British-Pakistani footballer Zaiba Ishaque has inked a U21 contract with Manchester United’s women’s team, marking a historic achievement as the first British-Pakistani female footballer to advance through the youth ranks in the English Women’s Super League.
At just 17 years old, Ishaque joins the ranks of a growing number of British South Asian talents making strides in English women’s football. This includes emerging players like Mariam Mahmood at West Bromwich Albion, Layla Banaras at Birmingham City, along with Pakistan national team stars Nadia Khan (Doncaster Rovers Belles), Zahmena Malik (London Seaward), and Amina Hanif (London Bees).
Ishaque’s football journey commenced at a young age when one of her schoolteachers, who also happened to be an academy coach at Burnley FC, spotted her skills on the field and recommended her for the club’s youth development program.
