Deniz Undav
Undav with VfB Stuttgart in 2023
Personal information
Full name Deniz Undav[1]
Date of birth (1996-07-19) 19 July 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth Varel, Germany
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position Forward
Team information
Current team
VfB Stuttgart
Number 26
Youth career
2002–2006 TSV Achim
2007–2012 Werder Bremen
2012–2014 SC Weyhe
2014–2015 TSV Havelse
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2017 TSV Havelse 67 (32)
2017–2018 Eintracht Braunschweig II 18 (9)
2018–2020 SV Meppen 69 (23)
2020–2022 Union SG 65 (43)
2022–2024 Brighton & Hove Albion 22 (5)
2023–2024 → VfB Stuttgart (loan) 30 (18)
2024– VfB Stuttgart 56 (28)
International career‡
2024– Germany 11 (9)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:51, 16 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:00, 20 June 2026 (UTC)

Deniz Undav ( German pronunciation: [ˈdɛnɪs ˈʊndaːf]; born 19 July 1996) is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart and the Germany national team.

Early and personal life

Undav was born on 19 July 1996 in Varel and grew up in Achim, near Bremen.[3] His parents are Kurdish Yazidis from the village of Isikli (Işıklı) in the Viranşehir district of Urfa Province, in southeastern Turkey.[4][5] His grandfather emigrated to Germany under the pressure that followed the 1980 military coup, at a time when many Yazidis were leaving the area.[3] Undav is one of five children, and his brother Rocat also plays for TSV Achim.[6] While playing in his early career, he worked full-time at a factory.[7]

Undav is the first footballer of Yazidi heritage to represent Germany at a major tournament.[8]

Club career

Early career (2002–2020)

Undav began playing at his hometown club, TSV Achim, as a child. In 2007, Werder Bremen youth coach Frank Braakmann recruited him to the club's academy after watching him at a junior tournament in Achim.[9] Werder released him in 2012 because of his height. He then joined SC Weyhe and TSV Havelse, where he made his senior debut in the 2014–15 Regionalliga. He later played for Eintracht Braunschweig II and SV Meppen.[10]

Union Saint-Gilloise (2020–2022)

Undav with Union SG in 2020

In April 2020, it was announced Undav would leave 3. Liga club SV Meppen at the end of the 2019–20 season. With his Meppen contract running out, he would join Belgian First Division B side Union Saint-Gilloise on a three-year deal.[11][12]

On 13 March 2021, Undav won the championship with Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian First Division B, ending his season on 17 goals in 26 games.

On the 15th matchday of the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A season, Undav scored a quadruple, for the first time in his career, away at K.V. Oostende in the 7–1 victory.[13] He finished the season as the league's top scorer with 18 goals and was named Belgian Footballer of the Year.[14]

Brighton & Hove Albion (2022–2023)

Undav during BHA5 v Espanyol 1 preseason 3

On 31 January 2022, Undav joined Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for €7 million,[15] signing a four-and-a-half-year deal. He immediately returned to Union Saint-Gilloise on loan until the end of the 2021–22 season.[16]

Undav made his Albion debut in the opening game of the 2022–23 season, coming on as a substitute for Danny Welbeck in stoppage time as Brighton beat Manchester United 2–1 for its first victory at Old Trafford.[17] He scored his first goal for the club in his second appearance, opening the scoring in a 3–0 away win over League One side Forest Green Rovers in the second round of the EFL Cup on 24 August.[18] He did not score again until 7 January 2023, when he came off the bench to add Brighton's final goal in a 5–1 away win over Championship side Middlesbrough in the third round of the FA Cup.[19] He made his first Premier League start on 4 February, creating chances without scoring before being substituted in a 1–0 home win over Bournemouth.[20] On 19 March, he opened the scoring with a rebound from a Moisés Caicedo shot and later assisted an Evan Ferguson goal in a 5–0 FA Cup quarter-final win over League Two side Grimsby Town.[21] Undav scored his first Premier League goal on 29 April, opening the scoring and adding a second in a 6–0 win over Wolves.[22] He scored again on 14 May, adding Albion's second in a 3–0 away win over Arsenal.[23] Four days later, he scored at both ends in a 4–1 away defeat at Newcastle, heading into his own net from a corner before pulling a goal back.[24]

VfB Stuttgart (2023–present)

2023–2024: Initial loan spell

On 2 August 2023, Undav returned to Germany, signing for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart on a season-long loan for the 2023–24 season.[25] He made his Stuttgart debut on 16 September 2023, in a Bundesliga match against 1. FSV Mainz 05. On 27 January 2024, he scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick in a 5–2 win over RB Leipzig.[26] In his debut Bundesliga season, he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists, and Stuttgart finished second in the league to secure Champions League qualification for the first time since 2009–10.[27]

