Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays as a forward for Manchester United, a club in the Premier League.
He may potentially face disciplinary action following an incident that occurred during the recent match in which Manchester United secured a 3-1 victory over Southampton.
During a goal celebration, he displayed an inappropriate gesture that had previously resulted in penalties for other players.
The incident transpired as Manchester United mounted a comeback after initially trailing, with Amad Diallo playing a pivotal role by scoring an impressive hat-trick. Diallo achieved three goals within 12 minutes, including two late goals, thereby contributing significantly to the team's triumph.
While his teammates engaged in the celebration, Joshua Zirkzee was observed making a gesture that involved grabbing his crotch while facing the audience, a behavior that has attracted scrutiny in professional football.
About Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee was born in Schiedam to a Nigerian mother and a Dutch father. He commenced his football career at the age of five with VV Hekelingen following the family’s relocation to Spijkenisse. After demonstrating considerable aptitude, he advanced to the youth system of Spartaan '20 in 2010, where he played alongside his cousin, Nelson Amadin. In 2013, Zirkzee transferred to ADO Den Haag, ultimately arriving at the Feyenoord youth academy in 2016. In 2017, he departed from the Feyenoord academy in the Netherlands to join the youth setup of Bayern Munich.
On 14 July 2024, Manchester United, a Premier League club, announced the acquisition of Zirkzee, securing a five-year contract for a transfer fee of £36.5 million.
He made his debut as a substitute in the season’s opening match against Fulham on 16 August, scoring the only goal of the match. His first starting appearance for Manchester United occurred on 1 September during a 3–0 loss to their rivals, Liverpool, at Old Trafford.
On 1 December, Zirkzee notably scored two goals, contributing to Manchester United's 4-0 victory over Everton. However, on 30 December, during a 2–0 defeat to Newcastle United, he faced criticism from the Old Trafford crowd when he was substituted in the 33rd minute.
On 12 January 2025, Zirkzee played a crucial role by successfully converting the winning penalty against Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup, culminating in a 5–3 shootout victory for a 10-man Manchester United following a 1–1 draw after extra time.