Hamza Choudhury Explained

Hamza Choudhury
Full Name:Hamza Dewan Choudhury[1]
Birth Date:1 October 1997[2]
Birth Place:Loughborough, England
Height:1.78m (05.84feet)[3]
Position:Defensive midfielder, right-back
Currentclub:Leicester City
Clubnumber:17
Youthyears1:2005–2015
Youthclubs1:Leicester City
Years1:2015–
Clubs1:Leicester City
Caps1:87
Goals1:1
Years2:2016
Clubs2:Burton Albion (loan)
Caps2:13
Goals2:0
Years3:2016–2017
Clubs3:Burton Albion (loan)
Caps3:13
Goals3:0
Years4:2022–2023
Clubs4:Watford (loan)
Caps4:36
Goals4:0
Nationalyears1:2018–2019
Nationalteam1:England U21
Nationalcaps1:7
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:00:45, 10 May 2024 (UTC)

Hamza Dewan Choudhury (born 1 October 1997) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or right-back for club Leicester City.

Choudhury is a product of Leicester City Academy, he joined the club at the age of seven. After gaining professional experience with two loan spells at Burton Albion, he has made over 80 senior appearances for Leicester since 2017. With Leicester, Choudhury won the FA Cup in 2021.

Of mixed Bangladeshi-Grenadian origin,[4] Choudhury has represented England at under-21 level.

Early life

Choudhury was born in Loughborough, Leicestershire.[5]

Club career

Leicester City

Choudhury began his career at the Leicester City Academy, joining the club at the age of 7 in 2005. At the age of 16, Choudhury was reportedly monitored by a number of top European clubs.[6]

Loan to Burton Albion

Choudhury joined League One leaders Burton Albion on a one-month loan deal on 27 February 2016.[7] He made his debut in the Football League later that same day, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Tom Naylor in a 0–0 draw with Walsall at the Pirelli Stadium.[8] On 6 August 2016, Choudhury signed another loan deal with Burton Albion for the 2016–17 season.[9] On the same day, Choudhury featured in Burton Albion's first ever Championship game, claiming an assist in a 4–3 defeat against Nottingham Forest.[10]

First-team breakthrough

Choudhury made his first-team debut for Leicester City on 19 September 2017, coming on as substitute in a 2–0 win against Liverpool at home in the third round of the EFL Cup.[11] He made his Premier League debut on 28 November as a substitute at home in a 2–1 win against Tottenham Hotspur.[12] His first Premier League start came on 14 April 2018, in a 2–1 away defeat to Burnley.[13]

On 30 August 2019, Choudhury signed a new four-year contract with Leicester.[14] On 1 January 2020, Choudhury scored his first senior goal for Leicester, an outside the box strike in the 86th minute, in a 3–0 away win at Newcastle United.[15]

On 22 October 2020, Choudhury made his first appearance in a European competition, coming off the bench in the 71st minute against Zorya Luhansk. He became the first footballer of Bangladeshi descent to make an appearance in a European competition by doing so.[16] One week later, Choudhury scored a 39th-minute volley against AEK Athens, winning the match 2–1. He became the first footballer of Bangladeshi descent to score in one of the two major UEFA club competitions, the first British Asian to score in European competitions since Michael Chopra in the defunct UEFA Intertoto Cup, and the first British Asian to score in the current UEFA competitions.[17]

On 11 April 2021, Choudhury was one of three players dropped from Leicester's squad for the game against West Ham United after breaching COVID-19 protocols.[18] On 15 May 2021, he came on as an 82nd-minute substitute in the 2021 FA Cup Final, which Leicester won 1–0 for his first career honour.[19]

Loan to Watford

On 10 August 2022, Choudhury joined Championship club Watford on loan for the season, with the option to make the move permanent the following summer.[20] He made his debut two days later in a 1–0 home win over Burnley, and was praised by manager Rob Edwards.[21]

International career

On 26 May 2018, Choudhury made his debut for the England national under-21 football team, coming on as a substitute during the 2–1 win against China under-21 in the 2018 Toulon Tournament.[22] Choudhury started for England in the next match of the tournament, a 0–0 draw against Mexico.[23]

