Jihad Ayoub

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Jihad Ayoub

| image = 2020-21 Ahed vs Ansar 02 (Jihad Ayoub).jpg

| caption = Ayoub with Ansar in 2020

| fullname = Jihad Khaled Ayoub{{GSA player|jihad-ayoub/383193|access-date=23 November 2021}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|3|30|df=y}}

| birth_place = Porlamar, Venezuela

| height = 1.87 m{{Cite web |title=AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qatar Squad Lists |url=https://assets.the-afc.com/2023_AFC_Asian_Cup/Squad_Lists/AFC-Asian-Cup-2023%E2%84%A2-Qatar-Squad-Lists.pdf |access-date=4 January 2022 |publisher=Asian Football Confederation |page=13 |archive-date=5 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240105071439/https://assets.the-afc.com/2023_AFC_Asian_Cup/Squad_Lists/AFC-Asian-Cup-2023%E2%84%A2-Qatar-Squad-Lists.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce14/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021: List of players: Lebanon |publisher=FIFA |page=9 |date=4 December 2021 |access-date=13 December 2022}}

| position = Defensive midfielder, centre-back

| currentclub = Safa

| clubnumber = 7

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Margarita

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = Millwall

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Notts County

| youthyears4 =

| youthclubs4 = Melita

| years1 = 2017–2018

| clubs1 = Ahed

| caps1 = 1

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2017–2018

| clubs2 = → Shabab Sahel (loan)

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| 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 = 4

| goals6 = 0

| nationalyears1 = 2021–

| nationalteam1 = Lebanon

| nationalcaps1 = 23

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| club-update = 6 February 2025

| nationalteam-update = 29 May 2025

}}

Jihad Khaled Ayoub ({{langx|ar|جهاد خالد أيوب}}; born 30 March 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for {{Lebanese football updater|Safa}} club Safa. Born in Venezuela, he plays for the Lebanon national team.

Club career

= Early career =

Ayoub played at youth level for academies in Venezuela, Argentina, England, and Malta.{{Cite web |title=النجمة والأنصار والعهد أبرز المجتهدين |url=https://elmarada.org/123903/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%8A.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123152412/https://elmarada.org/123903/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%85%D8%A9-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%8A.html |archive-date=23 November 2021 |access-date=2021-11-23 |website=elmarada |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2017-01-03 |title=الموقع الرسمي لقناة الجديد, كرة القدم, جهاد ايوب لبناني فنزويلي الى العهد |url=https://www.aljadeed.tv/arabic/sports/soccer/0201201710 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103095529/https://www.aljadeed.tv/arabic/sports/soccer/0201201710 |archive-date=3 January 2017 |access-date=2021-11-23}} He played for his university team in Venezuela before moving on to professional clubs. His youth career includes stints at Margarita in Venezuela, Millwall and Notts County in England, and Melita in Malta,{{Cite web |last=SOLOVENEX |date=2021-05-18 |title=Jihad Ayoub, de Margarita al fútbol libanés |url=https://solovenex.com/jihad-ayoub-de-margarita-al-futbol-libanes/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=SOLOVENEX |language=es}} where he played for their under-21 team.

Ayoub joined Lebanese Premier League side Ahed in January 2017,{{Cite web|last=Lebanon|first=Football|title=جهاد ايوب رسميا الى العهد|url=http://football-lebanon.com/details.php?id=2288|access-date=2021-11-23|website=football-lebanon.com}} helping them lift the league title in 2016–17.{{Cite web|date=2017-04-23|title=العهد يحتفل بلقب الدوري اللبناني باكتساح الأنصار|url=https://archive.anbaaonline.com/?p=520604|access-date=2021-11-23|website=جريدة الأنباء - أرشيف الموقع القديم|language=ar-LB}} 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.{{Cite web|title=الاخاء يقسو على الساحل.. والسلام يتخطى الإصلاح بصعوبة|url=http://lebanonfg.com/single/1487|access-date=2021-11-23|website=lebanonfg.com|language=en}}

