*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 April 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 October 2023
Muhammad Zulfahmi bin Mohd Arifin (born 5 October 1991), better known as Zulfahmi Arifin or just Zulfahmi, is a Singaporean professional footballer who plays primarily as a defensive-midfielder for Singapore Premier League club Hougang United and the Singapore national team. He is known for technical abilities with set-pieces, playmaking abilities and long range efforts.
Zulfahmi failed to play any part in the first 6 games of the season. He was given his first start against Pahang in the MSL on 16 February 2013. Two more appearances followed until a road traffic accident in mid-April set him back a month.[4] He managed one further start and a substitute appearance on his return as LionsXII won the 2013 Malaysia Super League.
Zulfahmi's potential was recognised as he had a run of six starts in the beginning of the 2014 campaign. Poor performances however meant that he was dropped to the bench in favour of Firdaus Kasman for the next three games.[5] He marked his return to the starting line-up on 22 March by curling a free kick into the PKNS net to score his first LionsXII goal.[6]
Home United
After LionsXII was disbanded, Zulfahmi went to sign for Home United for the 2016 S.League. He made 17 appearances for the protectors before leaving the club at the end of the season.[7]
Hougang United
Zulfahmi signed for the Cheetahs ahead of the 2017 Singapore Premier League season, joining former coach Phillipe Aw.
Chonburi
Zulfahmi's journey to Thailand happened after he made contacts with a Thai agent. Zulfahmi was on trial with second-tier club Angthong who had wanted to start negotiations after a day. However, Zulfahmi, on the advice of his agent, traveled to Chonburi instead for a 4-day trial. After playing 60 minutes in a 2–3 friendly defeat to Port, Chonburi offered him a contract which is only slightly higher than what he received at Hougang.[8]
Zulfahmi became only the third Lion to play in the Thai top tier, after Hassan Sunny and John Wilkinson.[9] Zulfahmi made his debut in a 1–0 loss to Chiangrai United.[10] He has started Chonburi's first two games of the Thai League 1, helping them to a draw and a loss.[11]
After a year back in his native Singapore, helping Hougang to a 3rd-place finish, Zulfahmi found himself back in the Thai League 1 after an agent contacted him about Suphanburi's interest. Suphanburi's coach Adebayo Gbadebo had watched videos of Zulfahmi's previous games before expressing an interest in signing him.[13] Zulfahmi suffered a difficult 2020, playing just 8 of Suphanburi's 15 league matches in a disrupted season, having returned to Singapore in August to be with his ailing mother, who later died from breast cancer. However, he was a fixture of Suphanburi's midfield before and after he returned to Singapore. He started their first four matches before the league's coronavirus-enforced hiatus and, following his return to Thailand, he started three of Suphanburi's last four league games and came off the bench in the other one.[14]
Loan to Samut Prakan City
Zulfahmi signed a 1+1⁄2-season deal with top-tier Thai team Samut Prakan City, after his contract with Thai League 1 side, Suphanburi expired. He will play alongside his international teammate, goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, who joined the club in September.[14]
Sukhothai
On 9 September 2021, Zulfahmi left his parent club, Hougang United to joined Thai League 2 club, Sukhothai which will be his fourth Thai League club. However, Zulfahmi has to serve a 14 days quarantine period. He is the 5th Singaporean player to play overseas in 2021. He make his debut for the club on 25 September 2021 against Chainat Hornbill which resulted in a 2–2 draw. On 17 November 2021, He scored his first goal for the club against Rajpracha in a 4–2 win.
Third spell at Hougang United
On 15 February 2022, Zulfahmi rejoins Hougang United for the 2022 Singapore Premier League season. On 27 February 2022, he make his league return appearances after two years against Lion City Sailors. In his first season back at the club, he helped the club to capture their first ever piece of silverware in the club history winning the 2022 Singapore Cup Final against Tampines Rovers. Zulfahmi was named the club captain from the 2023 Singapore Premier League season onwards.
Bhayangkara
On 9 November 2023, Zulfahmi join Indonesia Liga 1 club, Bhayangkara where he make his debut for the club on the same day in a league match against RANS Nusantara. He became the second singapore to play for the club since Agu Casmir in 2013. Zulfahmi is then being partnered in midfield with world class footballer, Radja Nainggolan at the club.
Fourth Spell at Hougang United
On 29 October 2024, it was announced that Zulfahmi had returned to Singapore to rejoin Singapore Premier League club Hougang United for his fourth spell with the club. He will be replacing midfielder Ajay Robson who is set to be enlisted for National Service in 2025. On the same day, Zulfahmi made his return debut in a 2–1 league defeat against Albirex Niigata (S).
International career
Zulfahmi was first called up to the Singapore national team for a friendly match against Thailand on 24 August 2011.[15] He was also part of the 2012 AFF Championship winning squad although he did not made any appearances in the competition.[8]
Zulfahmi was handed his first international start against Laos on 10 October 2013.[16]
Zulfahmi scored his first goal after 40 appearances for the Lions in a 1–1 draw with Oman on 23 March 2019, scoring a late equaliser from a free-kick in the 2019 AIRMARINE Cup.[18]