2024–present: Permanent signing and contract extension

On 9 August 2024, after his loan spell, Undav signed for VfB Stuttgart permanently on a three-year contract.[28] On 17 September, he scored on his Champions League debut in a 3–1 away defeat to reigning champions Real Madrid.[29]

On 23 October 2025, during an away match against Fenerbahçe in Istanbul, Undav was subjected to anti-Kurdish racism from sections of the stadium crowd following an on-field altercation.[30] The hostility escalated further on social media, where he faced continued racist abuse. Undav later publicly thanked fans for an outpouring of support in the wake of the match.[31]

On 14 February 2026, Undav made his 100th competitive appearance for Stuttgart, scoring his 48th goal for the club in a 3–1 win over 1. FC Köln.[32] On 9 May, he scored in a 3–1 win over Bayer Leverkusen to set a personal Bundesliga single-season record of 19 goals.[33]

On 1 June 2026, VfB Stuttgart announced that Undav had extended his contract until June 2029, with an option for a further season.[34]

International career

Undav was eligible to represent either Germany or Turkey internationally.[35][36]

In March 2024, aged 27 and having never been capped at youth level, Undav received his first call-up to the German national team ahead of friendlies against France and the Netherlands.[37] He made his debut for Germany in a 2–0 win against France, coming on for Kai Havertz in the 80th minute.[38] Undav was named in Germany's squad for UEFA Euro 2024.[39] He scored his first international goal in a 2–2 draw against the Netherlands on 10 September 2024.[40]

Undav was named in Germany's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[41] On 14 June, he appeared as a substitute in Germany's opener, scoring the sixth goal and providing two assists in an eventual 7–1 win over Curaçao,[42] becoming the second German player to assist two goals in a World Cup match as a substitute, after Pierre Littbarski.[43] In his second World Cup appearance, he scored a brace and earned Man of the Match in a 2–1 victory over Ivory Coast, securing his country's first qualification for the knockout stage since 2014.[44]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 23 May 2026[45][46]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Havelse 2014–15 Regionalliga Nord 3 0 0 0 — — — 3 0
2015–16 Regionalliga Nord 32 16 2 0 — — — 34 16
2016–17 Regionalliga Nord 32 16 3 5 — — — 35 21
Total 67 32 5 5 — — — 72 37
Eintracht Braunschweig II 2017–18 Regionalliga Nord 18 9 0 0 — — — 18 9
Meppen 2018–19 3. Liga 35 6 3 1 — — — 38 7
2019–20 3. Liga 34 17 1 0 — — — 35 17
Total 69 23 4 1 — — — 73 24
Union SG 2020–21 Belgian First Division B 26 17 3 1 — — — 29 18
2021–22[c] Belgian Pro League 39 26 2 1 — — — 41 27
Total 65 43 5 2 — — — 70 45
Brighton & Hove Albion 2022–23 Premier League 22 5 5 2 3 1 — — 30 8
VfB Stuttgart (loan) 2023–24 Bundesliga 30 18 3 1 — — — 33 19
VfB Stuttgart 2024–25 Bundesliga 27 9 4 2 — 6[d] 1 1[e] 1 38 13
2025–26 Bundesliga 29 19 6 3 — 10[f] 3 1[e] 0 46 25
Stuttgart total 86 46 13 6 — 16 4 2 1 117 57
Career total 327 158 32 16 3 1 16 4 2 1 380 180
  1. ^ Includes Lower Saxony Cup, DFB-Pokal, Belgian Cup, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes EFL Cup
  3. ^ Part of season spent on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ a b Appearance in DFL-/Franz Beckenbauer Supercup
  6. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 20 June 2026[47]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Germany 2024 5 3
2025 1 0
2026 5 6
Total 11 9
As of match played 20 June 2026. Germany score listed first, score column indicates score after each Undav goal.[47]
List of international goals scored by Deniz Undav
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 September 2024 Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands 4  Netherlands 1–1 2–2 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A
2 11 October 2024 Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina 5  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 2–1 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A
3 2–0
4 30 March 2026 MHP Arena, Stuttgart, Germany 7  Ghana 2–1 2–1 Friendly
5 31 May 2026 Mewa Arena, Mainz, Germany 8  Finland 1–0 4–0 Friendly
6 3–0
7 14 June 2026 NRG Stadium, Houston, United States 10  Curaçao 6–1 7–1 2026 FIFA World Cup
8 20 June 2026 BMO Field, Toronto, Canada 11  Ivory Coast 1–1 2–1 2026 FIFA World Cup
9 2–1

