Zeli Ismail
{{short description|Albanian-born English footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name=Zeli Ismail
| image=Zeli Ismail 2019.jpg
| caption=Ismail in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1993|12|12}}
| birth_place = Kukës, Albania
| height={{convert|1.73|m|order=flip}}{{soccerway|268932|accessdate=10 March 2020}}
| position=Attacking midfielder/Winger
| currentclub = Connah's Quay Nomads
| clubnumber = 10
| youthclubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers
| youthyears1 = 2004–2012
| years1 = 2012–2016
| clubs1 = Wolverhampton Wanderers
| caps1 = 9
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2012–2013
| clubs2 = → Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
| caps2 = 7
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2014
| clubs3 = → Burton Albion (loan)
| caps3 = 15
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 2014
| clubs4 = → Notts County (loan)
| caps4 = 14
| goals4 = 4
| years5 = 2015–2016
| clubs5 = → Burton Albion (loan)
| caps5 = 3
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2016
| clubs6 = → Oxford United (loan)
| caps6 = 5
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2016
| clubs7 = → Cambridge United (loan)
| caps7 = 11
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2016–2018
| clubs8 = Bury
| caps8 = 37
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2017–2018
| clubs9 = → Walsall (loan)
| caps9 = 16
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2018–2019
| clubs10 = Walsall
| caps10 = 32
| goals10 = 3
| years11 = 2019–2021
| clubs11 = Bradford City
| caps11 = 14
| goals11 = 1
| years12 = 2021–2022
| clubs12 = Hereford
| caps12 = 11
| goals12 = 0
| years13 = 2022–2025
| clubs13 = Newtown
| caps13 = 60
| goals13 = 10
| years14 = 2025–
| clubs14 = Connah's Quay Nomads
| caps14 = 0
| goals14 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2008
| nationalteam1 = England U16
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2009
| nationalteam2 = England U17
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| club-update = 15:50, 22 April 2024 (UTC)
}}
Zeli Ismail (born 12 December 1993) is a professional footballer who plays as a right midfielder for Cymru Premier club Connah's Quay Nomads. Born in Albania, he has represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level.
Career
Born in Kukës,{{Cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/zeli-ismail/ |title=Zeli Ismail |website=worldfootball.net |language=en |access-date=28 March 2020}} Ismail is a product of Wolverhampton Wanderers' academy, which he joined at the age of 10. The midfielder signed his first professional contract in 2010,{{cite news| title =Wolves sign up Zeli Ismail and Liam McAlinden|publisher=Express & Star| url =https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2010/12/15/wolves-sign-up-zeli-ismail-and-liam-mcalinden/| date=15 December 2010}} and made his senior debut on 25 September 2012 as a substitute in a 6–0 defeat at Chelsea in the League Cup under Ståle Solbakken.{{cite news| title =Chelsea 6–0 Wolves|publisher=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19632463| date=25 September 2012}}
In November 2012 he joined League One side Milton Keynes Dons on loan until 2 January 2013.{{cite news| title=Zeli Ismail joins MK Dons from Wolves on loan|publisher =BBC Sport| url =https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20464996| date=23 November 2012}} Here, he made his league debut on 24 November 2012 as a substitute in a 5–1 win over Colchester.{{cite news| title=MK Dons 5–1 Colchester|publisher=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20374531| date=24 November 2012}} Upon the end of his initial loan period he was immediately re-loaned for the remainder of the campaign,{{cite news| title=MK Dons re-sign Zeli Ismail from Wolves|publisher=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20914327| date=4 January 2013}} but this was ended after a month as Ismail failed to establish himself in their first team.{{cite news| title=Ismail returns to Wolves|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| url =http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/ismail-returns-to-wolves-080213-644882.aspx| date=8 February 2013}}
Following Wolves' relegation to League One at the end of the 2012–13 campaign, Ismail was cited by new manager Kenny Jackett as being part of his plans for the first team.{{cite news| title=The Potential of Youth|publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C| url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/the-potential-of-youth-260613-881188.aspx| date=26 June 2013}} He made his first league appearance for Wolves on 10 August 2013 when he started a 4–0 win against Gillingham, in what was the first of nine league appearances.{{cite news| title=Wolves 4–0 Gillingham|publisher=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23558680| date=10 August 2013}}
Despite these games, Ismail did not hold down a regular place in the Wolves' team and, after not gaining any playing time at all during December 2013, he was loaned to League Two club Burton Albion in January 2014 in a one-month loan deal.{{cite news|title=Zeli Ismail joins Burton from Wolves|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25651932|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 January 2014}} He scored his first senior goal on 8 February 2014 to earn a 1–0 victory at Morecambe.{{cite news| title=Morecambe 0–1 Burton|publisher=BBC Sport| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25994559|date=8 February 2014}} His loan stay was subsequently extended until the end of the season, allowing Ismail to play in the League Two Play-off Final for the Brewers, where they lost 1–0 to Fleetwood.
