Omar Faraj
{{short description|Palestinian footballer (born 2002)}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Omar Faraj
| image = Omar Faraj (Sweden U21 vs Moldova U21, 13 October 2023).jpg
| caption = Faraj in 2023
| fullname =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|3|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden
| height = 1.75m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Degerfors IF
| clubnumber = 19
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2013
| youthclubs1 = Vasalund
| youthyears2 = 2013–2016
| youthclubs2 = AIK
| youthyears3 = 2016–2019
| youthclubs3 = Brommapojkarna
| years1 = 2020–2021
| clubs1 = Brommapojkarna
| caps1 = 36
| goals1 = 14
| years2 = 2021–2022
| clubs2 = Levante B
| caps2 = 29
| goals2 = 7
| years3 = 2022
| clubs3 = Levante
| caps3 = 1
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2022
| clubs4 = → Degerfors (loan)
| caps4 = 16
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2023–2024
| clubs5 = AIK
| caps5 = 36
| goals5 = 4
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = Zamalek
| caps6 = 2
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2025–
| clubs7 = → Degerfors (loan)
| caps7 = 1
| goals7 = 5
| nationalyears1 = 2022–2023
| nationalteam1 = Sweden U21
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalyears2 = 2023
| nationalteam2 = Sweden
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2024–
| nationalteam3 = Palestine
| nationalcaps3 = 5
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| club-update = 27 January 2025
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Omar Faraj ({{langx|ar|عُمَر فَرَج}}; born 9 March 2002) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Swedish Allsvenskan club Degerfors IF, on loan from Egyptian Premier League club Zamalek. Formerly a two-time international for Sweden in friendlies, he represents Palestine since 2024.
Club career
=Early career and Brommapojkarna=
Faraj was born in Stockholm to Palestinian parents, and was an AIK and IF Brommapojkarna youth graduate. He made his first team debut on 14 June 2020, starting and being sent off in a 1–0 Ettan Norra away win over IK Frej.
Faraj scored his first senior goal on 28 June 2020, netting his team's second in a 3–3 home draw against Team TG FF.{{cite web|url=https://www.aktuellanyheter.se/sport/28-jun-2020/if-brommapojkarna-team-thorengruppen-ff-hallands-lan-alexander-nilsson-karlslunds-if-hfk/team-tg-tappade-ledning-till-oavgjort-mot-brommapojkarna|title=Team TG tappade ledning till oavgjort mot Brommapojkarna|trans-title=Team TG lost the lead to a draw against Brommapojkarna|publisher=Aktuella Nyheter|language=sv|date=28 June 2020|accessdate=20 May 2022}} He finished his first senior season with five goals, and renewed his contract until 2023 on 18 March 2021.{{cite web|url=https://bpfotboll.se/forening/omar-faraj-forlanger/|title=Omar Faraj förlänger|trans-title=Omar Faraj renews|publisher=IF Brommapojkarna|language=sv|date=18 March 2021|accessdate=20 May 2022}}
Faraj scored a brace in a 4–1 home routing of IFK Haninge on 2 May 2021,{{cite web|url=https://www.aftonbladet.se/sportbladet/a/Vq7laJ/omar-faraj-i-malform-nar-brommapojkarna-vann|title=Omar Faraj i målform när Brommapojkarna vann|trans-title=Omar Faraj in goal form as Brommapojkarna win|publisher=Sport Bladet|language=sv|date=2 May 2021|accessdate=20 May 2022}} and also netted a hat-trick in a 6–0 thrashing of Täby FK late in the month.{{cite web|url=https://www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/ettan/jag-borde-explodera-kanner-att-det-ar-mitt-ar/|title="Jag borde explodera – känner att det är mitt år"|trans-title="I should explode – feel like it's my year"|publisher=Expressen|language=sv|date=3 June 2021|accessdate=20 May 2022}}
=Levante=
On 6 August 2021, Faraj moved abroad and signed a five-year contract with La Liga side Levante UD, being initially assigned to the reserves in Segunda División RFEF.{{cite web|url=https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/omar-faraj-se-une-a-las-filas-del-atletico-levante-ud|title=Omar Faraj se une a las filas del Atlético Levante UD|trans-title=Omar Faraj joins the ranks of Atlético Levante UD|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=6 August 2021|accessdate=20 May 2022}} He was the B-side's top goalscorer during the season with seven goals, as the team was unable to avoid relegation.
