Ikhsan Fandi

In March 2013, Ikhsan and older brother Irfan Fandi had an opportunity to secure their first overseas trial, with Hércules, a professional club playing in the Spanish second division. However, the pair ultimately failed to secure contracts with the club due to issues relating with visas. Irfan and Ikhsan left the club after contracts could not be secured.[2]

Later in 2013, the pair managed to sign for Chilean side A.C. Barnechea, having secured two-year contracts with the Chilean Primera División club.[3]

Ikhsan and Irfan then joined Chilean Primera División club Universidad Católica.[4]

Ikhsan returned to Singapore and signed for Home United together with his brother Irfan ahead of the 2016 S.League season. He made his debut in a 2–2 draw against Warriors FC, coming on as a substitute for Khairul Nizam in the 85th minute. However, he was away for National Service together with Irfan so he only managed to end the season with 4 appearances and 0 goals.

In 2017, it was announced that Ikhsan would sign for the under-23 football team, Young Lions FC ahead of the 2017 S.League season.[5] It was revealed on 17 March 2017 that, although Ikhsan has yet to make an appearance for his new club, his former club, Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, is interested in re-signing Ikhsan and his brother Irfan after they finish their national service obligations.[6] 5 games into the season and with the club still pointless, Ikhsan has still to make an appearance.[7] On 23 April 2017, Ikhsan made his debut for the Young Lions against Tampines Rovers. In total, Ikhsan played 10 league games for the Young Lions while serving his national service as an infantry trooper.[8] Following the conclusion of the season, it was reported that Ikhsan, along with brother Irfan, is set for a trial with English Championship side Leeds United in March, after the end of his national service.[9]

Ikhsan scored his professional goal in game week 7 against Hougang United. He also assisted with another goal.[10] He stayed on with the Young Lions for the 2018 Singapore Premier League season and has scored 7 goals as of September 2018.[11]

In 2019, Ikhsan travelled to Norway for trials for the clubs there. After impressing in his stint there, Ikhsan was offered a 2-year contract with the newly promoted Norwegian First Division club Raufoss IL, making him the first Singaporean to play in Europe in 30 years. Ikhsan played his first match for the club in a friendly against Mjondalen IF on 12 January. He came on as a substitute in the 64th minute in the 3–1 loss.[12] He scored his first goal for the club in a friendly match on 25 January 2019 in a 6-1 demolition of Elverum FC; smashing in a rebound off a save from the goalkeeper to score Raufoss’ third goal.[13]

Ikhsan made his league debut on 8 April 2019, against Sandefjord Fotball, replacing Anton Henningsson. Ikhsan ended his first season with Raufoss with 6 goals and 1 assist in 28 matches.[14]

On March 1, 2020, Eliteserien club IK Start invited Ikhsan for a three-day trial followed by a training camp from March 5 to 13 in Marbella, Spain, where they were scheduled to play three friendlies. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Start played only one match - a 2–0 win over fellow Norwegian side Grorud IL - and Ikhsan scored during his 75-minute outing against the newly promoted second-tier outfit. Start coach Jóhannes Harðarson was impressed with his performance and cited a possible transfer. However, with the league being delayed, The Norwegian Football Federation imposing a training ban on clubs until the end of the month and the transfer window closing on April 1, the move to the top flight club was held up.[15][16] The move to the IK Start eventually failed to materialise after the club and player could not agree on salary terms and contract length.[17]

Ikhsan scored his first goal for the club in the season in his 5th appearance and 1st start of the season when he climbed highest to glance in a cross from right-back Edvard Race in the 38th minute to give Raufoss the lead in a 3–1 win against Asane on 30 August 2020.[18][19]

