Brandon Khela

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Brandon Singh Khela
Personal information
Full name Brandon Khela[1]
Date of birth (2005-01-19) 19 January 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Coventry, England
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Ross County
(on loan from Birmingham City)
Number 19
Youth career
2014–2023 Birmingham City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Birmingham City 1 (0)
2024– → Ross County (loan) 12 (0)
International career
2022 England U17 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:56, 27 April 2024 (UTC)

Brandon Singh Khela (born 19 January 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Ross County, on loan from EFL Championship club Birmingham City. In 2022, Khela became the first British South Asian to sign a professional contract with that club.[2] He joined Ross County in January 2024.

Early life[edit]

Khela was born in Coventry, West Midlands. He grew up in a Sikh family in Birmingham and was introduced to football at a young age by his father, Dov Singh Khela.[3] He attended Arden Academy in Solihull.[4]

Youth Career[edit]

He joined Birmingham City's academy as an eight-year-old,[5] and took up a scholarship with the club in 2021.[6] According to the under-18s lead coach Martyn Olorenshaw, Khela "is a creator and scorer of many goals for the team from behind the forwards and his technical ability continues to improve. Brandon also has a fantastic engine on him which makes his defensive work important to the team as well."[6] In the 2021–22 season, Khela played in 14 league matches for Birmingham's U18s as well as 8 for Steve Spooner's development squad.[7] He also trained with the first team, was included in the matchday squad by manager Lee Bowyer for the EFL Championship visit to Stoke City in February 2022,[7] and received a call-up to the England U17 team.[8]

Club career[edit]

Birmingham City[edit]

Khela signed his first professional deal with Birmingham City, to begin in July 2022. Olorenshaw highlighted his attitude and work ethic, which "he backs up ... with serious talent".[9] Khela's signing was celebrated as a significant milestone in the club's history and a source of inspiration for young British South Asians who aspire to play at the highest level.[2]

Khela was included in the party for the first-team's pre-season training camp in Spain in July 2023,[10] and on 8 August 2023, he made his senior debut, replacing Keshi Anderson in the 81st minute of a 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.[11][3] He made his first Championship appearance on 3 October as a late substitute in a 4–1 win at home to Huddersfield Town.[12] He was a regular in the matchday squad for the first three months of the season,[13] and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in November 2023,[5] but made no further appearances for the first team.[13]

Ross County (loan)[edit]

Khela joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on 12 January 2024 on loan for the rest of the season.[14] On 14 April, he came on as a late substitute with Ross County leading Rangers 3–1; although he conceded an 89th-minute penalty for handball, his team held on to beat Rangers for the first time in their history.[15]

International career[edit]

In May 2022, he was called up to the England U17 squad to face Norway and the United States in friendly matches in Marbella.[16] He played in both matches, coming on as a substitute in the 3–0 win against Norway on 4 June and starting in the 2–1 loss to the United States four days later.[17]

Personal life[edit]

Khela's Sikh faith has played a significant role in his life and career. He has spoken about how his faith has helped him to stay focused and maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity.[18] In April 2023, Khela and his younger brother Reiss, an academy player at Leicester City, spoke at a Vaisakhi event hosted by the Football Association at Wembley Stadium.[19]

Khela's signing with Birmingham City was recognised as a historic moment in British football and a source of inspiration for young footballers of South Asian descent.[20][8] He has stated that he wants to be a role model for British South Asians in football.[7]

Career statistics[edit]

As of match played 27 April 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] EFL Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Birmingham City 2021–22[13] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2022–23[13] Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0
2023–24[21] Championship 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 0
Total 1 0 0 0 1 0 — 2 0
Ross County 2023–24[21] Scottish Premiership 12 0 0 0 — — 12 0
Career total 13 0 0 0 1 0 — 14 0
  1. ^ Includes FA Cup and Scottish Cup

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "EFL – Squad List 2022/23: Birmingham City – Under 21 Contract players" (PDF). English Football League. p. 3. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Trehan, Dev (1 July 2022). "Birmingham City: Brandon Khela becomes first British South Asian to sign pro deal at club". Sky Sports News. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b Trehan, Dev (9 August 2023). "Birmingham City: Sikh-Punjabi teenager Brandon Khela makes historic appearance for Blues". Sky Sports News. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Brandon Khela becomes first British Sikh to sign for Birmingham City FC". Brit Asia TV. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Blues' Brandon Khela pens new deal". Birmingham City F.C. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Blues' latest intake of Academy scholars sign". Birmingham City F.C. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Brandon Khela wants to be a role model for British South Asians in football". Birmingham City F.C. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  8. ^ a b Babar, Um-E-Aymen (27 July 2022). "'I'm proud of where I'm from but I want to be recognised for my talent.' – Brandon Khela on his historic signing for Birmingham City". Penalty Online. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  9. ^ Dick, Brian (1 July 2022). "Birmingham City teen takes step closer to a 'momentous occasion'". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  10. ^ Dicken, Alex (14 July 2023). "Birmingham City player ratings vs Cartagena: Tyler Roberts scores and Miyoshi makes debut". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Report: Cheltenham Town 0–2 Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 8 August 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  12. ^ "Birmingham City 4–1 Huddersfield Town". BBC Sport. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d "B. Khela". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  14. ^ Skinner, Andy (12 January 2024). "Ross County complete loan move for Birmingham City teenager Brandon Khela". Press & Journal. Aberdeen. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  15. ^ Vhalk, Paul (14 April 2024). "Ross County score stunning first-ever victory against Rangers". The Press and Journal. Aberdeen. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
  16. ^ Thomas, Ramod (2 July 2022). "Who is Brandon Khela? The first British South Asian who signed professional contract at Birmingham City". Eastern Eye. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Match results Under 17 2020–2030". England Football Online. Chris Goodwin & Glen Isherwood. 22 November 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  18. ^ "Sikhism in football: The Sikh footballers making a name in the game". BBC Football Focus. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Wembley played host to an open iftar for Ramadan and Vaisakhi celebration this month". The Football Association. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  20. ^ Davey, Jacob (1 July 2022). "Brandon Khela becomes first British South Asian baller to sign a pro deal at Birmingham City". Versus. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Games played by Brandon Khela in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
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