Arjan Raikhy
{{short description|English footballer (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Arjan Raikhy
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2002|10|20|df=y}}
| birth_place = Wolverhampton, England
| height =
| position = Midfielder
| currentclub = Tamworth
(on loan from Leicester City)
| clubnumber = 37
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = West Bromwich Albion
| youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2021
| youthclubs2 = Aston Villa
| years1 = 2021–2023
| clubs1 = Aston Villa
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = → Stockport County (loan)
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = → Grimsby Town (loan)
| caps3 = 7
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2023–
| clubs4 = Leicester City
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2025–
| clubs5 = → Tamworth (loan)
| caps5 = 7
| goals5 = 0
| club-update = 09:03, 8 April 2025 (UTC)
}}
Arjan Singh Raikhy (born 20 October 2002) is an English footballer who plays as a midfielder for {{English football updater|Tamworth}} club Tamworth, on loan from {{English football updater|LeicestC}} club Leicester City. He is a product of the Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion academies.
Career
=Youth football=
Raikhy played at West Bromwich Albion in his early teens, before switching to the nearby Aston Villa Academy.{{cite news |title=Dean Smith sent 'special' demand after Jack Grealish watches Aston Villa youngsters dazzle |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-news-grealish-liverpool-20603588 |access-date=29 July 2021 |agency=Birmingham Mail |date=15 May 2021 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729160536/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-news-grealish-liverpool-20603588 |url-status=live }}
Having played regularly for the under-18 side in the 2019–20 season, Raikhy featured for the Aston Villa U21 side in the EFL Trophy against Carlisle United, losing 3–1.{{cite web |title=MATCH REPORT: United 3 – 1 Villa U21 |url=https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/202021/november/carlisle-united-vs-aston-villa-u21-on-10-nov-20/ |website=Carlisle United F.C. |access-date=29 July 2021 |archive-date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729160538/https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/matches/fixtures/first-team/202021/november/carlisle-united-vs-aston-villa-u21-on-10-nov-20/ |url-status=live }}
Having been a key player in Villa's Under-18 FA Youth Cup squad that season, on 24 May 2021, Raikhy was part of the side that defeated Liverpool U18 2–1 in the final.{{Cite web|last=Preece|first=Ashley|date=2021-05-24|title=Aston Villa vs Liverpool FA Youth Cup final LIVE updates|url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/aston-villa-youth-cup-liverpool-20666405|access-date=2021-05-24|website=BirminghamLive|language=en|archive-date=27 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527092508/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/aston-villa-youth-cup-liverpool-20666405|url-status=live}}
=Aston Villa debut and loans=
Raikhy was named in the Aston Villa starting line-up for his senior debut on 8 January 2021 in an FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool.{{Cite web|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/january/Villa-hand-senior-debuts-to-all-starting-XI/|title=Aston Villa name young and inexperienced side for their FA Cup third-round tie against Liverpool|access-date=8 January 2021|website=avfc.co.uk|publisher=Aston Villa F.C.|date=8 January 2021|archive-date=10 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110034913/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/january/Villa-hand-senior-debuts-to-all-starting-XI/|url-status=live}} On 7 July 2021, Raikhy was one of several young players who signed a new contract with Aston Villa.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=7 July 2021|title=Young Lions sign new contracts|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/Young-Lions-sign-new-contracts/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-07|website=Aston Villa Football Club|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707114602/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/july/Young-Lions-sign-new-contracts/ |archive-date=2021-07-07 }}
On 20 August, Raikhy joined National League side Stockport County on a season-long loan.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=20 August 2021|title=Raikhy joins Stockport County on loan|url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Raikhy-joins-Stockport-County-on-loan/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-20|website=Aston Villa Football Club|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820131913/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2021/august/Raikhy-joins-Stockport-County-on-loan/ |archive-date=2021-08-20 }}{{Cite web|date=2021-08-20|title=Exciting midfielder joins County on loan|url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/exciting-midfielder-joins-county-on-loan/|access-date=2021-08-20|website=Stockport County|language=en-US|archive-date=20 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820132547/https://www.stockportcounty.com/exciting-midfielder-joins-county-on-loan/|url-status=live}} He made his National League debut in a 1–0 victory over Southend United.{{Cite news|title=Southend United 0–1 Stockport County|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58289765|access-date=2021-08-31|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831074808/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58289765|url-status=live}} He made eight appearances for Stockport, including one man of the match award, before being recalled to Aston Villa on 3 January 2022.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-03|title=Midfielder returns to parent club|url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/midfielder-returns-to-parent-club/|access-date=2022-01-04|website=Stockport County|language=en-US|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104140308/https://www.stockportcounty.com/midfielder-returns-to-parent-club/|url-status=live}}
On 24 January 2022, Raikhy went on loan to the National League once again, this time joining Grimsby Town until the end of the season.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-24|title=Mariners Secure Raikhy On Loan! – Grimsby Town Football Club|url=https://gtfc.co.uk/mariners-secure-raikhy-on-loan/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=gtfc.co.uk|language=en-GB|archive-date=24 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124180618/https://gtfc.co.uk/mariners-secure-raikhy-on-loan/|url-status=live}} The following day, he made his Grimsby debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 defeat to Wrexham.{{Cite news|title=Wrexham debutant Palmer sinks Mariners|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60019019|access-date=2022-01-25|archive-date=25 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125233349/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60019019|url-status=live}} On 5 June 2022, Raikhy played in the National League play-off final at the London Stadium as Grimsby beat Solihull Moors in extra time to secure promotion back to the Football League.{{Cite news |last=Peddy |first=Chris |date=5 June 2022 |title=Grimsby beat Solihull Moors to seal EFL return |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61628696 |access-date=2022-06-05 |archive-date=9 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230109154317/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61628696 |url-status=live }} This marked an unusual achievement, as both of the teams he had been at loan to in that National League season had been promoted.
