Felix Nmecha
German footballer (born 2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Felix Kalu Nmecha (born 10 October 2000) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national team.
|
Nmecha with Germany in 2026 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Felix Kalu Nmecha[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 October 2000[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Hamburg, Germany[3] | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[4] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Borussia Dortmund | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2007–2019 | Manchester City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2021 | Manchester City | 0 | (0) |
| 2021–2023 | VfL Wolfsburg | 46 | (3) |
| 2023– | Borussia Dortmund | 78 | (9) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2015 | England U16 | 2 | (0) |
| 2018 | Germany U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2018 | England U18 | 10 | (2) |
| 2018–2019 | England U19 | 4 | (1) |
| 2022 | Germany U21 | 3 | (1) |
| 2023– | Germany | 12 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12 September 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 15:52, 30 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Manchester City
Nmecha made his Manchester City debut in the second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Burton Albion, replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 67th minute, in which Manchester City won the game 1–0.[5] He scored the winning goal in the U18 Premier League Cup final on 19 March 2019, against Middlesbrough U18.[6] On 3 November 2020, Nmecha provided an assist for João Cancelo on his Champions League debut for City as a substitute for Kevin De Bruyne in a 3–0 home win over Olympiacos in the group stage.[7] He was released by City at the end of his contract on 30 June 2021.[8]
Wolfsburg
Nmecha joined VfL Wolfsburg after leaving Manchester City, shortly after his brother Lukas made the same move.[9] In his two seasons at the club, he played 50 competitive matches, including two Champions League games during the 2021–22 season, and scored three goals during his second season in Bundesliga,[10] in which he netted a brace against Bochum in a 4–0 win.[11]
Borussia Dortmund
On 3 July 2023, Nmecha signed for Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract.[12] His transfer was controversial for Dortmund's supporters due to comments and social media posts made in the past by Nmecha which were regarded as homophobic and transphobic.[13][14][15] This included one instance in which Nmecha associated the term "pride" with the devil.[16] On 25 October 2023, he scored his first goal for Dortmund in a 1–0 away victory against Newcastle United at St James' Park in the Champions League, which was also his first goal in the competition.[17]
International career
Nmecha represented both Germany and England at youth international level.
On 17 March 2023, he received his first call-up to the German senior national team for the friendlies against Peru and Belgium.[18] He scored his first international goal in a 1–1 away draw against Hungary in November 2024, in the UEFA Nation's League.[19]
On 21 May 2026, he was selected in Germany's 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[20] On 14 June 2026, Nmecha scored Germany's first goal of the World Cup to take 1–0 lead over Curaçao in an eventual 7–1 win.[21][22]
Personal life
The son of a Nigerian father and German mother, Nmecha and his elder brother Lukas (who also plays professionally for Leeds United) were born in Hamburg, but moved to England with their family in 2007. After honing their skills in the Hamburg borough of Altona, the switch to Manchester brought the young Nmechas to the attention of Premier League team Manchester City. Both went on to join the club's academy.[23]
Nmecha is a Christian. He has said, "Every time I go on the field, it's not about me, it's about glorifying God."[24]
In 2026, an investigation by Sportschau reported that Nmecha supported Ballers in God, an evangelical Christian organisation behind the "The King’s Return" campaign, which he promoted on social media during the 2026 World Cup.[25]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 12 September 2026
| 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 | ||
| Manchester City U21 | 2018–19[26] | — | — | — | — | 4[c] | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| 2019–20[27] | — | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| 2020–21[28] | — | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||||||
| Manchester City | 2018–19[26] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019–20[27] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2020–21[28] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[d] | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2021–22[29] | Bundesliga | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2022–23[30] | Bundesliga | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 32 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 46 | 3 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 50 | 3 | ||||
| Borussia Dortmund | 2023–24[31] | Bundesliga | 20 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 8[d] | 1 | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2024–25[32] | Bundesliga | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 9[d] | 1 | 5[e] | 1 | 41 | 6 | ||
| 2025–26[33] | Bundesliga | 29 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | 10[d] | 3 | — | 42 | 5 | |||
| 2026–27[34] | Bundesliga | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | 1[f] | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||
| Total | 78 | 9 | 6 | 0 | — | 28 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 118 | 15 | |||
| Career total | 124 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 176 | 18 | ||
- Appearance(s) in EFL Trophy
- Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
- Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
- Appearance in Franz Beckenbauer Supercup
International
- As of match played 29 June 2026[35]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2025 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2026 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 12 | 2 | |
- Germany score listed first, score column indicates score after each Nmecha goal.[35]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 November 2024 | Puskás Aréna, Budapest, Hungary | 3 |  Hungary | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A |
| 2 | 14 June 2026 | NRG Stadium, Houston, United States | 9 |  Curaçao | 1–0 | 7–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup |
Honours
Borussia Dortmund
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2023–24[36]
