Salih Özcan
Footballer (born 1998)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Salih Özcan (born 11 January 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for the Süper Lig club Beşiktaş. Born in Germany, he plays for the Turkey national team.[2]
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Özcan with Borussia Dortmund in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 January 1998[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cologne, Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Beşiktaş | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| –2007 | SC West Köln | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2016 | 1. Köln | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | 1. Köln II | 22 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2022 | 1. Köln | 110 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | → Holstein Kiel (loan) | 28 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2026 | Borussia Dortmund | 71 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–2025 | → VfL Wolfsburg (loan) | 11 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026– | Beşiktaş | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2013 | Germany U15 | 7 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Germany U16 | 6 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | Germany U17 | 16 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | Germany U18 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Germany U19 | 8 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | Germany U20 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Germany U21 | 15 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Turkey | 31 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 July 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13 June 2026 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Köln
Born in Germany, Özcan is of Turkish descent as he was born into a Turkish family. Özcan spent the majority of his youth career in 1. FC Köln's youth system. He first featured in 1. FC Köln's first team in September 2016 in a Bundesliga match against Schalke 04.[3] During the 2017–18 season he consistently started in central midfield. He scored his first league goal on 2 September 2018 in a 2. Bundesliga match against FC St. Pauli.[4]
In 2017, Özcan was awarded the golden Fritz Walter Medal for the best U19 player in Germany.[5]
Loan to Holstein Kiel
On 23 August 2019, Özcan joined Holstein Kiel on loan until the end of 2019–20 season.[6] Three days later, he made his debut with the team as a starter in a 2. Bundesliga away match against FC St. Pauli, which ended in a 2–1 defeat.[7]
Return to Köln
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On 29 June 2021, in spite of speculations about a possible transfer, the club announced that Özcan had signed a new two-year contract with Köln.[8]
Borussia Dortmund
On 23 May 2022, it was reported that Özcan would join Borussia Dortmund for the 2022–23 season and that he would sign a contract with the club until 2026. The German sports magazine kicker estimated the transfer fee to be €5 million.[9]
On 27 August 2022, he made his debut with the team as a starter in a Bundesliga match against Hertha BSC.[10] On 6 September 2022, he made his continental debut with the team in a UEFA Champions League match against København.[11]
Loan to Wolfsburg
On 28 August 2024, Özcan moved on loan to VfL Wolfsburg.[12] Three days later, he made his debut with Wolfsburg in a 2–0 away win against his former club Holstein Kiel.[13]
Return to Borussia Dortmund
In late January 2025, Özcan was recalled to Borussia Dortmund following the long-term injury of Felix Nmecha.[14] In March 2026, the club announced that his contract, which was due to expire at the end of the season, would not be renewed.[15] He left the club at the end of the 2025–26 season, with his final game being on May 8 in a 3–2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt where he came off the bench in the 78th minute for Marcel Sabitzer.[16]
Beşiktaş
On 9 July 2026, Özcan joined the Süper Lig club Beşiktaş on a permanent three-year deal with an option for another year.[17]
International career
Özcan was eligible for both the Turkish and German national teams,[18] and played for Germany's youth teams.[19] He played his last game for Germany U21 on 6 June 2021, starting in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship final.[20]
On 25 March 2022, Özcan was called up to the Turkey national team by head coach Stefan Kuntz.[21] He debuted in a friendly 3–2 loss to Italy on 29 March 2022.[22]
On 7 June 2024, he was named in the final squad of 26 players selected by Vincenzo Montella to take part in UEFA Euro 2024.[23] On 18 November 2025, he scored his first national goal against Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.[24]
On 2 June 2026, Özcan was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[25]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 8 May 2026[26]
| Club | Season | League | DFB-Pokal | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 1. FC Köln II | 2015–16 | Regionalliga West | 16 | 3 | — | — | — | 16 | 3 | |||
| 2016–17 | Regionalliga West | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18 | Regionalliga West | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20 | Regionalliga West | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 22 | 4 | — | — | — | 22 | 4 | |||||
| 1. FC Köln | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2017–18 | Bundesliga | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | 2. Bundesliga | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 1 | |||
| 2020–21 | Bundesliga | 28 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 32 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | Bundesliga | 31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 2 | |||
| Total | 110 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 128 | 4 | ||
| Holstein Kiel (loan) | 2019–20 | 2. Bundesliga | 28 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 5 | ||
| Borussia Dortmund | 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7[c] | 0 | — | 36 | 0 | |
| 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 23 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9[c] | 0 | — | 35 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | — | 3[c] | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| Total | 71 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 0 | — | 97 | 0 | |||
| VfL Wolfsburg (loan) | 2024–25 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 242 | 12 | 20 | 1 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 287 | 13 | ||
- Appearances in UEFA Europa League
- Appearance in Bundesliga relegation play-offs
- Appearances in UEFA Champions League
International
- As of match played 13 June 2026[27]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | 2022 | 7 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 31 | 1 | |
- Scores and results list Turkey's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 November 2025 | La Cartuja, Seville, Spain | 27 |  Spain | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification | [24] |
