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Deniz Undav

Deniz Undav (born 19 July 1996) is a German professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, on loan from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, and the Germany national team.

Career

Early career

Undav who grew up in Achim played for TSV Achim before joining the youth department of Werder Bremen, in which he was released after five years due to his lack of height. Later on, he joined SC Weyhe, then TSV Havelse where he made his senior debut during the 2014–15 Regionalliga. He later played for Eintracht Braunschweig II, followed by SV Meppen.

Union Saint-Gilloise

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.

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 in the 2021–22 Belgian First Division A season Undav scored, for the first time in his career, a quadruple away at K.V. Oostende in the 7–1 victory. He finished the season as top scorer of the league with 18 goals, and was awarded the Footballer of the Year in Belgium.

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 until the end of the 2021–22 season on loan.

Undav made his Albion debut on the opening game of the 2022–23 season, coming on as a 90+5th minute substitute for Danny Welbeck, helping Brighton win its first ever victory at Old Trafford after beating Manchester United 2–1. He scored his first goal for the club in his second appearance, opening the scoreline in the 3–0 away victory over League One side Forest Green Rovers in the second round of the EFL Cup on 24 August. He didn't score again until over four-and-a-half months later on 7 January 2023, scoring Brighton's last after coming on as a substitute, in the 5–1 away thrashing over Championship side Middlesbrough in the FA Cup third round. Undav made his first Premier League start on 4 February, creating chances and making several attempts on goal without success before being substituted off in the eventual 1–0 home win over Bournemouth. He opened the scoreline on 19 March, scoring a rebound from a Moisés Caicedo shot, later assisting a Evan Ferguson goal in the 5–0 FA Cup quarter-final win over League Two side Grimsby Town. Undav scored his first Premier League goal on 29 April, opening the scoreline and later adding a second in the 6–0 thrashing of Wolves, their biggest Premier League victory. He added to his Premier League tally on 14 May, chipping in Albions' second in the eventual 3–0 away win over Arsenal. Four days later, Undav scored at both ends in Brighton's 4–1 away defeat at Newcastle, heading in an own goal from a corner to open the scoreline before hitting one back from two down.

Loan to VfB Stuttgart

On 2 August 2023, Undav returned to his native Germany, signing for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart on a season-long loan for the 2023–24 season. On 27 January 2024, he scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick in a 5–2 win over RB Leipzig.

International career

In March 2024, Undav was called up to the German national team ahead of the friendly matches against France and the Netherlands.

Undav would make his debut for Die Mannschaft in a 2–0 victory against France after coming on for Kai Havertz in the 80th minute.

Personal life

Undav was born in Germany to a Yazidi-Kurdish family of 5 children from the village of Işıklı, located within the municipality of Viranşehir and situated in Şanlıurfa Province of Turkey. His grandfather migrated to Germany due to pressure following the 1980 coup in Turkey.