On 27 May 2019, Choudhury was included in England's 23-man squad for the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship[24] but was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle during the second half of the opening 2–1 defeat to France in Cesena.[25]

Although eligible to play for Bangladesh and Grenada, Choudhury said in October 2019 that he intended to pursue an international career with England, stating: "To play for England is my biggest dream, to represent the senior team".[26] However, on 27 February 2024 it was reported that Choudhury was in talks to represent the Bangladesh national football team in their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers in March 2024.[27]

Personal life

Choudhury is of Bangladeshi-Grenadian ancestry. He was raised in a traditional Bengali Muslim household by his mother and stepfather and has visited Bangladesh since he was a child.[28] [29] His maternal ancestral home is in Bahubal, Habiganj District in Bangladesh.[30] [31] His stepfather is also Bengali.[32] Choudhury can speak Bengali with a good degree of fluency.[33] He is eligible to play for the Grenada national team through his ancestry.[34]

Choudhury is a Sunni Muslim, and attended evening madrasa during his youth. He has stated that before leaving the changing room for a match, he recites parts of the Qur'an in Arabic such as the Verse of the Throne and various duas.[28]

In April 2019 he apologised for historical tweets.[35] He was later charged with misconduct by the FA,[36] and fined £5,000 and put on an educational course.[37]

He and his wife have three children born in 2018, 2020, and 2023.[28] [38]

On 19 January 2024, Choudhury was caught drink-driving on the wrong side of the road in West Bridgford after leaving his phone behind in a restaurant. He was given a driving ban and was fined £20k by the Nottingham Magistrates' Court.[39]

Political expression on and off the pitch in support of Palestine

After winning in the FA Cup Final in 2021, Choudhury and his teammate Wesley Fofana both celebrated draped in the flag of Palestine, during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis.[40] In October 2023, Choudhury used the phrase "From the river to the sea" on Twitter.[41] The Football Association later wrote to clubs to ask their players not to use the phrase on social media.[42]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupEFL CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Leicester City2015–16Premier League00000000
2016–17Premier League00000000
2017–18Premier League80001090
2018–19Premier League901020120
2019–20Premier League2014050291
2020–21Premier League100301081221
2021–22Premier League6010104000120
2023–24Championship3404030410
Total871130130121001252
Burton Albion (loan)2015–16League One130000000130
Burton Albion (loan)2016–17Championship1300020150
Watford (loan)2022–23Championship3600010370
Career total1491130160121001902

Honours

Leicester City

2020–21[43]

2021[44]

2023–24[45]