= Bekaa =

He moved to Bekaa on a free transfer in summer 2018.{{Cite web|date=2019-07-08|title=تقرير كووورة.. 5 مواهب واعدة تخطف الأنظار في ملاعب الأرز|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=786682|access-date=2021-11-23|website=كووورة}} On 24 February 2019, Ayoub assisted both of Bekaa's goals against Ansar in a 2–2 draw.{{Cite web|date=2019-07-08|title=كووورة يختار التشكيلة المثالية للجولة 16 من الدوري اللبناني|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=790611|access-date=2021-11-23|website=كووورة}} He finished the season with two goals in 20 games,{{Soccerway|481774|access-date=23 November 2021}} and was regarded as one of the club's best-performing players in the 2018–19 season.

= Ansar =

Following a trial with the club,{{Cite web|date=2019-07-09|title=جهاد أيوب يلتحق بتدريبات الأنصار|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=809790|access-date=2021-11-23|website=كووورة}} Ayoub joined Ansar on a two-year contract in May 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-07-09|title=الأنصار يضم جهاد أيوب|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=813626|access-date=2021-11-23|website=كووورة}} Having extended his contract in July 2020,{{Cite web|date=2020-07-03|title=الأنصار اللبناني يجدد عقد جهاد أيوب|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=935269|access-date=2021-11-23|website=كووورة}} Ayoub announced his decision to end his contract in March 2021.{{Cite web|last=Abou Diab|first=Rami|date=2021-03-21|title=Chaos at Ansar|url=https://www.falebanon.com/25878/|access-date=2021-11-23|website=FA Lebanon|language=en-GB}} He returned to the club the same month,{{Cite web|date=2021-03-23|title=تسوية تعيد جهاد أيوب إلى الأنصار|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1014563|access-date=2021-11-23|website=كووورة}} and helped Ansar win the domestic double (league and Lebanese FA Cup) in 2020–21.{{Cite web|date=2021-07-09|title=رسميًا.. جهاد أيوب يجدد عقده مع الأنصار|url=https://www.kooora.com/?n=1047739|access-date=2021-11-23|website=كووورة}} Ayoub renewed his contract in July 2021.

= PSS Sleman =

On 6 July 2022, Ayoub joined Indonesian club PSS Sleman.{{Cite web |date=6 July 2022 |title=Mengenal Jihad Ayoub, Pemain Baru PSS Sleman Asal Lebanon |url=https://jogja.jpnn.com/olahraga/3725/mengenal-jihad-ayoub-pemain-baru-pss-sleman-asal-lebanon |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=jogja.jpnn.com |language=id}}

= Safa =

Ayoub returned to Lebanon on 20 July 2024, joining Lebanese Premier League club Safa.{{Cite web |last=Codeloops |title=الصفاء يضم جهاد أيوب |url=https://football-lebanon.com/post/QPhmQk |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=football-lebanon.com |language=en}}

International career

File:Iran v Lebanon, 29 March 2022 (training; Tasnim) 30 (Jihad Ayoub).jpg in 2022]]

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.{{Cite web|title=Match Report of Egypt vs Lebanon – 2021-12-01 – FIFA Arab Cup – Global Sports Archive|url=https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2021-12-01/egypt-vs-lebanon/2373633/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=globalsportsarchive.com}} In December 2023, Ayoub was included in the Lebanese squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

He scored his first international goal on 4 September 2024 against Tajikistan during the 2024 Merdeka Tournament.

Career statistics

= International =

{{updated|match played 29 May 2025}}{{FA Lebanon|15195|access-date=15 June 2023}}{{NFT player|84805|access-date=15 June 2023}}

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan="5" \|Lebanon \|2021	2	0
2022	2	0
2023	9	0
2024	8	1
2025	2	0
colspan="2" \|Total !23	1

International goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable"
1.	4 September 2024	Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia	{{fb\|TJK}}	align=center\|1–0	align=center\| 1–0	2024 Merdeka Tournament