Jarma Mohamed earns Somalia recall after app-led move to Jersey Bulls

Jersey Bulls midfielder Jarma Mohamed has been recalled to Somalia's squad for this month's Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Ghana, BBC Sport reported. The 21-year-old's international involvement follows a move to the amateur club arranged through a football recruitment app, after spells in the youth systems of Liverpool, Manchester City and Wigan Athletic.

In an interview with BBC Sport's Brent Pilnick, Mohamed described how the Player platform helped connect him with Jersey Bulls during the summer. He had been taking part in showcase matches and considering his options, including a possible move abroad. The club was searching for players through the app, and Player's owner put the two parties in contact.

The move also involved finding work away from playing. Mohamed told the BBC that Jersey Bulls do not pay their players, but a coaching job was arranged that suited his qualifications. He holds a Uefa C licence and now works with young players on the island while playing in midfield for the Isthmian League South Central club, in English football's eighth tier.

Mohamed's route to Jersey began in Liverpool, where he grew up in Toxteth. He spent time with Everton and Liverpool as a child, chose Liverpool at nine and joined Manchester City at 11. A scholarship at Wigan followed, giving him two years of full-time football. After his release in 2024, he played for Bamber Bridge and Newcastle Town before the opportunity with Jersey Bulls emerged.

His eligibility for Somalia comes through his grandfather, who moved to Liverpool. Mohamed made his international debut against Mauritius in March, during the tie that took Somalia into the final stage of Afcon qualifying for the first time. The teams drew both matches goalless before Somalia advanced on penalties. According to the BBC, Somalia were ranked 200th in the world, the lowest-ranked nation to reach that stage.

Mohamed described a national squad drawn heavily from the Somali diaspora, with players arriving from several European countries alongside those based in Somalia. He credited that group's unity with strengthening his motivation to pursue his career. Despite defeats against Gambia and Ivory Coast in their opening group matches, he told the BBC that qualification remained the team's objective, rather than simply gaining international experience.