England U21

2018[46]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: List of temporary transfers of players under written contract between 01/08/2016 and 31/08/2016 . The Football Association . 24 . 11 February 2018 . 26 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126154837/https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/registrations/player-registration---august-2016.ashx . live .
  2. Web site: Hamza Choudhury: Overview . Premier League . 14 August 2022 . 14 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220814002723/https://www.premierleague.com/players/13248/Hamza-Choudhury/overview . live .
  3. Web site: Hamza Choudhury . Leicester City F.C. . 22 December 2018 . 8 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180408123530/https://www.lcfc.com/players/13248/Hamza-Choudhury/profile . live .
  4. Web site: 2018-12-28 . The rise of Bangladesh origin Hamza Choudhury in English football . 2018-12-28 . SPORTSONLY . https://web.archive.org/web/20190101153815/http://sportsonly.net/en/2018/12/28/the-rise-of-bangladesh-origin-hamza-choudhury-in-english-football/#.XWp_Jij0mM8 . 1 January 2019 . en.
  5. Web site: Hamza Choudhury: To & 'Fro . Leicester City F.C. . 14 March 2020 . 14 August 2022 . 14 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220814002645/https://www.lcfc.com/news/1645427/hamza-choudhury-to--fro/featured . live .
  6. News: Transfer news: Leicester City youngster Hamza Choudhury attracting European interest . 12 March 2016 . Sky Sports . 25 September 2014 . 23 August 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180823104353/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/9488982/transfer-news-leicester-city-youngster-hamza-choudhury-attracting-interest . live .
  7. News: Wilkinson . Ashley . Burton Albion transfer news: Leicester City youngster Hamza Choudhury signs on loan . 12 March 2016 . Burton Mail . 27 February 2016 .
  8. News: Burton's lead at the top of League One was cut to two points after they were held by fellow high-flyers Walsall . 12 March 2016 . BBC Sport . 27 February 2016 . 29 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160229234028/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35618946 . live .
  9. News: Hamza Choudhury re-signs on loan . 6 August 2016 . 6 August 2016 . 26 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161026174651/http://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/hamza-choudhury-re-signs-on-loan-3229040.aspx . live .
  10. News: Forest: On the whistle match report . 6 August 2016 . . 6 August 2016 . 18 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818111602/http://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/forest-on-the-whistle-match-report-3229562.aspx . live .
  11. News: Carabao Cup: Leicester City vs Liverpool – 2:0 . 19 September 2017 . 22 September 2017 . 22 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170922053415/https://www.lcfc.com/match/24403#latest . live .
  12. News: Premier League: Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur – 2:1 . 28 November 2017 . 14 February 2018 . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327093022/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42061046 . live .
  13. News: Burnley 2–1 Leicester City . 14 April 2018 . BBC Sport . 14 April 2018 . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327102457/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43678367 . live .
  14. News: Hamza Choudhury Extends Leicester City Contract Until 2023 . 30 August 2019 . 31 August 2019 . 31 August 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190831225722/https://www.lcfc.com/news/1320914/hamza-choudhury-extends-leicester-city-contract-until-2023/press-release . live .
  15. News: Newcastle United 0-3 Leicester City: Premier League – as it happened. Rob. Smyth. The Guardian . 1 January 2020. www.theguardian.com. 1 January 2020. 1 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200101211216/https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2020/jan/01/newcastle-united-v-leicester-city-premier-league-live. live.
  16. Web site: Zorya Luhansk-Leicester Match Report. 22 October 2020. UEFA. 26 November 2020. 6 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201206000623/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2029801--zorya-luhansk-vs-leicester/. live.
  17. Web site: AEK-Leicester Match Report. 29 October 2020. UEFA. 30 October 2020. 22 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201022044806/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2029729--aek-vs-leicester/. live.
  18. News: James Maddison among Leicester players dropped for Covid-19 breach . 11 April 2021 . BBC Sport . 11 April 2021 . 11 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210411154257/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56710648 . live .
  19. Web site: Chelsea 0-1 Leicester: Foxes lift FA Cup. 15 May 2021. BBC Sport . 15 May 2021. 11 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611123936/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57055571. live.
  20. News: Hamza Choudhury: Watford sign Leicester midfielder on loan . 13 September 2022 . BBC Sport . 10 August 2022 . 26 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220926182927/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62492583 . live .
  21. News: Matthews . Anthony . Watford boss delighted with Choudhury's debut in Burnley win . 13 September 2022 . Watford Observer . 13 August 2022 . 13 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220913215637/https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/20636100.watford-boss-delighted-choudhurys-debut-burnley-win/ . live .
  22. News: Choudhury makes maiden England u21s appearance . 27 May 2018 . 27 May 2018 . Leicester City Football Club . 27 March 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190327081054/https://www.lcfc.com/news/694196/choudhury-makes-maiden-england-u21s-appearance . live .
  23. News: England beat Mexico to win in Toulon. BBC Sport . 29 December 2019. 21 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200621095834/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44426516. live.
