Sylhet, Bangladesh – English Premier League footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury has arrived in Bangladesh, marking his first visit to the country in nearly 11 years. He reached Sylhet Osmani International Airport on Monday, greeted by enthusiastic fans eager to welcome the footballer of Bangladeshi origin. Choudhury was seen waving to the crowd that had gathered to greet him.
From the airport, Hamza Choudhury traveled to his ancestral home in Bahubal, Habiganj. Huge crowds gathered there as well, with people holding flowers, flares, and the Bangladeshi flag to welcome him.
The excitement surrounding Hamza Choudhury is palpable across Bangladesh, with many considering him the biggest star in the country’s sports scene right now. Some fans have even drawn comparisons to the renowned cricketer Shakib Al Hasan. When asked about this comparison at his home in Habiganj on Monday evening, Hamza Choudhury laughed, stating he doesn’t believe he has reached that level yet. He acknowledged Shakib Al Hasan as a megastar who has dominated world cricket for many years and felt it was not appropriate to compare himself. However, many believe Hamza Choudhury is being modest, as he understands Shakib Al Hasan’s stature in Bangladesh, having watched him play and realizing his impact even before landing in the country.
Born in Leicestershire, UK in 1997, Hamza Dewan Choudhury’s mother is Bangladeshi, and though his biological father is Grenadian, he was raised by his stepfather, Morshed Dewan Choudhury. His family’s home is in Bahubal, Habiganj, and he first visited Bangladesh within his first year of birth, returning many times since and becoming fluent in Sylheti.
Choudhury’s football journey began at the Leicester City academy at the age of seven. He made his professional debut for Burton Albion in 2016 while on loan from Leicester City. After being recalled by Leicester City in 2017, he made his Premier League debut on November 28, 2017, against Tottenham Hotspur. He has played in the world’s most popular club competition for six seasons with Leicester City. Additionally, he has participated in four seasons in the Championship, the second tier of English football, including the current 2024-25 season. Throughout his professional career, Hamza has primarily been a Leicester City player, with loan spells at Albion (2016-17), Watford (2022-23), and his current club, Sheffield United (2024-25).
While he represented England at the under-21 level, Choudhury’s desire to play for the senior England team did not materialize. Consequently, driven by his own interest, his family’s wishes, and the initiative of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), he initiated the process to play for Bangladesh. Discussions with Hamza and his family began during Kazi Salahuddin’s tenure as BFF president. To be eligible, he needed to obtain Bangladeshi citizenship and have at least one parent with a Bangladeshi passport. He received his Bangladeshi passport in August 2024, and the English FA granted him international clearance in September 2024. The BFF then sent the necessary documents to FIFA, which approved his eligibility to represent Bangladesh in December 2024. In a video message, Hamza expressed his excitement, saying, “I am going to play for Bangladesh. I hope to see you soon.”
Hamza Choudhury, who primarily plays as a defensive midfielder – a position comparable to those of Aurélien Tchouaméni, Joshua Kimmich, or Casemiro – is expected to make his debut for Bangladesh on March 25 in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against India. While his main role is to protect the defense and control the game, he can also play as a right-back. He has played 203 professional club matches, winning the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021. His performance is often evaluated based on his passing accuracy, tackles, and duel success rates. Notably, in the 2024-25 season, he has achieved high pass completion rates for both Sheffield United (80%) and Leicester City (89%), along with a 61% tackle success rate, 63% ground duel success rate, and 47% aerial duel success rate.
After spending a day in his village, Hamza Choudhury will travel to Dhaka on Tuesday or Wednesday. He will join the national football team camp there. Coach Javier Cabrera held a press conference in Dhaka on Wednesday, where he mentioned that while Hamza plays predominantly as a defensive midfielder, his exact position for the match against India will be decided after observing him in training. The team will then fly to Kolkata on Thursday morning, before proceeding to Shillong for the match against India.
Football fans in Bangladesh are eagerly anticipating Hamza Choudhury’s debut for the national team. His arrival has generated significant excitement and hope for the future of Bangladeshi football, with his Premier League experience seen as a major asset for the team, especially in matches against higher-ranked opponents where defensive solidity is crucial.