Deniz Undav is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart and the Germany national team. He was born on 19 July 1996 in Varel and grew up in Achim, near Bremen.
🌍 Background
His parents are Kurdish Yazidis from the village of Isikli in the Viranşehir district of Urfa Province, in southeastern Turkey. His grandfather emigrated to Germany under the pressure that followed the 1980 military coup. Undav is one of five children, and his brother Rocat also plays for TSV Achim.
⚽ Early Career
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. Werder released him in 2012 because of his height, and he later played for SC Weyhe, TSV Havelse, Eintracht Braunschweig II, and SV Meppen.
🇧🇪 Union Saint-Gilloise
In April 2020, Undav joined Belgian First Division B side Union Saint-Gilloise on a three-year deal. On 13 March 2021, he won the championship with Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian First Division B, ending his season on 17 goals in 26 games. He finished the 2021–22 season as the league’s top scorer with 18 goals and was named Belgian Footballer of the Year.
🏴 Brighton & Hove Albion
On 31 January 2022, Undav joined Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for €7 million, 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. He scored his first Premier League goal on 29 April, opening the scoring and adding a second in a 6–0 win over Wolves.
🇩🇪 VfB Stuttgart
On 2 August 2023, Undav returned to Germany, signing for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart on a season-long loan for the 2023–24 season. In his debut Bundesliga season, he scored 18 goals and provided nine assists, and Stuttgart finished second in the league. On 9 August 2024, after his loan spell, Undav signed for VfB Stuttgart permanently on a three-year contract. On 1 June 2026, VfB Stuttgart announced that Undav had extended his contract until June 2029.
🇩🇪 Germany National Team
Undav was eligible to represent either Germany or Turkey internationally. In March 2024, aged 27, Undav received his first call-up to the German national team. He made his debut for Germany in a 2–0 win against France. Undav was named in Germany’s squad for UEFA Euro 2024 and for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
| Category | Detail | Date | Club/Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | Born 19 July 1996 in Varel | 19 July 1996 | N/A |
| First Senior Club | Senior debut for TSV Havelse | 2014–15 season | TSV Havelse |
| First Championship | Won Belgian First Division B | 13 March 2021 | Union Saint-Gilloise |
| First Premier League Goal | Scored first Premier League goal | 29 April 2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| First Bundesliga Hat-trick | Scored hat-trick vs RB Leipzig | 27 January 2024 | VfB Stuttgart |
| International Debut | Debut for Germany vs France | March 2024 | Germany |
| First International Goal | Scored vs Netherlands | 10 September 2024 | Germany |
| World Cup Debut | Scored and assisted vs Curaçao | 14 June 2026 | Germany |
| Contract Extension | Extended contract until June 2029 | 1 June 2026 | VfB Stuttgart |