Who is Aashir Salim? Odisha FC's latest Qatar-based Indian recruit

Aashir Salim joins Odisha FC ahead of the 2026-27 season

With the summer transfer market race heating up, Odisha FC have entered the race and signed multiple players to improve their squad. One such recruitment is of the 20-year-old, Qatar-born Indian midfielder Aashir Salim Vazhappilli.

The Juggernauts have signed Vazhappilli from the Qatari first division football club, Al-Sailiya SC as he joins them ahead of the 2026-27 season.

This comes at as an exciting news not only for the Odisha FC fans but also the Indian football fans as Aashir Salim Vazhappilli is eligible to represent India U-23 since he holds an Indian passport and has got the clearance from the Qatar FA.

A glance at Aashir Salim’s career so far

Aashir Salim Vazhappilli, is a 20-year-old midfielder born in Doha, Qatar to Indian parents who has throughout been a part of the Qatar football ecosystem inspired by philosophy of the Aspire Academy. He is a very press resistant modern central midfielder who is tactically very disciplined as well.

He began his time in Al-Sailiya SC back in 2021 and was part of the U-23 squad for them. Vazhappilli made his senior team debut in March 2024 in the QFA Cup when he played for the club and also made appearances in the second division that season ultimately even winning the Qatar second division title.

He signed a long-term contract with Qatar football club Al-Sailiya SC in the summer of 2025 which would have gone till June 2030, however now Odisha FC have acquired the services of the midfielder making the entire Indian football fraternity excited.

How can this signing help Odisha FC & Indian football

The arrival Aashir Salim Vazhappilli brings excitement to the Indian football fraternity as he joins Odisha FC after spending his early years of footballing career in Qatar. For Odisha FC, his signing can be very crucial as the young midfielder can play even in the midfield and defense if needed.

His tactical approach and press resistant play style makes him a perfect specimen to control the midfield as either a holding midfielder or even play as a box-to-box midfielder if required similar to the profile of Frenkie De Jong. His arrival to the Odisha FC squad boosts the overall balance of the team both on and off the pitch.

More than just Odisha FC, this is good news for Indian football as the player is eligible to represent India U-23 since he holds an Indian passport and has received clearance from the Qatar FA.

Making players of his kind interested to represent the National team is very important as this not only increases competitiveness but also brings in the much-needed quality to the team. After having spent entire of his football career in Qatar this move is a positive one for both the club and Indian football.

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