*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 October 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10 October 2024
Youssef Wali Faeq Amyn (Arabic: يوسف والي فائق أمين; born 21 August 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Saudi club Al Wehda and the Iraq national team. Born in Germany, Amyn has represented them at youth international level before switching his allegiance to Iraq.[2]
Club career
Viktoria Köln
In 2020, Amyn left the academy of Borussia Dortmund to join the youth sides of third division side Viktoria Köln.[3] Amyn made his professional debut on 13 March 2021 in a 3–1 league win against MSV Duisburg.[4] This made him the youngest player to appear in a professional match for the club in its history.[5][6] Amyn made two more appearances off the bench as his side finished the season in 12th position. He also made an appearance in the semi final of the Middle Rhine Cup, which his team went on to win, marking the first trophy of his career.
Amyn made his first start on the opening matchday of the 2021-22 season, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2–1 defeat against Viktoria Berlin. This was a sign of things to come as Amyn had a breakout season, playing 31 league matches and scoring 4 goals as his team finished in 13th place.[7] Youssef played a part in his team's Middle Rhine Cup campaign, providing an assist in the semi final and the final on route to winning the trophy. His final appearance for the club came against SV Waldhof Mannheim on the opening matchday of 2022–2023 season.
Feyenoord U21
On 1 September 2022, Amyn joined the under-21 team of Eredivisie club Feyenoord for three years with an option for an additional year.[8]
Eintracht Braunschweig
On 18 July 2023, Amyn signed for Eintracht Braunschweig on a two-year contract until June 2025.[9] He made his debut on 17 September, coming on as a substitute against Hertha Berlin. He struggled for gametime as his team battled relegation.[10] He only made nine appearances the entire season, failing to score or assist, as his team narrowly avoided the drop by finishing 15th.[11]
Al Wehda
On 28 August 2024, Amyn moved to Al Wehda in Saudi Arabia.[12]
Amyn has represented Germany at youth level. In 2020, Qahtan Chathir called up the player to represent Iraq's youth team, inviting him to a training camp in Baghdad during his coincidental visit to his hometown, and on many occasions in 2021, new manager Emad Mohammed sent invitations to the player but he rejected and maintained his desire to represent Germany at youth level.
Iraq u20 & U23
On 31 March 2023, Amyn announced his desire to represent Iraq's youth team as they go into the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and the manager Emad Mohammed has asked the Iraqi FA to request FIFA to switch Amyn's international eligibility.[citation needed] He was called up to the preparatory training camp in Cádiz, playing his first match in a friendly against Dominican Republic, winning a penalty then converting that penalty in the 50th minute. He also played against Brazil, winning a penalty shortly before half-time which was converted by Abdul-Razzaq Qasim. During his time at the camp, it was announce that FIFA had agreed to switch his international allegiance officially, thus making him eligible to represent Iraq internationally.
He was called up to the final squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, starting all three games and catching the eye of the world through his consistent performances despite his side's humiliating performance as Iraq crashed out of the group stage without scoring a single goal.
On November 16, 2023, Amyn made his senior debut for Iraq as a substitute against Indonesia in a FIFA World Cup qualifier, scoring a goal in a 5–1 win.[10] He was called up to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, and featured in all 4 matches as Iraq were knocked out of the tournament by Jordan in the round of 16.