| Jihad Ayoub | |
| Fullname: | Jihad Khaled Ayoub |
| Birth Date: | 30 March 1995 |
| Birth Place: | Porlamar, Venezuela |
| Height: | 1.87 m[1] [2] |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder, centre-back |
| Currentclub: | Safa |
| Youthclubs1: | Margarita |
| Youthclubs2: | Melita |
| Years1: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs1: | Ahed |
| Caps1: | 1 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 2017–2018 |
| Clubs2: | → Shabab Sahel (loan) |
| Years3: | 2018–2019 |
| Clubs3: | Bekaa |
| Caps3: | 20 |
| Goals3: | 2 |
| Years4: | 2019–2022 |
| Clubs4: | Ansar |
| Caps4: | 31 |
| Goals4: | 2 |
| Years5: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs5: | PSS Sleman |
| Caps5: | 46 |
| Goals5: | 6 |
| Years6: | 2024– |
| Clubs6: | Safa |
| Caps6: | 0 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2021– |
| Nationalteam1: | Lebanon |
| Nationalcaps1: | 15 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 30 April 2024 |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 11 June 2024 |
Jihad Khaled Ayoub (Arabic: جهاد خالد أيوب; born 30 March 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for club Safa. Born in Venezuela to Lebanese parents, Ayoub plays for the Lebanon national team.
Ayoub played at youth level for academies in Venezuela, Argentina, England, and Malta.[3] [4] He played for his university team in Venezuela before moving on to professional clubs. His professional career includes stints at Margarita in Venezuela and Melita in Malta,[5] where he played for their under-21 team. Additionally, he has played at the youth level for English clubs Millwall and Notts County.
Ayoub joined Lebanese Premier League side Ahed in January 2017,[6] helping them lift the league title in 2016–17.[7] He was sent on a one-year loan to Lebanese Second Division side Shabab Sahel for the 2017–18 season, where they finished in first place and were promoted to the Premier League.[8]
He moved to Bekaa on a free transfer in summer 2018.[9] On 24 February 2019, Ayoub assisted both of Bekaa's goals against Ansar in a 2–2 draw.[10] He finished the season with two goals in 20 games, and was regarded as one of the club's best-performing players in the 2018–19 season.
Following a trial with the club,[11] Ayoub joined Ansar on a two-year contract in May 2019.[12] Having extended his contract in July 2020,[13] Ayoub announced his decision to end his contract in March 2021.[14] He returned to the club the same month,[15] and helped Ansar win the domestic double (league and Lebanese FA Cup) in 2020–21.[16] Ayoub renewed his contract in July 2021.
On 6 July 2022, Ayoub joined Indonesian club PSS Sleman.[17]
Ayoub returned to Lebanon on 20 July 2024, joining Lebanese Premier League club Safa.[18]
Ayoub made his international debut for Lebanon on 1 December 2021, as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Egypt at the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.[19] In December 2023, Ayoub was included in the Lebanese squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.[20]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lebanon | 2021 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | ||
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 15 | 0 | ||
Ahed
Shabab Sahel
Ansar