In July 2014, Ismail signed a six-month loan deal with League One Notts County.{{cite web|publisher=BBC Sport|title=Zeli Ismail: Notts County sign Wolves winger on loan|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/28324833|date=18 July 2014}} He scored four times in sixteen appearances before suffering a knee injury against Accrington in November 2014 that meant he had to return to his parent club and undergo surgery.{{cite news| title=Knee injury rules Wolves winger Zeli Ismail out for six months|publisher=Express & Star| url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2014/12/01/knee-injury-rules-wolves-winger-zeli-ismail-out-for-six-months/|date=1 December 2014}}
On 29 July 2015, it was announced that Ismail would return to former club Burton Albion on loan until January.{{Cite news |title=ZELI ISMAIL RETURNS TO BURTON ALBION |url=http://www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk/news/article/zeli-ismail-burton-albion-2578823.aspx |publisher=Burton Albion FC |date=29 July 2015}} This spell was however hampered by an ankle injury.{{cite news| title=Fresh injury blow for Burton's Zeli Ismail|publisher=Eurosport| url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/fresh-injury-blow-for-burton-s-zeli-ismail_sto4968906/story.shtml|date=28 October 2015}} Having recovered, he joined Oxford United in February 2016 on a month's loan,{{cite web |url=http://www.oufc.co.uk/news/article/oxford-united-wolves-ismail-2932076.aspx |title=Oxford United sign Zeli Ismail |date=1 February 2016 |access-date=1 February 2016}} during which time he made 6 substitute appearances (5 of them in League matches).{{cite news |url=http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/oxfordunited/usnews/14318709.Oxford_United_send_Zeli_Ismail_back_to_Wolverhampton_Wanderers/ |title=Oxford United send Zeli Ismail back to Wolverhampton Wanderers |newspaper=Oxford Mail |first=David |last=Pritchard |date=3 March 2016 |access-date=3 March 2016}} Ismail was almost immediately loaned out again; this time joining another League Two side, Cambridge United, until the end of the 2015–16 season,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35736396|title=Cambridge: Wolves loan out winger Zeli Ismail until end of season after Oxford loan|date=5 March 2016|publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=5 March 2016}} where he made 11 appearances, scoring once against Morecambe.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36021675
|title=Cambridge 7-0 Morecambe
|publisher=BBC Sport
|date=19 April 2016
|access-date=31 August 2016}}
At the conclusion of the campaign his parent club announced they would not be taking up the option of offering Ismail a new contract.{{Cite news |title=Contract decisions revealed|url=http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/news-contract-decisions-revealed-3105709.aspx |publisher=Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C |date=9 May 2016}} He made 12 appearances in total for the club, but none above League One level.
On 25 June 2016 he signed for Bury.{{cite news
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36626298
|title=Bury: Ben Williams, Zeli Ismail & Niall Maher join League One side
|publisher=BBC Sport
|date=24 June 2016
|access-date=31 August 2016}} He scored his first goal for Bury in an EFL Trophy tie against Morecambe on 30 August 2016.{{cite news
|url=http://www.buryfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/report-bury-4-morecambe-1-3281759.aspx
|title=Report: Bury 4 Morecambe 1
|publisher=buryfc.co.uk
|date=30 August 2016
|access-date=31 August 2016}}
On 31 August 2017, Ismail joined fellow League One club Walsall on loan until January 2018.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41118044 |title=Walsall: Burnley forward Daniel Agyei and Bury winger Zeli Ismail on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 August 2017 |access-date=1 September 2017 }} Ismail scored his first goal for Walsall in an EFL Trophy tie against West Bromwich Albion Under-23s on 19 September 2017.{{cite web
|url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2017/september/match-report-for-walsall-vs-west-bromwich-albion-u21-on-19-sep-17/
|title=Walsall 3-1 West Brom U21s
|publisher=saddlers.co.uk
|date=19 September 2017 |access-date=20 September 2017}}
He was released by Bury at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44081823|title=Neil Danns: Bury offer new contract to veteran midfielder|date=11 May 2018|access-date=11 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}}
After making sixteen league appearances on loan for the club, Ismail joined Walsall permanently on 26 June 2018, signing a one-year deal.{{cite news |last1=Briggs |first1=Daniel |title=Zeli Ismail re-signs! |url=https://www.saddlers.co.uk/news/2018/june/zeli-ismail-re-signs |access-date=26 June 2018 |work=Walsall FC}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44619278|title=Zeli Ismail: Walsall re-sign former Wolves winger from Bury|date=2018-06-26|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2018-06-27|language=en-GB}}
He was released by Walsall at the end of the 2018–19 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48313315|title=Walsall: New Saddlers boss releases 11 players following relegation to League Two|date=17 May 2019|access-date=20 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}
