# Mukhtar Ali

Mukhtar Abdullah Ali (Arabic: مختار عبد الله علي, born 30 October 1997) is a Saudi Arabian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Saudi Arabia national team and for Al-Ettifaq.

## Club career
### Chelsea

In 2008, Ali joined Chelsea at under-11 level from Leyton Orient and progressed through the club's academy system. He was part of the Chelsea youth side which recorded back to back triumphs in the FA Youth Cup in 2015 and 2016. With 42 appearances in all competitions he was the second-leading appearance maker in the academy and was also nominated for International Somali Sportsman of the Year.

### Vitesse

On 29 January 2017, Ali joined Vitesse on loan for the remainder of the 2016–17 campaign. On 19 February 2017, Ali made his Vitesse debut in their 1–0 home defeat against Ajax, replacing Marvelous Nakamba in the 84th minute. On 4 February 2017, he played his first match for Jong Vitesse against SV Spakenburg. Ali went onto appear in five more league games during his loan spell.
On 17 July 2017, Vitesse permanently signed Ali on a three-year deal.

### Al-Nassr

On 31 August 2019, Al-Nassr signed Mukhtar Ali on a one-year deal from Vitesse. On 29 January 2022, he renewed his contract with Al-Nassr until 2025 and was loaned out to Al-Tai. On 29 August 2022, Mukhtar Ali rejoined Al-Tai on a one-year loan. On 7 September 2023, Mukhtar Ali joined Al-Fateh on a one-year loan.

### Al-Ettifaq

On 29 January 2025, Ali joined Al-Ettifaq on a four-and-a-half year deal.

## International career

Ali represented England at both under-16 and under-17 level and was also eligible to represent Somalia, the country of his parents. However, he pledged his allegiance to the Saudi Arabia national team, and made his senior debut on 7 October 2017 against Jamaica. This was possibly based on the player's assertion that he was instead born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

## Career statistics

    As of match played 27 May 2024.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Vitesse (loan) | 2016–17 | Eredivisie | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Vitesse | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Vitesse | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 |
| Al-Nassr | 2019–20 | Saudi Pro League | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | — | 29 | 1 |
| Al-Nassr | 2020–21 | Saudi Pro League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Al-Nassr | 2021–22 | Saudi Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Al-Nassr | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Al-Nassr | Total | Total | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| Al-Tai (loan) | 2021–22 | Saudi Pro League | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 2 |
| Al-Tai (loan) | 2022–23 | Saudi Pro League | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 28 | 2 |
| Al-Tai (loan) | Total | Total | 38 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 39 | 4 |
| Al-Fateh (loan) | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 108 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 129 | 6 |
* ↑ Includes KNVB Cup, King Cup
* ↑ Appearance in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
* 1 2 3 4 Appearances in AFC Champions League

## Honours
### Club

Chelsea Reserves
* FA Youth Cup: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
* UEFA Youth League: 2015–16
Vitesse
* KNVB Cup: 2016–17
Al-Nassr
* Saudi Super Cup: 2019, 2020
* Arab Club Champions Cup: 2023