Abdi Sharif, the former Liverpool youngster, made history at the conclusion of his first season with Wigan Athletic as the first Somali player to feature in the Championship. After being without a club for over a year, Sharif was signed by Wigan in July and spent much of the campaign in the under-21s. He also had a brief loan spell at Telford United, giving him his first taste of senior football. With Wigan’s relegation to League One confirmed, preparations have begun for a new campaign in the third tier, and manager Shaun Maloney has integrated a number of young players, including Sharif. On the final day of the Championship, Sharif came off the bench as Wigan drew 0-0 with Rotherham, making him the first Somali player to ever feature in the Championship.
Sharif and his family emigrated from Somalia when he was young, and after training with Liverpool from the age of six he joined the club as an under-9s player. He progressed through the academy ranks, including time as part of Steven Gerrard’s under-18s squad, but was released in 2021 without breaking into the senior setup. After time spent unattached and working on his fitness, Sharif is now making headway at first-team level and is looking to establish himself within Wigan’s youthful core. Still in contact with Liverpool as part of academy director Alex Inglethorpe’s Alumni Project, Sharif will no doubt be in line for congratulations from his boyhood club.