Honours

Union SG

  • Challenger Pro League: 2020–21

VfB Stuttgart

  • DFB-Pokal: 2024–25

Individual

  • Belgian Pro League top goalscorer: 2021–22
  • Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year: 2021–22[14]
  • Bundesliga Player of the Month: November 2023, January 2024,[48] March 2026[49]
  • VDV Bundesliga Newcomer of the Season: 2023–24[50]
  • VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2025–26[51]

References

  1. ^ "2022/23 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Denis Undav: Overview". Premier League. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Anti-Kurdish hate campaign against soccer player Deniz Undav". ANF News. October 2025. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  4. ^ "OFFICIEEL: Union denkt toch al vooruit en trekt topschutter uit Duitsland aan". voetbalprimeur.be (in Dutch). 7 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Diyarbakır Karacadağ'dan Alman Milli Takımına uzandı". CEGA Medya (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Deniz Undav ist für die WM 2026 nominiert: So blicken Heimatverein und Familie auf den Spieler". ZDFheute (in German). 26 May 2026. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  7. ^ "World Cup 2026: Deniz Undav's journey from factory floor to World Cup star". BBC Sport. 21 June 2026. Retrieved 21 June 2026.
  8. ^ Brautmeier, Lisa (24 June 2024). "„Wir sind angekommen": Warum den Celler Eziden der EM-Einsatz vom deutschen Nationalspieler Deniz Undav so viel bedeutet" (in German). Cellesche Zeitung.
  9. ^ "Über Achim und Weyhe zur WM: Deniz Undavs märchenhafte Geschichte". Weser-Kurier (in German). Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  10. ^ "Stuttgarts neuer Hoffnungsträger" (in German). Sport1. 4 August 2023. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
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  12. ^ "Meppen enttäuscht: Top-Torjäger Undav geht nach Belgien". kicker (in German). 7 April 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Deniz Undav a réalisé l'un de ses plus gros matches avec l'Union". dhnet.be (in French). 22 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Deniz Undav is Profvoetballer & Tessa Wullaert Profvoetbalster van het Jaar". SPORZA. 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 8 November 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
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  20. ^ "More Mitoma magic as Albion leave it late". Brighton & Hove Albion. 4 February 2023. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
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  23. ^ "It's three and easy as magnificent Albion move up to sixth". Brighton & Hove Albion. 14 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  24. ^ "Late goals make it tough on the Tyne for Albion". Brighton & Hove Albion. 18 May 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2024. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
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  26. ^ "VfB Stuttgart watscht RB Leipzig ab: Deniz Undav erzielt Dreierpack - erster Pflichtspielsieg im neuen Jahr" (in German). Eurosport. 27 January 2024. Archived from the original on 27 January 2024. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  27. ^ Bissett, Luke (21 May 2024). "Deniz Undav's dream debut season in the Bundesliga". FotMob. Archived from the original on 3 June 2024. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  28. ^ "VfB verpflichtet Deniz Undav" [VfB signs Deniz Undav] (in German). VfB Stuttgart. 9 August 2024. Archived from the original on 9 August 2024. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  29. ^ "VfB Stuttgart's Deniz Undav reacts to their 3-1 loss to Real Madrid: "We knew that if we didn't score against Real, we would be punished"". OneFootball. 18 September 2024. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 27 November 2024.
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  34. ^ "VfB extend Deniz Undav deal". VfB Stuttgart. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
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  41. ^ "Nagelsmann nominiert WM-Kader" (in German). Tagesschau. 21 May 2026.
  42. ^ "Germany put seven past debutants Curaçao". FIFA. 14 June 2026. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  43. ^ Furniss, Matt (14 June 2026). "The Perfect Start: Five Numbers Behind Germany's Dominant World Cup Win Over Curaçao". Opta Analysis.
  44. ^ "Undav bags brace to see Germany through". FIFA. 20 June 2026.
  45. ^ Deniz Undav at Soccerway
  46. ^ Deniz Undav Archived 9 December 2021 at the Wayback Machine at Flashscore
  47. ^ a b "Deniz Undav international matches". EU-Football.info. 24 March 2024. Archived from the original on 13 June 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  48. ^ "Bundesliga Player of the Month". EA Sports. Archived from the original on 11 November 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  49. ^ "Deniz Undav named Bundesliga Player of the Month for March". Bundesliga. 2 April 2026. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  50. ^ "Florian Wirtz ist VDV-Spieler der Saison" (in German). VDV. 27 May 2024. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2024.
  51. ^ "Michael Olise ist VDV-Spieler der Saison" (in German). VDV. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
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