Mehdi Ghayedi (; born 5 December 1998) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a winger or second striker for UAE Pro League club Al-Nasr and the Iran national team.
Club career
Iranjavan Bushehr Ghayedi was born in Bushehr and began his career at the youth level with local side Iranjavan Bushehr. After his promotion to the senior squad, he was named the 2016–17 Azadegan League Young Player of the Season for scoring 10 league goals.
Esteghlal
On 8 June 2017, Ghayedi signed a three-year contract with Esteghlal. Upon signing, he was given the number 16.
At the start of the 2017–18 season, the FFIRI barred Ghayedi from playing for Esteghlal, along with club teammates Majid Hosseini and Omid Noorafkan, as the three were expected to join the Iran under-23 training camp. However, the order was cancelled on 29 July 2017, with Ghayedi missing only the first week of the new season. He made his debut for Esteghlal as a substitute on 4 August 2017 in a 0–0 draw against Esteghlal Khuzestan, becoming the youngest league player to ever play for the club. Despite limited minutes, Ghayedi was praised on his debut for his skills and effort.
Ghayedi made his first start for the club in a 3–0 victory over Sepahan on 6 December 2017. On 25 January 2018, he was named man of the match for his performance in a 4–0 victory against Pars Jonoubi Jam, during which he provided an assist and won a penalty kick.
On 29 January 2018, Ghayedi was involved in a serious car crash in his hometown of Bushehr, along with friends and a cousin, who died a few days later. As a result of the accident, Ghayedi required surgery on his spleen and was ruled out for the rest of the season. A day later, Esteghlal beat Sanat Naft in Hazfi Cup, and Ghayedi's teammates dedicated the victory to him.
Shabab Al Ahli During the summer of 2021, Ghayedi was heavily linked with a move to Qatari side Al-Gharafa. However on 23 August 2021, he signed for Emerati side Shabab Al Ahli on a five-year contract.
International career
Youth Ghayedi was selected by manager Amir Hossein Peiravani to join the Iran under-20 team for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup. After sitting on the bench for Iran's opening match against Costa Rica, Ghayedi made his tournament debut against Zambia, playing for 18 minutes in Iran's 4–2 defeat. He also played for a few minutes against Portugal as Iran lost the match and was knocked out of the competition.
Senior
On 8 October 2020, Ghayedi made his senior international debut in a friendly against Uzbekistan.
Style of play Ghayedi often uses nutmeg skill for dribbling in one-on-one situations. He is also known for his use of long range shots.
Personal life
Political views On 24 January 2026, Ghayedi shared on Instagram a poem by the 11th-century Persian poet Ferdowsi, "Surely, come to mourn with us... from the sight of the blood that has fallen to the earth." He did so in reaction to a video from the 2025–2026 Iranian protests showing a father in Kahrizak searching for the body of his son, who was killed by regime forces. On 31 January, rumors began circulating that Ghayedi would withdraw from the national team in response to the government's suppression of the protests; however, the FFIRI dismissed the claims as false.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsgoalsIranjavan2016–17Azadegan League291010––3010Esteghlal2017–18Persian Gulf Pro League1202010–1502018–19Persian Gulf Pro League1032030–1532019–20Persian Gulf Pro League30105263–41152020–21Persian Gulf Pro League2965063–409Total8119142166–11127Shabab Al Ahli2021–22UAE Pro League224311000265Esteghlal (loan)2022–23Persian Gulf Pro League291250–103512Kalba FC (loan)2023–24UAE Pro League251233006134162024–25UAE Pro League23162200102619Total48285500716034Al-Nasr2025–26UAE Pro League204000052256Career total2297728817613328794
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsIran2020212021612023202024157202520202641Total3110
Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ghayedi goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Mehdi GhayediNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Koševo City Stadium, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina2–02–0Friendly 2Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain9–010–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification 3Al Rayyan Training, Al Rayyan, Qatar4–05–0Friendly 45–0 5Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar3–04–12023 AFC Asian Cup 6Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar1–01–02023 AFC Asian Cup726 March 2024Ashgabat Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan1–01–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification810 September 2024Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates1–01–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification914 November 2024New Laos National Stadium, Vientiane, Laos1–03–22026 FIFA World Cup qualification1031 March 2026 Corendon Airlines Park, Antalya, Turkey 5–0 5–0 2026 Jordan International Tournament
Honours
Esteghlal Hazfi Cup: 2017–18 Iranian Super Cup: 2022
Individual Persian Gulf Pro League most assists: 2019–20 AFC Best Young Player of the Year: 2020 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2023
References
External links