When Vimal Yoganathan first arrived at Barnsley, the club’s management recognized his exceptional talent. At just 18 years old, he is celebrated for his speed, mindset, and proficiency in using both feet, but there’s more to his story. Vimal stands out as the first Tamil footballer to play professionally in England, and he is among a limited number of players from South Asian backgrounds in the top four leagues.

“Being a role model is a significant aspect of being a footballer,” he expresses. “I hope to inspire younger players, particularly those from Tamil communities.” Hailing from Sri Lanka, Vimal grew up in Trelawnyd, a small village in northern Wales. He recalls having few friends who shared his background, which made fitting in challenging at times. Although his family was embraced by the local community, he felt a lack of relatable peers in a predominantly white area.

By eight years old, Vimal was scouted by Liverpool and joined their academy. He eventually progressed to Barnsley’s under-16 team and climbed through the ranks. In August, he achieved his first senior goals for the League One club and earlier this year made his debut for the under-19 Welsh national team against Belgium.

Standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall, Vimal’s height was notable at Barnsley, but it was his tenacity that caught the attention of coaches. According to academy director Bobby Hassell, Vimal arrived as a tall and slender teenager who didn’t initially fit the typical image of a footballer. “His aggression set him apart,” Bobby remarked.

As of 2023, there were only 22 professional players with South Asian heritage aged 17 and older across England’s top leagues, representing about 1% of roughly 5,000 professional footballers in the UK. This figure reflects a growth from only 17 players in the previous season.

Vimal shared that being the sole brown player on academy teams became commonplace for him but emphasized the need for change. The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) initiated its Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme (AIMS) in 2021 to support players like him. “It’s encouraging to see an increase in representation,” he noted.

Bobby acknowledged that Vimal faces unique pressures as he represents the British Asian community. Many South Asian parents tend to prioritize academics over sports due to concerns about risks associated with pursuing a football career. However, Vimal appreciates that his own parents were supportive of his dreams.

Bobby believes Vimal is paving the way for other families to recognize opportunities in football beyond education alone. While he prefers not to label himself a “trailblazer,” Vimal emphasizes that being a role model should come naturally. Barnsley’s sporting director Mladen Sormaz describes him as humble but sees great potential for him to become an icon within the sport.

Mladen recalls how fewer British Asian children participated in football as they grew older and hopes that players like Vimal can inspire them to stay engaged with the game. “Having visible role models is crucial,” he says, looking forward to what lies ahead for Vimal and his career.