Ibrahim Afellay

Ibrahim Afellay (born 2 April 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Stoke City and the Dutch national team.

He played youth football at Elinkwijk before joining the PSV youth academy at age 10. After debuting in 2004, he represented PSV for eight seasons, before moving to Barcelona for €3 million in January 2011. Rarely used by Barcelona and marred by injury, he was loaned to Schalke 04 and Olympiacos before signing for Stoke City in 2015.

Making his Netherlands national team debut in 2007, Afellay appeared at the 2010 World Cup, contributing to the Dutch side finishing in second place in the tournament. He was also present at Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, making over 50 appearances in total.

Early career

Afellay is of Moroccan Riffian descent; his parents left their hometown Al Hoceima in the 1960s to work in the Netherlands. He grew up in Overvecht, a neighbourhood in Utrecht with a large immigrant population. Afellay started to play football at local side VSK, but joined USV Elinkwijk after one season.