Jariyah Shah was born in Australia to parents of Pakistani descent. The young, exciting midfielder was signed from Doncaster Rovers by The Red Devils in a six-figure deal.
Jariyah Shah is the son of an ex-footballer who plied his trade for Armthorpe Welfare FC.
Before his popular move to Manchester United, Jariyah had previously faced rejection from two elite football teams. Looking past the rejection, he has now earned a five-year scholarship deal at the Premier League club where he can showcase his talent.
Jariyah Shah’s profile summary
| Full name | Jariyah Shah |
| Nickname | Jariyah Shah |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 2009 |
| Place of birth | Australia |
| Current residence | Bawtry, U.K |
| Nationality | English |
| Ethnicity | Pakistani |
| Religion | Muslim |
| Father | Tak Shah |
| Profession | Footballer |
Jariyah Shah’s background
Shah was born in 2009 in Australia to former Armthorpe Welfare FC player Tak Shah. Jariyah Shah’s parents moved from Australia to the United Kingdom and settled in Bawtry with their family.
Like his father, Jariyah Shah loved football from a tender age, and he joined the local town club Doncaster Rover’s academy at 9.
Jariyah Shah’s ethnicity
So, where is Jariyah Shah from? The young footballer hails from Bawtry, England, and has resided there since his family relocated to the United Kingdom.
However, Jariyah Shah’s ethnicity is Pakistani, with his father descending from the Asian continent.
Although there is little to no public information about Jariyah Shah’s family or siblings, he is a devoted practising Muslim who observes all its traditions.
Jariyah Shah’s Doncaster Rovers career
Jariyah Shah’s footballing journey wasn’t smooth, and the young midfielder was rejected by both Sheffield Wednesday and United respectively at a young age. Becoming a professional footballer is often difficult, marred with many hurdles.
In a recent statistics study, 70% of 4,109 academy players registered at the Category One academies failed to earn a professional contract at a Premier League or EFL club.
The number translates to nearly 2000 hopeful academy players being let go, with only one in 10 making more than 20 appearances in the top four tier Elite English Football.
However, with encouragement and support from his father, Jariyah joined Doncaster Rovers’ academy aged 9. He put behind the disappointments and shone in Doncaster Rovers’ colours, banging in several goals and providing assists.
Jariyah caught the eyes of Manchester United scouts, who signed the midfielder in April 2023 alongside two other talents, Zac Watson and Neithan Barbosa, in a six-figure move.
Manchester United Move
The new Manchester United Academy midfielder will don the number 8 on his shirt following his move from Doncaster Rovers.
Jariyah Shah was also handed a scholarship by Manchester United alongside his compatriots as a package in the new deal. He will have the chance to play alongside Club legend Wayne Rooney’s son, among others.
Jariyah Shah is a practising Muslim
As a devoted Muslim, Shah’s father, Tak, was happy with the Manchester United backroom staff who tended to his son and gave him time off during the 30-day Ramadan fast.
He also reinstated how the club helped them settle down in Manchester during their move in Easter.
Jariyah Shah’s England under-15 call-up
Jariyah was included in the team sheet following his move to play against Real Madrid and Barcelona in the UEFA Youth Champions League. He also participated in the England Under-15 Youth Camp.
The transition was a dream come true for Jariyah, who had previously tasted rejection at a tender age when he was let go by both Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday.
A former footballer himself, Jariyah’s father, Tak Shah, was very thankful for his son landing the opportunity. Tak Shah, a semi-professional footballer for Armthorpe Welfare FC, stated that he would continue to support his son’s transition to becoming an elite footballer.
Have your say
Will Jariyah Shah become the Red Devil’s new star, replicating the fete of Academy prodigies like Mason Greenwood or club legends such as Paul Scholes?