  24. News: England U21S Squad Named by Aidy Boothroyd for This Summer's Euro Finals in Italy. The FA. 27 May 2019. 19 June 2019. 4 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190604094325/http://www.thefa.com/news/2019/may/26/england-u21s-squad-named-for-euros-270519. live.
  25. News: England U21s 1 France U21s 2. BBC Sport. 18 June 2019. 19 June 2019. 18 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190618224212/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48669141. live.
  26. News: Haircuts & life in Leicester – meet Hamza Choudhury. BBC Sport . 4 October 2019. 4 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191004191823/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49928754. live.
  27. https://www.dhakatribune.com/sport/football/340445/hamza-close-to-playing-for-bangladesh-team Hamza close to playing for Bangladesh team
  28. Web site: Leicester City's Hamza Choudhury on trips to Bangladesh and hating haircuts. 4 October 2019. BBC Sport. 4 October 2019. 4 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191004191823/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49928754. live.
  29. News: Hamza Choudhury, the Bengali starlet of Leicester City. Hifi Digital. 10 July 2019. 29 July 2021. 29 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210729173059/http://api.hifipublic.com/2019/07/10/hamza-chowdhury-the-bengali-starlet-of-leicester-city/. live.
  30. News: The rise of Bangladesh origin Hamza Choudhury in English football. SportsOnly. 28 December 2018. 31 August 2019. 1 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190101153815/http://sportsonly.net/en/2018/12/28/the-rise-of-bangladesh-origin-hamza-choudhury-in-english-football/#.XWp_Jij0mM8. dead.
  31. News: হবিগঞ্জের দেওয়ান বাড়ির ছেলে লেস্টার সিটির হামজা. SportsOnly. Son of Habiganj's Dewan Bari, Leicester City's Hamza. bn. 25 September 2017. 31 August 2019. 26 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181226120001/http://sportsonly.net/2017/09/25/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%97%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9C%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%93%E0%A7%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A7%9C%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%9B/#.XWqHfCj0mM-. dead.
  32. Web site: Pawley . Luke . Updated . 2021-10-28 . Hamza Choudhury's journey to become an inspirational Leicester City captain . 2022-10-23 . LeicestershireLive . en . 23 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221023203850/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/hamza-choudhury-captain-inspiration-journey-5808708 . live .
  33. News: Shakib is an inspiration, says Leicester City's Hamza. Prothom Alo. 29 May 2020. 26 September 2020. Choudhury spoke in clear Bangla to Prothom Alo... fluent enough in Bangla as his parents speak the language. 17 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200617022122/https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/football/shakib-is-an-inspiration-says-leicester-citys-hamza. live.
  34. News: Why Shrewsbury are a big deal in Grenada. BBC Sport . 15 May 2021. 28 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210728084220/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/51252195. live.
  35. Web site: Hamza Choudhury: Leicester midfielder apologises for 'hurtful and offensive' tweets. 29 April 2019. BBC Sport. 30 April 2019. 20 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190520163933/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48099333. live.
  36. Web site: Hamza Choudhury charged with misconduct for social media comments. 2 May 2019. BBC Sport. 3 May 2019. 2 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502171756/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48140058. live.
  37. News: Hamza Choudhury: Leicester midfielder fined by Football Association for historical posts . 10 May 2019 . BBC Sport . 10 May 2019 . 20 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220820050222/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48232852 . live .
  38. News: Leventhal . Adam . Tanner . Rob . Hamza Choudhury's all-action start suggests Watford could end up with a bargain . 13 September 2022 . The Athletic . 13 August 2022 . 13 September 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220913215336/https://theathletic.com/3502329/2022/08/13/hamza-choudhury-watford-leicester/ . live .
  39. Web site: Leicester City footballer Hamza Choudhury fined for drink-driving . BBC Sport . 29 February 2024 . 10 May 2024.
  40. News: Donoghue . Eamon . Leicester duo celebrate FA Cup win with Palestine flag . 16 May 2021 . The Irish Times . 15 May 2021 . 15 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515193603/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/leicester-duo-celebrate-fa-cup-win-with-palestine-flag-1.4566484 . live .
  41. Web site: Choudhury sorry for causing offence with social post . BBC Sport . 30 October 2023 . 31 October 2023.
  42. Web site: FA writes to clubs after Choudhury's Israel-Gaza post . BBC Sport . 1 November 2023 . 1 November 2023.
  43. News: Chelsea 0–1 Leicester City . Phil . McNulty . BBC Sport . 15 May 2021 . 16 May 2021 . 19 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519215158/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57055571 . live .
  44. News: Leicester City 1–0 Manchester City . Shamoon . Hafez . BBC Sport . 7 August 2021 . 8 August 2021 . 23 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211023093804/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58036460 . live .
  45. Web site: Championship: 2023/24: Current table . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 5 May 2024.
    Web site: Leicester: Squad details: 2023/24 . Soccerbase . Centurycomm . 5 May 2024.
  46. Web site: Final fightback takes England U21S to Toulon hat-trick with win over Mexico . The Football Association . 9 June 2018 . 10 June 2019 . 13 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180613215027/http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/jun/09/engvmextoulon090618 . live .