On 16 June 2023, Raikhy was released by Aston Villa.{{Cite web |title=Premier League clubs publish 2022/23 retained lists |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3537139 |access-date=2023-06-16 |website=premierleague.com |language=en |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621095718/https://www.premierleague.com/news/3537139 |url-status=live }}
= Leicester City =
On 17 August 2023, Raikhy signed for Leicester City.{{Cite web |last=Dorsett |first=Rob |date=17 August 2023 |title=Arjan Raikhy: Punjabi wonderkid joins former Premier League champions Leicester after leaving Aston Villa |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/12941599/arjan-raikhy-punjabi-wonderkid-joins-former-premier-league-champions-leicester-after-leaving-aston-villa |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Sky Sports |language=en |archive-date=17 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817142726/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11712/12941599/arjan-raikhy-punjabi-wonderkid-joins-former-premier-league-champions-leicester-after-leaving-aston-villa |url-status=live }} On 27 January 2024, he made his debut for the club as an 81st-minute substitute in a 3–0 FA Cup home win against Birmingham City.{{cite news |title=FA Cup: Leicester City 3–0 Birmingham City |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68110784 |access-date=27 January 2024 |work=BBC Sport |date=27 January 2024}}
Personal life
Raikhy is from a British Punjabi Sikh{{Cite web |url=https://mobile.twitter.com/arjanraikhy20/status/1382419105937043460 |title=Archived copy |access-date=30 November 2022 |archive-date=30 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130221252/https://mobile.twitter.com/arjanraikhy20/status/1382419105937043460 |url-status=live }} family, he was born in Wolverhampton and attended school in Telford.{{cite web |title='Dad, he looks like me' - The Aston Villa teenager who blazed a trail against Liverpool |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-punjabi-villans-raikhy-19619712 |website=Birmingham Mail |access-date=29 July 2021 |archive-date=19 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119174616/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-punjabi-villans-raikhy-19619712 |url-status=live }}
Career statistics
{{updated|22 March 2025}}{{Soccerway|arjan-raikhy/627167|access-date=8 January 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" | |||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|EFL Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals | |||||||||
| rowspan="4" |Aston Villa
| rowspan="3" |Premier League |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021–22
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022–23
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Stockport County (loan)
|5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
| Grimsby Town (loan)
|National League |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 2{{efn|name=NLP|Appearances in National League play-offs}} | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Leicester City
|1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Tamworth (loan)
|National League |7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan=2|— | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!20 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 35 | 1 |
{{notelist}}
Honours
Grimsby Town
- National League play-offs: 2022{{cite news |url=https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/grimsby-town-promoted-league-two-7168076 |title=Grimsby Town complete remarkable fairytale as Solihull Moors comeback earns League Two promotion |first=Elliott |last=Jackson |newspaper=Grimsby Telegraph |date=5 June 2022 |access-date=5 May 2024}}
Leicester City
- EFL Championship: 2023–24{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/tournaments/tournament.sd?tourn_id=2040 |title=Championship: 2023/24: Current table |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=5 May 2024}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=1527&teamTabs=stats&season_id=156 |title=Leicester: Squad details: 2023/24 |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=5 May 2024}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Raikhy, Arjan}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Aston Villa F.C. players
Category:British Asian footballers
Category:English people of Indian descent
Category:Sportspeople of Indian descent
Category:English men's footballers
Category:English people of Punjabi descent
Category:Grimsby Town F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:Stockport County F.C. players
Category:Leicester City F.C. players
Category:Tamworth F.C. players
Category:Footballers from Wolverhampton