Vimal Yoganathan Explained

Vimal Yoganathan
Birth Date:13 January 2006
Birth Place:Trelawnyd, Wales
Height:1.91 m
Clubnumber:45
Position:Midfielder
Youthyears1:–2011
Youthyears2:2011–2013
Youthyears3:2014–2021
Youthyears4:2021–2023
Years1:2023–
Caps1:0
Goals1:0
Nationalyears1:2024–
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:0
Club-Update:20:14, 25 September 2023 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:15:38, 02 April 2024 (UTC)

Vimal Yoganathan (born 13 January 2006) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for club Barnsley.[1] He is the first footballer of Sri Lankan Tamil descent to play for a professional club in the United Kingdom.[2] [3]

Club career

Yoganathan was raised in Trelawnyd, Wales and began his career with local side Connah's Quay Nomads.[4] He then move to Prestatyn Town. At age six he was scouted by Liverpool and joined the club's shadow squad the following year. At age eight he was officially signed to the club's academy in the presence of Brendan Rodgers.[5]

Yoganathan later joined the under-16 side of Barnsley.[2] In 2023 he won the U18 division with the club.[6] That season he took part in twenty-nine of thirty-four matches.[7] Yoganathan made his professional debut with the club on 8 August 2023 in a 2023–24 EFL Cup match against Tranmere Rovers. He entered the match as a 65th-minute substitute for Herbie Kane.[8] With the appearance, he became the first player of Tamil heritage to play a professional senior game in English football.[3]

International career

Yoganathan is of Sri Lankan Tamil descent and grew up in Trelawnyd.[9] As a schoolboy, Yoganathan was called up for Wales at the youth level to participate in training camps.[6] [7] On 22 March 2024, he made his debut for Wales under-19s as a substitute against Belgium.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Soccerway profile . Soccerway . 25 September 2023.
  2. Web site: 17 year old Tamil footballer Yoganthan makes his professional UK debut for Barnsley FC . Thamarai . 25 September 2023.
  3. Web site: Gibbs . Thom . Vimal Yoganathan: From four-year-old tantrums to England's first Tamil footballer . The Telegraph . 1 December 2023.
  4. Web site: Mesney . Nik . Academy trio make Football League moves . Connah's Quay Nomads F.C. . 25 September 2023.
  5. Web site: Jones . Dean . Vimal signs for Liverpool FC academy . The Rhyl, Prestatyn, and Abergele Journal . 25 September 2023.
  6. Web site: Ravenhill . Rogan . Barnsley's title-winning under 18s squad . The Barnsley Chronicle . 25 September 2023.
  7. Web site: Jones . John . Young Guns . draggonsoccer.co.uk . 25 September 2023.
  8. Web site: Vimal Yoganathan on Making Reds Debut . Barnsley FC . 25 September 2023.
  9. Web site: Vimal Yoganathan: The Tamil footballer from Trelawnyd . tamil Guardian . 14 January 2024 .
  10. Web site: Wales' Under 19s squad (U18s). 25 March 2024. dragonsoccer.co.uk.