Jump to content

Notts County Secure Afghanistan International Maziar Kouhyar on One-Year Deal

By PON_News

· 6,001 views

Notts County has acquired the services of Maziar Kouhyar the Afghanistan international player. He has officially put pen to paper on a one-year contract. The club can choose to extend it for another year if they want.

The 27-year-old forward is joining Meadow Lane as a free agent after having an impactful season with Kidderminster Harriers. He really stood out last year, scoring 13 goals and grabbing 12 assists.

Kouhyar's path to professional football in Britain is truly motivating. His family departed Afghanistan in 1999 to escape the Taliban, which was a significant transition. He subsequently achieved a milestone by becoming the initial Afghan-born player to enter professional football in the UK, playing for Walsall in League One.

Just when things were going well and his contract was almost up, he ran into a serious injury that really threw a wrench in things. It was a tough time for him, but Kouhyar has done an awesome job bouncing back and is now working on rebuilding his career in the non-league scene.

Roberto Gagliardi, Notts County’s Head of Football, expressed his enthusiasm about the new signing: “Maziar’s life story and career are filled with examples of tremendous bravery, perseverance, and determination. We are thrilled to give him another chance at EFL football.” Kouhyar was first highlighted by Notts' data model, identifying him as a standout player within a robust Kidderminster side.

“Having had the chance to observe him while monitoring our loanee Ryley Reynolds, it became clear that Maziar possesses both elegance and skill on the ball," said Gagliardi. "He offers a legitimate threat in the final third, whether out wide or in central positions, as evidenced by his impressive double-figure haul of goals and assists last season.”

Gagliardi added, “We’re confident that with the momentum behind him, Maziar will successfully adjust to League Two, and we anticipate collaborating with him during this thrilling new phase of his career.”

Before this chapter, Kouhyar kicked off his pro career with Walsall after coming up through the youth ranks at Coventry City. He got to play 21 times in League One and even scored his first EFL goal. Sadly, he hit a rough patch when an injury sidelined him for quite a while.

His tenacious comeback began with a National League North opportunity at Hereford, a move which saw him eventually join York City. There, Kouhyar became a fan favourite, helping the team to National League promotion and ensuring their stability thereafter.

His professional journey gained momentum after a temporary stint at Hereford. However, the 2024-25 campaign with Kidderminster proved pivotal as he showcased his exceptional abilities and left an indelible mark.

Kouhyar has played for the Afghanistan national team on 10 occasions. He recently joined the squad for a training camp and even featured in a match against Syria.

The new signing highlights Kouhyar's career progression. It provides a reason for Notts County supporters to feel enthusiastic. People anticipate seeing his impact on matches.

The Pride of Nottingham community has been discussing the arrival of Mazier Kouhyar; head into the discussion and share your own thoughts on the signing.

Check our popular "Topic Feed" page, where you can instantly join in with all of our forum topics and even start your own! Join in with PON.

    •
    • Like 14
    • Love 6

    Member Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Eternal Icon

    liampie

    Members

    we have given him a step up, he did well last season and i think our squad is strong enough to bring out the best in others, so i think he will be a very good signing. there is limited risks with free signings, all we can hope is he plays a role in our achievements and hits the ground running.

    •
    • Like 13
    Mentor

    NottsCountyKev

    Members

    Not often you sign a player with such a powerful backstory and the ability to back it up on the pitch. Kouhyar’s journey is nothing short of inspiring, and he seems to be hitting form at the right time in his career. He’ll be hungry to prove himself, especially after spending time away from league football. If he can settle in quickly and build some confidence, I think he could really turn heads. Also helps that he’s already got some EFL experience, so this won’t be completely new to him.

    •
    • Like 6
    • Love 11
    Veteran

    NottsTastic

    Members

    Didn’t know too much about him before, but his story is something else. Proper hope he kicks on this season.

    •
    • Like 9
    Veteran

    Blake

    Members

    Seems like a player with real heart and talent. If he finds form early, he could be massive for us.

    •
    • Like 12
    Eternal Icon

    Robbie

    +Supporters

    Another good acquisition for Notts. He had a great season for Kidderminster just gone with plenty of goals and assists.

    He can play as an attacking midfielder or as a winger. I suspect Notts will want to play him in the number ten position where they hope he can open up defenses & score a few goals too from midfield.

    It is a step up for him to a higher league with Notts & the owners will be hoping he can make a successful transition.

    I think it is very positive that Notts are trying to improve the areas within the team where they were lacking last season. I think that the two signings today go a long way in putting that right.

    •
    • Love 17
    Veteran

    thommo

    Members

    After last season, we needed someone with proper leadership, especially since losing a few experienced heads in recent seasons such as Jim O'Brien. Ollie Norburn feels like the right kind of character, someone who sets standards and keeps the tempo up. His time at Shrewsbury and Blackpool shows he’s more than capable, and even with his injury record, you can tell managers trust him by how often he’s been made captain. A year with the option of another is ideal too, gives both parties something to work towards. I’m excited to see how he gels with our current squad, especially with the younger lads who could really learn from him.

    •
    • Like 5
    • Love 12
    Mentor

    themightymagpies

    Members

    You can tell Kouhyar’s been through a lot in both life and football, which builds a kind of resilience not every player has. The way he performed last season with Kidderminster shows he’s more than capable technically, but it’s his character that impresses me most. To come back from serious injury, drop into non-league, and still push for a return to the EFL says a lot. Hopefully the club gives him the platform to shine because it sounds like he’s ready for the step up.

    •
    • Like 5
    • Love 8
    Experienced

    The Heff

    Members

    I feel more confident about the signing knowing he has performed well before and has goals in him. I don’t put too much weight on players being released, as there are many possible reasons, whether the club couldn’t afford to keep him, he wanted a change, or he didn’t fit their system. That doesn’t mean he will or won’t suit us, but time will tell. For now, I’m happy with the signing.

    •
    • Like 3
    • Love 8

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    Important Information

    Pride of Nottingham uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. To approve, simply continue using the site or click 'I accept' Terms of Use.

    I accept