Vimal Yoganathan, born on January 13, 2006, in Trelawnyd, Wales, is a promising midfielder currently playing for Barnsley FC. Standing at 1.91 meters, he began his football journey with local clubs before joining Liverpool’s academy at the age of eight. After his tenure at Liverpool, he had a brief stint with Burnley before moving to Barnsley’s under-16 team in 2021.
In 2023, Yoganathan played a pivotal role in Barnsley’s U18 team, contributing to their Professional Development Title win. He made his professional debut on August 8, 2023, in an EFL Cup match against Tranmere Rovers, becoming the first player of Tamil heritage to play a professional senior game in English football.
As of the 2024/2025 season, Yoganathan has made five appearances in League One, totalling 108 minutes of playtime. He has also represented Wales at the under-19 level since March 2024. Despite his lack of playing time, he is well regarded by the club and he has already been monitored by Premier League clubs.
Barnsley is an excellent club for him to progress his career further. League One is a very high standard but is also a great stepping stone to rise higher in the football pyramid. Barnsley is usually fighting for a top 6 finish in League one so he will hope to cement a first-team place very soon!
Yoganathan’s journey is particularly inspiring given the underrepresentation of South Asian players in English football. He aims to serve as a role model and encourage more players from similar backgrounds to pursue the sport.
Playing Style
Vimal Yoganathan is a tall, technically gifted midfielder known for his versatility, composure on the ball, and ability to dictate play from deep positions. Here are some key aspects of his playing style:
Position & Role
- Primarily plays as a central midfielder but can also operate as a defensive midfielder.
- Often deployed as a deep-lying playmaker, controlling the tempo of the game.
- Comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and distributing it efficiently.
Strengths
- Passing & Vision: Has an excellent range of passing, capable of switching play and picking out forward runs.
- Physicality & Presence: At 1.91m, he has a strong aerial presence and can hold his own in duels.
- Defensive Awareness: Reads the game well, intercepting passes and breaking up opposition attacks.
- Composure: Rarely rushes his decisions, showing maturity beyond his years in possession.
Playing Style Comparisons
- His style has drawn comparisons to players like Rodri (Manchester City) and Nemanja Matić due to his calmness, defensive contribution, and ability to distribute the ball from deep.
- Also has shades of Michael Carrick, given his ability to dictate play without being overly aggressive.
Overall, Yoganathan is a promising young midfielder with the potential to develop into a complete deep-lying playmaker or defensive midfielder at the senior level.
Project Future Ballers
Vimal Yoganathan showcased his abilities in the Flicks episode of Project Ballers. This is when professionals take on certain challenges using Flicks products. This usually takes part with the Pro Range, including the Pro Skills Trainer. One challenge was to perfectly weight a pass the ball up the mesh ramp and let it flick back so Vimal could volley it into the net. The net also included the Pro Target Sheet which meant there was a point system depending on where they scored.
Another Challenge was to see how many times the two ballers could rebound the ball off the rebounder within 30 seconds.
Vimal Yoganthan was very assured throughout these challenges and impressed with his calmness and technique. The young Barnsley midfielder will definitely be one to watch in the next few seasons. His ability to train on and off the field, along with his talent will ensure he can play at a very high level!