Ikhsan secured a transfer D-day move on 5 October 2020 from Raufoss to fellow Norwegian second-tier side FK Jerv before the transfer window closed and signed a contract until 2022.[20][21] FK Jerv is understood to have paid Raufoss over US$50,000 with a sell-on clause for Ikhsan.[22] He made his debut off the bench for his new club just 2 days after signing, in a league match against Hamkam.[22] He scored his first goal for the club on his full debut in a 4–2 win against his former club Raufoss on October 10, 2020.[23] He made his second successive start and scored in a 2–1 win over Ullensaker/Kisa IL. He timed his run to head in a cross from the right by Ghanaian midfielder Michael Baidoo, scoring his second goal for the club in his third game and helping his new club to their fourth successive victory in the league.[24][25] Ikhsan notched his 3rd and 4th goal for his new club in just his 5th game, helping the club to a 4–2 win against Øygarden FK, with a 50th minute tap-in, before heading in his second from a corner in the 64th minute.[26] Ikhsan then went on an eight game goal drought before notching his 5th goal for the club in the final game of the season. He came on at half-time and equalised from close range in the 90th minute against Stjørdals/Blink IL. Ikhsan has called it the "most important of his career", after the result preserved FK Jerv's place in the Norwegian second tier.[27]

Ikhsan was part of the Singapore U16 which won third placed in the 26th edition of the Lion City Cup in 2015. He scored a brace against Liverpool U15. The Singapore side were 3-0 down at half time but Ikhsan came on and scored a hat trick which resulted the game to end 3-3. Both teams went on to penalties and Singapore lost to the English team by 5–3 on penalties to clinch third.

He was called up to the Singapore under-22 team ahead of the 2017 SEA Games and broke his duck by converting a penalty against India before hitting two scorchers from distance in a 4-1 thumping of Brunei in the AFC Under-23 Championship qualifiers in July.[8] He played all 4 of the team's games at the 2017 SEA Games, scoring one goal.[28]

Ikhsan playing for Singapore in 2018

Ikhsan was called up to the national team for the friendly against Hong Kong and the 2019 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Turkmenistan on 31 August and 5 September respectively.[29] He made his debut against Hong Kong after coming on for Khairul Amri in the 71st minute.[30] He scored his first international goal while winning his 5th cap on 7 September 2018 in an international friendly against Mauritius.[31] He scored his second goal in the following game, helping Singapore to a 2–0 win over Fiji in a friendly match.[32] He notched his third goal in his 8th cap against Cambodia.[33]

Ikhsan made his AFF Championship debut in the 2018 campaign on 9 November, with a 1–0 win over Indonesia. He scored his first competitive goals for Singapore in a 6-1 demolition of Timor-Leste in the 2018 AFF Championship, getting on the score sheet twice.[34] He notched his eighth goal for Singapore in only his eighteenth cap when he scored in a 2–1 win over Yemen in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match.[35]

As of match played 13 Dec 2020[36]

• Young Lions are ineligible for qualification to AFC competitions in their respective leagues.
• Raufoss are ineligible for qualification to UEFA competitions in their respective leagues.

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.[37]

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	7 September 2018	Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore	Mauritius	1–1	1–1	Friendly
2.	11 September 2018	Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore	Fiji	2–0	2–0	Friendly
3.	16 October 2018	Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, Cambodia	Cambodia	2–1	2–1	Friendly
4.	21 November 2018	National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore	Timor-Leste	3–1	6–1	2018 AFF Championship
5.				4–1
6.	5 September 2019	National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore	Yemen	1–0	2–2	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
7.	15 October 2019	National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore	Uzbekistan	1–1	1–3	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
8.	19 November 2019	Shaikh Ali Bin Mohammed Al-Khalifa Stadium, Muharraq, Bahrain	Yemen	1–0	2–1	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

As of match played 8 September 2019. Appearances and goals by national team and year

As of match played 8 June 2019.

International goals by date, venue, opponent, score, result and competition

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 February 2017	Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Choa Chu Kang, Singapore	India	1–0	1–0	Friendly
2	18 August 2017	Shah Alam Stadium, Selangor, Malaysia	Laos	2–0	2–0	2017 Southeast Asian Games
3	24 March 2019	MFF Football Centre, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia	North Korea	1–0	1–1	2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualification
4	7 June 2019	Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore	Philippines	2–0	3–0	Merlion Cup
5	9 June 2019	Jalan Besar Stadium, Jalan Besar, Singapore	Thailand	1–0	1–0	Merlion Cup
6	5 December 2019	Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines	Brunei	2–0	7–0	2019 Southeast Asian Games
7	5 December 2019	Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines	Brunei	6–0	7–0	2019 Southeast Asian Games
8	5 December 2019	Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila, Philippines	Brunei	7–0	7–0	2019 Southeast Asian Games

Singapore U22

• Merlion Cup: 2019