Video: Meet the Syrian refugee Bayer Leverkusen want to sign – but can't

Mohammed is an exceptional talent who won the Gold Cup as the best player at the Asian U17 Championship.

He has been forced to leave Syria due to the Civil War – a war which took the life of a former team-mate who was killed by a bomb – and now resides as a refugee within Germany. Although he is being courted by Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund, his status means he is unable to be offered a contract. Furthermore, he won't be allowed to compete at the Under-17 World Cup being held next month in Chile. 

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Joe Brewin

Joe was the Deputy Editor at FourFourTwo until 2022, having risen through the FFT academy and been on the brand since 2013 in various capacities. 


By weekend and frustrating midweek night he is a Leicester City fan, and in 2020 co-wrote the autobiography of former Foxes winger Matt Piper – subsequently listed for both the Telegraph and William Hill Sports Book of the Year awards.