academy in Nigeria and got his big move to Europe after impressing in the Gothia Youth World Cup. He moved to Swedish side IFK Goteborg, where he proceeded to fit in perfectly, winning the Swedish top flight's new player of the year award in 2019 and the Swedish Cup in 2020.

A move to Belgian giants Royal Antwerp saw further success as he led the team to a trio of titles in the 2022/2023 season, winning the Belgian Cup, Belgian Pro League and the Belgian Super Cup.

Alhassan Yusuf's stats
Alhassan Yusuf during a game between Royal Antwerp and Club Brugge in February 2022. Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/BSR Agency
Source: Getty Images

Alhassan Yusuf's stats

Yusuf has been a professional footballer since 2018. At his various clubs, he has been deployed across different positions in midfield due to his technical ability. Here are some of his numbers so far:

Team

Appearances

Goals

Assists

IFK Goteborg

77

2

9

Young Antwerp

2

0

0

Royal Antwerp

98

4

7

Nigeria national team

2

0

0

Frequently asked questions

Yusuf is one of Africa's most exciting midfield prospects. Therefore, many fans will want to know more about his career and achievements.

What is Alhassan Yusuf's current club?

Alhassan currently plays for the Belgian top-flight club Royal Antwerp. After leaving Swedish side IFK Goteborg, he joined the club during the 2021-2022 season.

Alhassan Yusuf
Yusuf (in red) competes for the ball with Barcelona's Lamine Yamal during Royal Antwerp's Champions League game against Barcelona in December 2023. Photo by Pedro Salgado
Source: Getty Images

What is Alhassan Yusuf's weekly salary?

According to Salarysport.com, Yusuf earns £5,500 per week before bonuses. This puts his annual salary at £286,000.

What is Alhassan Yusuf's net worth?

Alhassan has an estimated net worth of £1,000,000. This comes from his wages during his time playing football in Sweden and Belgium.

How many appearances does Alhassan Yusuf have for the Super Eagles?

Yusuf made his debut for the Nigerian national team in December 2023. He was named to Nigeria's squad for AFCON in January 2024, replacing injured Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndindi. As of January 19th, 2024, he has had two appearances for the Super Eagles.

Alhassan Yusuf's transfer news

After being a key cog in Royal Antwerp's championship-winning season, Yusuf has caught the eye of some of Europe's biggest clubs. Two good performances as a holding midfielder against Barcelona in the group stage of the 2023/2024 UEFA Champions League also increased his stock. The likes of Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Hellas Verona and Strasbourg have all previously been linked with the midfielder.

What is Alhassan Yusuf’s FIFA rating?

Alhassan has a rating of 72 on the EAFC 24 game. He has the potential to develop to 78 on career mode.

Final word

Alhassan Yusuf is the next big thing for African defensive midfielders, and he can play for one of Europe's biggest clubs. Still only 23, Alhassan has time on his side to develop and maximise his potential.

READ MORE: The biography of Hugo Sanchez, the Mexican football legend

Sports Bbrief recently detailed Hugo Sanchez's biography. Sanchez is widely considered Mexico's best-ever player, though most of his success was in Spain. Sanchez won the prestigious La Liga top scorer award, 'The Pichichi', five times. Discover how

Authors
Steve Njuguna photo
Steve Njuguna
Steve Njuguna is a media professional with close to a decade of experience in the sports media industry. He has previously worked as a sports journalist with Bamba Sports TV, Vybez Radio and The Nairobian newspaper.