Amin Younes

Amin Younes (born 6 August 1993) is a German professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for 2. Bundesliga club Schalke 04.[2]

Amin Younes
Younes with Utrecht in 2022
Personal information
Full nameAmin Younes[1]
Date of birth (1993-08-06) 6 August 1993 (age 30)[1]
Place of birthDüsseldorf, Germany
Height1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s)Left winger, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Schalke 04
Number8
Youth career
1997–2000SG Unterrath
2000–2011Borussia Mönchengladbach
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2013Borussia Mönchengladbach II37(4)
2012–2015Borussia Mönchengladbach26(1)
2014–20151. FC Kaiserslautern (loan)14(2)
20151. FC Kaiserslautern II (loan)3(0)
2015–2018Jong Ajax5(2)
2015–2018Ajax69(12)
2018–2022Napoli21(4)
2020–2022Eintracht Frankfurt (loan)26(3)
2022–2023Al-Ettifaq9(2)
2022–2023Utrecht (loan)10(0)
2024–Schalke 040(0)
International career
2008–2009Germany U161(1)
2009–2010Germany U1710(4)
2010–2011Germany U186(1)
2011–2012Germany U198(2)
2012–2013Germany U202(0)
2013–2015Germany U2118(3)
2017–2021Germany8(2)
Medal record
Representing  Germany
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner2017
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 June 2024

Younes started his youth career at SG Unterrath, before moving to Borussia Mönchengladbach's youth side aged 8. In 2011 he made his debut for the reserve team, Borussia Mönchengladbach II, before making his debut for the senior team in 2012. After a one-season loan spell at 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Younes moved to Dutch club Ajax in 2015, with whom he was runner-up at the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League. In 2018 Younes moved to Italian side Napoli on a free transfer.

Born in Germany to a German mother, Younes also holds Lebanese citizenship on the basis of having a Lebanese father. He represented Germany at youth level between 2008 and 2015, and the senior team since 2017. Younes was part of the squad that won the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Club career

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Born in Düsseldorf to a former Lebanese footballer and a German mother,[3] Younes played as a youth for SG Unterrath. In 2000, at the age of 8, he joined the youth setup of Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach. In 2011, he made his debut for Borussia Mönchengladbach II, the reserve team, playing in the Regionalliga West.[citation needed]

Younes made his senior team debut at the end of the 2011–12 Bundesliga, coming on as a substitute against Hannover 96 on 1 April 2012.[4]

1. FC Kaiserslautern (loan)

In August 2014, Younes joined 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Kaiserslautern on a season-long loan.[5]

Ajax

Younes playing for Ajax in 2016

On 16 July 2015, Younes signed a three-year contract for Dutch club Ajax, until 30 June 2018, with an option for an additional year for €2,5 million.[6] After an injury, which kept him out for the start of the championship, he made his debut as a starter against Groningen (2–0) on 26 September.[7] The following week he scored his first goal for Ajax, against PSV in a 1–2 defeat.[8] Over the weeks, the player found continuity and concluded his first season with eight goals and nine assists in 35 total games. On 20 October 2016, he scored his first goal in a UEFA competition by scoring against Celta Vigo (2–2) in the UEFA Europa League.[9] At the end of the season he played in the 2017 UEFA Europa League final lost to Manchester United.[10] Younes was the player with the most dribbles in the competition.[11]

Napoli

In July 2018 Younes moved to Serie A side Napoli on a free transfer. When Younes moved to Napoli, he requested number 34 shirt in tribute to former Ajax teammate Abdelhak Nouri, who collapsed and suffered brain damage, ending his career.[12] His league debut came on 8 December 2018, against Frosinone in a 4–0 win.[13] Younes' first goal for Napoli, and in the Serie A, came on 17 March 2019, in a 4–2 home victory over Udinese.[14]

Eintracht Frankfurt (loan)

On 3 October 2020, Eintracht Frankfurt announced the signing of Younes on a two-year loan from Napoli with an option to buy.[15] On 18 January 2022, the loan was terminated early by consent from Younes, Eintracht and Napoli.[16]

Al-Ettifaq

On 23 January 2022, Younes signed a contract with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia until 2024.[17]

Utrecht (loan)

On 31 August 2022, Younes joined Utrecht in the Netherlands on loan for the 2022–23 season.[18]

Release by Al-Ettifaq

On 27 July 2023 Younes announced on Instagram that his contract at Al-Ettifaq had been terminated by mutual consent.[19]

Schalke 04

After almost a year without a club, Younes signed a two-year contract with 2. Bundesliga club Schalke 04 on 5 June 2024.[20]

International career

Eligible to also represent Lebanon through his father,[21] Joachim Löw called Younes up to the German national team for the first time on 17 May 2017, as part of the squad for the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.[22]

His senior debut came on 6 June 2017, coming on as a substitute in a 1–1 draw with Denmark.[23] Younes scored his first goal for the national team in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against San Marino on 10 June 2017.[24] On 29 June 2017, he scored his second goal in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final game against Mexico, which Germany won 4–1.[24] Germany were crowned champions after beating Chile 1–0 in the final.[25]

Personal life

Younes was born in Germany to a Lebanese father from Tripoli, Zoulfikar – who also played football,[26] and a German mother, Astrid.[27] Younes has an older brother named Phillip, who plays amateur football, and a younger brother named Carim.[26] During the summer, Younes usually visits his family from his father's side in Lebanon.[28] He is a practicing Muslim.[29][30]

Style of play

A technical forward, Younes' main characteristics are his dribbling, pace, and vision of play.[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 5 June 2024[31]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Borussia Mönchengladbach II2010–11Regionalliga West6060
2011–12Regionalliga West203203
2012–13Regionalliga West110110
Total373373
Borussia Mönchengladbach2011–12Bundesliga100010
2012–13Bundesliga111002[a]0131
2013–14Bundesliga14000140
Total2610020281
1. FC Kaiserslautern (loan)2014–152. Bundesliga14210152
1. FC Kaiserslautern II (loan)2014–15Regionalliga Südwest3030
Jong Ajax2015–16Eerste Divisie410041
2017–18Eerste Divisie110011
Total520052
Ajax2015–16Eredivisie278206[a]0358
2016–17Eredivisie2931018[b]4487
2017–18Eredivisie131004[c]1172
Total69123028510017
Napoli2018–19Serie A123103[a]0163
2019–20Serie A91101[d]0111
Total2142040274
Eintracht Frankfurt (loan)2020–21Bundesliga26311274
2021–22Bundesliga00100010
Total2632100284
Al-Ettifaq2021–22Saudi Pro League9292
Utrecht (loan)2022–23Eredivisie10010110
Schalke 042024–252. Bundesliga000000
Career total220299134526335

International

As of 31 March 2021[32]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Germany
201752
202130
Total82
Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Amin Younes
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
110 June 2017Stadion Nürnberg, Nuremberg, Germany  San Marino4–07–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
229 June 2017Fisht Olympic Stadium, Sochi, Russia  Mexico4–14–12017 FIFA Confederations Cup

Honours

Ajax

Jong Ajax

Napoli

Germany

Individual

References