Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Brandon Khela[1] | ||
Date of birth | 19 January 2005 | ||
Place of birth | Coventry, England | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team |
Ross County (on loan from Birmingham City) | ||
Number | 19 | ||
Youth career | |||
2014–2023 | Birmingham City | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2023– | Birmingham City | 1 | (0) |
2024– | → Ross County (loan) | 12 | (0) |
International career | |||
2022 | England U17 | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:56, 27 April 2024 (UTC) |
Brandon Singh Khela (born 19 January 2005) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Ross County, on loan from EFL Championship club Birmingham City. In 2022, Khela became the first British South Asian to sign a professional contract with that club.[2] He joined Ross County in January 2024.
Khela was born in Coventry, West Midlands. He grew up in a Sikh family in Birmingham and was introduced to football at a young age by his father, Dov Singh Khela.[3] He attended Arden Academy in Solihull.[4]
He joined Birmingham City's academy as an eight-year-old,[5] and took up a scholarship with the club in 2021.[6] According to the under-18s lead coach Martyn Olorenshaw, Khela "is a creator and scorer of many goals for the team from behind the forwards and his technical ability continues to improve. Brandon also has a fantastic engine on him which makes his defensive work important to the team as well."[6] In the 2021–22 season, Khela played in 14 league matches for Birmingham's U18s as well as 8 for Steve Spooner's development squad.[7] He also trained with the first team, was included in the matchday squad by manager Lee Bowyer for the EFL Championship visit to Stoke City in February 2022,[7] and received a call-up to the England U17 team.[8]
Khela signed his first professional deal with Birmingham City, to begin in July 2022. Olorenshaw highlighted his attitude and work ethic, which "he backs up ... with serious talent".[9] Khela's signing was celebrated as a significant milestone in the club's history and a source of inspiration for young British South Asians who aspire to play at the highest level.[2]
Khela was included in the party for the first-team's pre-season training camp in Spain in July 2023,[10] and on 8 August 2023, he made his senior debut, replacing Keshi Anderson in the 81st minute of a 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Cheltenham Town at Whaddon Road.[11][3] He made his first Championship appearance on 3 October as a late substitute in a 4–1 win at home to Huddersfield Town.[12] He was a regular in the matchday squad for the first three months of the season,[13] and signed a three-and-a-half-year contract in November 2023,[5] but made no further appearances for the first team.[13]
Khela joined Scottish Premiership club Ross County on 12 January 2024 on loan for the rest of the season.[14] On 14 April, he came on as a late substitute with Ross County leading Rangers 3–1; although he conceded an 89th-minute penalty for handball, his team held on to beat Rangers for the first time in their history.[15]
In May 2022, he was called up to the England U17 squad to face Norway and the United States in friendly matches in Marbella.[16] He played in both matches, coming on as a substitute in the 3–0 win against Norway on 4 June and starting in the 2–1 loss to the United States four days later.[17]
Khela's Sikh faith has played a significant role in his life and career. He has spoken about how his faith has helped him to stay focused and maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity.[18] In April 2023, Khela and his younger brother Reiss, an academy player at Leicester City, spoke at a Vaisakhi event hosted by the Football Association at Wembley Stadium.[19]
Khela's signing with Birmingham City was recognised as a historic moment in British football and a source of inspiration for young footballers of South Asian descent.[20][8] He has stated that he wants to be a role model for British South Asians in football.[7]
Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | EFL Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Birmingham City | 2021–22[13] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
2022–23[13] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
2023–24[21] | Championship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
Ross County | 2023–24[21] | Scottish Premiership | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
Career total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 |