In June 2019 it was announced that he would sign for Bradford City on 1 July 2019, after signing a one-year contract with the club.{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/17699009.bradford-city-sign-former-walsall-winger-zeli-ismael/|title=Bradford City sign former Walsall winger Zeli Ismael|work=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=11 June 2019 |access-date=11 June 2019}} He made his debut for the club on 3 September 2019 in an EFL Trophy match against Bolton Wanderers and made his league debut for the club on 7 September 2019 in a 2–1 win against Northampton Town, where he was also sent off.{{cite web |title=Bradford City 2 -1 Northampton Town |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49533194 |website=bbc.co.uk |access-date=9 September 2019 |date=7 September 2019}}
On 12 May 2021 he was one of nine players that Bradford City announced would leave the club on 30 June 2021 when their contracts expire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/news/2021/may/nine-bantams-to-depart/|title=NINE BANTAMS TO DEPART|website=www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/sport/19296490.bradford-city-release-nine-players-contracts-expire/|title=City wave goodbye to nine - including long-serving defensive duo|website=Bradford Telegraph and Argus|date=12 May 2021 }} He subsequently joined National League North club Hereford.{{cite web | url=https://www.herefordfc.co.uk/news-bulls-bring-in-zeli-ismail/ | title=NEWS Bulls Bring in Zeli Ismail | website=Hereford FC | date=21 August 2021 | accessdate=6 September 2021}}
On 31 January 2022, Ismail signed for Cymru Premier side Newtown.{{Cite web |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2022/01/31/former-wolves-starlet-zeli-ismail-signs-for-cymru-premier-side-newtown/ |title=Former Wolves starlet Zeli Ismail signs for Cymru Premier side Newtown |publisher=Express & Star |first=Jonny |last=Drury |date=31 January 2022 |accessdate=3 February 2022}}
In May 2025 he moved to Connah's Quay Nomads.{{cite web |title=Zeli confirmed as Nomads newest recruit |url=https://www.the-nomads.co.uk/news/2025-05-22/zeli-confirmed-as-nomads-newest-recruit/ |publisher=Connah's Quay Nomads |access-date=29 May 2025 |date=22 May 2025}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 19 August 2020}}
| 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"|FA Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="5"|Wolverhampton Wanderers
|2012–13{{soccerbase season|67639|2012|access-date=18 October 2017}} |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14{{soccerbase season|67639|2013|access-date=18 October 2017}}
|9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2014–15{{soccerbase season|67639|2014|access-date=18 October 2017}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16{{soccerbase season|67639|2015|access-date=18 October 2017}}
|Championship |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| Milton Keynes Dons (loan)
|League One |7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Burton Albion (loan)
|15 | 3 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2{{efn|Appearances in League Two play-offs}} | 0 | 17 | 3 | |||
| Notts County (loan)
|League One |14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FLT|Appearance in Football League Trophy}} | 0 | 16 | 4 | |
| Burton Albion (loan)
|League One |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3 | 0 | ||
| Oxford United (loan)
|League Two |5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=FLT}} | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| Cambridge United (loan)
|League Two |11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Bury
|2016–17{{soccerbase season|67639|2016|access-date=18 October 2017}} |League One |16 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT|Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy}} | 1 | 19 | 4 | |
| 2017–18{{soccerbase season|67639|2017|access-date=18 October 2017}}
|League One |21 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 4 | |
| Walsall (loan)
|League One |16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 2 | 20 | 3 | ||
| rowspan="2"|Walsall
|2018–19{{soccerbase season|67639|2018|access-date=12 August 2018}} |League One |32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 38 | 4 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!48 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 58 | 7 | |
| Bradford City
|2019–20{{soccerbase season|67639|2018|access-date=9 September 2019}} |League Two |11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|name=EFLT}} | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Newtown
|Cymru Premier |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0|12 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!172 | 16 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 197 | 20 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players?p=341670 England profile] at the FA
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ismail, Zeli}}
Category:Sportspeople from Kukës
Category:English men's footballers
Category:England men's youth international footballers
Category:Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. players
Category:Burton Albion F.C. players
Category:Notts County F.C. players
Category:Oxford United F.C. players
Category:Cambridge United F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:Hereford F.C. players
Category:Newtown A.F.C. players
Category:National League (English football) players
Category:English Football League players
Category:Albanian emigrants to England
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Cymru Premier players