Indian football is witnessing the emergence of a new generation of young players who are ready to take bigger responsibilities at the professional and international levels. Among the names attracting growing attention is Mohammed Aimen, a talented attacking player whose journey from the Kerala Blasters academy to India’s national-team setup has been remarkably interesting.
Aimen has already experienced several important stages of professional football. He developed through the Kerala Blasters youth system, made his Indian Super League debut, gained international exposure and later earned recognition with India’s U-23 team.
His rise is particularly encouraging because it demonstrates how a young Indian footballer can progress through a structured academy system and eventually compete at a higher level.
Who Is Mohammed Aimen?
Mohammed Aimen is an Indian footballer who primarily operates as a left winger but can also contribute in other attacking positions. Born in January 2003, he developed his football career in Kerala after moving there from Lakshadweep for education.
Interestingly, football was not initially the only sport that interested Aimen. According to an interview with India Today, he and his twin brother Mohammed Azhar initially played cricket before becoming more seriously involved in football. Their father eventually helped introduce them to academy football.
That early change in direction eventually led Aimen toward the Kerala Blasters development system, where he began building the foundations of his professional career.
His Journey Through the Kerala Blasters Academy
Aimen’s story is closely connected to the Kerala Blasters academy.
He and his twin brother Azhar joined the club’s U-15 setup and gradually progressed through the different age groups. The Kerala Blasters system gave them opportunities to play youth football before moving into reserve-team competitions and eventually the senior squad.
This gradual progression was important for Aimen’s development.
Instead of immediately being placed under the pressure of senior professional football, he had opportunities to improve his technical skills and gain experience against players in his age group.
His performances in competitions such as the Reliance Foundation Development League, Kerala Premier League and Next Gen Cup helped him earn greater recognition.
A Valuable European Training Experience
One of the important experiences in Aimen’s early career came in 2022 when he and Azhar travelled to Poland for a three-week training stint with Raków Częstochowa.
The opportunity exposed the young players to a different football environment and training culture. Kerala Blasters described the experience as an opportunity for their academy graduates to gain valuable international exposure.
Aimen later explained that the experience helped him understand differences in speed, facilities, technical training and physical preparation.
Such experiences can be extremely valuable for young Indian footballers because they provide an opportunity to compare their development with players from a different football system.
For Aimen, the trip became another important step toward senior football.
Breaking Into Professional Football
Aimen’s progress eventually earned him a place around Kerala Blasters’ senior team.
He made his official first-team debut for the club in April 2023 during the Super Cup. Later that year, he made his Indian Super League debut against Bengaluru FC.
The ISL represents a major step up from youth football. Young players suddenly face experienced domestic and foreign professionals, making decision-making and physical preparation much more demanding.
Aimen gradually established himself in this environment.
During the 2023-24 ISL season, he made 20 appearances and recorded a goal and an assist, according to FBref.
Those numbers do not tell the entire story. His movement, willingness to attack and ability to create opportunities also contributed to his growing reputation.
What Makes Mohammed Aimen Special?
Aimen’s biggest strength is his attacking mentality.
Kerala Blasters have described him as a left winger who likes to launch attacks from wide areas, feed strikers and create scoring opportunities himself.
His quick feet and willingness to take on defenders make him an interesting attacking option.
Aimen has also spoken about taking inspiration from Neymar, particularly small elements of the Brazilian star’s style. In a 2025 interview with the ISL, he discussed his admiration for Neymar and his desire to incorporate certain aspects of his game.
That does not mean Aimen attempts to copy another player completely. Instead, studying elite attackers can help young footballers understand movement, dribbling and decision-making in the final third.
His Breakthrough With India U-23
A major recent step in Aimen’s development came with India’s U-23 team.
During the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in Qatar in September 2025, Aimen scored twice in India’s 6-0 victory over Brunei. The performance brought significant attention and demonstrated his ability to influence an international match.
India ultimately missed qualification for the tournament despite earning six points, with goal difference proving decisive. For Aimen, however, the campaign provided valuable international experience.
Scoring two goals for the national youth team was also an important confidence boost.
The Senior India Call-Up
Aimen’s performances at U-23 level helped him earn his first call-up to the senior Indian national team in 2025.
The opportunity represented another major milestone in his career. Moving from academy football to the ISL and then the national-team environment within a relatively short period shows the progress he has made.
Training with senior international players can provide valuable lessons about professionalism, tactical preparation and dealing with pressure.
For a young footballer, even being included in the senior setup can be an important learning experience.
His Development With Kerala Blasters
Kerala Blasters have played a major role in Aimen’s rise.
The club has invested heavily in developing young players through its academy and gradually introducing them to senior football. Aimen and his twin brother became examples of that approach, with both eventually earning opportunities with the first team.
Aimen’s 2023-24 campaign was particularly encouraging. He finished the season with more than 1,100 minutes on the pitch, while his attacking contributions increased toward the end of the campaign.
That progression showed why giving young players regular opportunities can be so important.
Challenges Aimen Must Overcome
Despite his progress, Aimen still has several challenges ahead.
Consistency will be one of the most important. Young attacking players can produce spectacular moments, but becoming an established professional requires strong performances over an entire season.
Physical development is another factor. Modern football requires wingers to contribute both offensively and defensively. They must press, track opponents and maintain their intensity throughout matches.
Decision-making in the final third will also become increasingly important. As defenders become familiar with Aimen’s style, he will need to develop different ways of creating opportunities.
Most importantly, he must manage expectations. Being labelled a promising young player can bring pressure, and continued development requires patience.
Why Aimen’s Story Matters for Indian Football
Aimen’s journey represents something bigger than the rise of one footballer.
His career demonstrates the potential of India’s academy system when young players are given opportunities to progress gradually. He moved from youth football to reserve competitions, senior club football and international football.
The journey also highlights the importance of players from regions such as Lakshadweep and Kerala receiving access to professional development pathways.
If more young players can follow similar routes, India’s pool of competitive footballers could become significantly stronger.
Can Mohammed Aimen Become a Star for India?
There is no guarantee that every promising youngster will become an established international player. Indian football is highly competitive, and Aimen will have to maintain his development while competing against experienced players for club and national-team opportunities.
However, his progress provides plenty of reasons for optimism.
He already has professional experience, international youth exposure and a senior-team call-up. His attacking qualities give him a distinctive profile, while his experience in European training environments has added another dimension to his development.
If he continues improving his consistency, physical strength, tactical awareness and final-third decision-making, he could become an important attacking option for India.
The Road Ahead
The coming years could be crucial for Mohammed Aimen.
Regular senior football will be essential for turning potential into sustained performance. Every season provides opportunities to improve his statistics, tactical understanding and ability to handle pressure.
His experience with the India U-23 side has already given him a taste of international football. The next challenge is establishing himself as a reliable senior-level player.
For Indian football fans, his progress will be particularly interesting because he represents the kind of young attacking talent the national team needs for the future.
Conclusion
Mohammed Aimen is one of India’s promising young footballers and a player whose career is developing rapidly. His journey from the Kerala Blasters academy to professional football and the Indian national-team setup demonstrates the value of patience, training and the right opportunities.
His quick feet, attacking confidence and ability to operate from wide positions make him an exciting prospect. His two-goal performance for India’s U-23 side against Brunei and subsequent senior-team call-up added another important chapter to his development.
There is still a long road ahead, and Aimen will need consistency and continued improvement to establish himself at the highest level.
But his journey so far offers plenty of reasons for optimism. If he continues developing his game and handles the growing expectations around him, Mohammed Aimen could become an important name in the next generation of Indian football.