Faraj made his first team – and La Liga – debut on 20 May 2022, coming on as a late substitute for Alejandro Cantero in a 4–2 away success over Rayo Vallecano, as the Granotes were already relegated.{{cite web|url=https://www.marca.com/futbol/primera-division/rayo-vs-levante/cronica/2022/05/20/6287f1c446163fe97e8b4578.html|title=El Levante se va de Primera con una dulce victoria|trans-title=Levante bid farewell from Primera with a sweet victory|publisher=Marca|language=es|date=20 May 2022|accessdate=20 May 2022}}
On 21 July 2022, Faraj was loaned to Degerfors IF back in his home country, until December.{{cite web|url=https://www.levanteud.com/es/info/el-delantero-omar-faraj-se-marcha-cedido-al-equipo-sueco-degerfors-if-tras-el-acuerdo-con-el-levante-ud|title=El delantero Omar Faraj se marcha cedido al equipo sueco Degerfors IF tras el acuerdo con el Levante UD|trans-title=Forward Omar Faraj moves out on loan to Swedish club Degerfors IF after the agreement with Levante UD|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=21 July 2022|accessdate=10 August 2022}}
= AIK =
On 26 October 2022, it was officially announced that Faraj would join his boyhood club AIK on a permanent deal in January 2023, signing a three-year contract in the process.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-26 |title=Omar Faraj klar för AIK Fotboll |trans-title=Omar Faraj signs for AIK |url=https://www.aikfotboll.se/nyheter/omar-faraj-klar-for-aik-fotboll-2022-10-26 |access-date=2023-01-08 |website=AIK Fotboll |language=sv}}
=Zamalek=
In September 2024, Faraj joined Egyptian side Zamalek by signing a contract until June 2027.{{cite web |url=https://www.kingfut.com/2024/09/06/zamalek-sign-omar-faraj-2/ |title=OFFICIAL: Zamalek announce signing of Palestinian forward Omar Faraj |publisher=KingFut |date=6 September 2024 }}
On 12 January 2025, Faraj returned to Degerfors IF on loan until 31 July 2025. The club was freshly promoted to the Swedish top tier Allsvenskan.{{cite web|publisher=Degerfors IF|url=https://www.degerforsif.se/degerfors-lanar-omar-faraj/|title=Degerfors lånar Omar Faraj|trans-title=Degerfors loans Omar Faraj|date=12 January 2025|access-date=8 February 2025|language=sv}} On 30 March 2025, Faraj played against Halmstads BK, scoring all 5 goals for Degersfors IF in a 0-5 win at the Örjans Vall stadium.{{Cite web |title=Halmstads BK vs Degerfors - live score, predicted lineups and H2H stats |url=https://www.fotmob.com/matches/degerfors-vs-halmstads-bk/1tow3v#4692738 |access-date=2025-03-31 |website=FotMob |language=en}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwAVhUECtbA |title=Halmstads BK - Degerfors IF (0-5) {{!}} Höjdpunkter |date=2025-03-30 |last=G3 |access-date=2025-03-31 |via=YouTube}}
International career
=Sweden=
Faraj made his full international debut for Sweden on 9 January 2023, replacing Hugo Larsson 68 minutes into a friendly 2–0 win against Finland.{{Cite web |title=Sverige - Finland - Matchfakta - Svensk fotboll |url=https://www.svenskfotboll.se/matchfakta/sverige-finland-landskamper-herr-senior/5386999/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=www.svenskfotboll.se |language=sv}}
=Palestine=
Born to parents with Palestinian descent, Faraj is also eligible to represent Palestine. On 2 June 2024, he received his first call up to the Palestine national team for the World Cup qualification games against Lebanon and Australia.{{Cite web|title=PFA announces 27-man squad for upcoming WCQs vs. Lebanon and Australia|url=https://footballpalestine.com/pfa-announces-27-man-squad-for-upcoming-wcqs-vs-lebanon-and-australia/|date=2 June 2024|website=Football Palestinian}}
Career statistics
= Club =
{{updated|match played 30 March 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/omar-faraj/646563/|title=Omar Faraj|website=Soccerway|accessdate=30 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Svenska Cupen}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="4"|Brommapojkarna
|2019 |colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||||
| 2020
|Ettan |23 | 5 | 2 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in Superettan promotion play-offs}} | 0 | 27 | 6 | ||
| 2021
|Ettan |13 | 9 | 1 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 11 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!36 | 14 | 6 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | 44 | 17 | ||
| Levante II
|29 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 7 | ||||
| Levante
|1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| Degerfors (loan)
|2022 |16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 16 | 4 | |||
| rowspan="4"|AIK
|2022 |Allsvenskan |colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 1 | ||||
| 2023
|Allsvenskan |24 | 3 | 6 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 30 | 5 | |||
| 2024
|Allsvenskan |13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 14 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 4 | 11 | 5 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 48 | 9 | |||
| Zamalek
|2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2{{efn|Appearances in CAF Confederation Cup}} | 1 | 1{{efn|Appearance in CAF Super Cup}} | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| Degerfors (loan)
|2025 |Allsvenskan |1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 7 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!122 | 34 | 20 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 147 | 45 |
{{notelist}}
= International =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Appearances and goals by national team and year {{NFT player|89715|access-date=6 June 2024|Omar Faraj}} !National team !Year !Apps !Goals |
| Sweden
|2023 |2 |0 |
| Palestine
|2024 |3 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!5 !0 |
|---|
Honours
Zamalek
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{BDFutbol|300971}}
- {{Soccerway|omar-faraj/646563}}
{{Degerfors IF squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faraj, Omar}}
Category:Swedish people of Palestinian descent
Category:Palestinian people of Swedish descent
Category:Footballers from Stockholm
Category:Palestinian men's footballers
Category:Palestine men's international footballers
Category:Swedish men's footballers
Category:Sweden men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:IF Brommapojkarna players
Category:Atlético Levante UD players
Category:Levante UD footballers
Category:Ettan Fotboll players
Category:Segunda Federación players
Category:Egyptian Premier League players
Category:Dual internationalists (men's football)
Category:Swedish expatriate men's footballers
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Swedish expatriate sportspeople in Egypt
Category:Palestinian expatriate men's footballers
Category:Palestinian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Category:Palestinian expatriate sportspeople in Egypt
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain