Merih Demiral is a Turkish professional footballer born on March 5, 1998, in Karamürsel, Kocaeli. Standing at 1.90 meters tall and right-footed, he plays as a central defender. He is a Turkish citizen and is represented by DW Sports Management.

Club Career

Demiral began his football career in 2009 with Karamürsel İdman Yurdu Spor. In 2011, he joined the youth academy of Fenerbahçe, where he played across various age groups until 2016.

In 2016, he transferred on a free move to Alcanenense, a lower-division club in Portugal. His performances there led to a loan move to Sporting B in 2017. In the summer of 2018, he was loaned to Turkish club Alanyaspor and completed a permanent transfer in the same season for €3.5 million. In January 2019, he joined Italian Serie A side Sassuolo for a reported fee of €7 million.

Following a brief spell at Sassuolo, Demiral transferred to Juventus on July 5, 2019, for a fee of €19.5 million. While at Juventus, he won the Serie A title (2019/20), Coppa Italia (2020/21), and the Supercoppa Italiana (2020).

In the 2021–2022 season, he was loaned to Atalanta, where he remained for two seasons. In the summer of 2023, he signed a contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli SFC, valid until June 30, 2026.

Club Statistics

Throughout his professional club career, Merih Demiral has played in a total of 222 official matches, scoring 9 goals and providing 7 assists. He has competed in top-tier competitions including the Süper Lig, Serie A, Saudi Pro League, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Europa League.

International Career

Demiral has represented Turkey across various age categories, from the U17 and senior national teams. He made his senior debut on November 20, 2018, in a friendly match against Ukraine under coach Mircea Lucescu.

As of 2024, he has earned 53 caps and scored 4 goals for the Turkish senior national team.

International Appearances (Including Youth Teams):

• Turkey U17: 7 matches, 1 goal
• Turkey U18: 2 matches
• Turkey U19: 10 matches, 1 goal
• Turkey U20: 5 matches
• Turkey U21: 13 matches
• Turkey Senior Team: 53 matches, 4 goals
• Total: 90 matches, 6 goals

International Recognition

In 2025, Demiral was selected as one of the 40 players admitted to the FIFA Players Executive Programme. He became the first Turkish footballer to participate in this program, which focuses on preparing players for post-retirement roles in leadership and decision-making. Notable instructors in the program include Arsène Wenger, Lothar Matthäus, and Giorgio Chiellini.

Merih Demiral was selected as one of the 40 players admitted to the FIFA Players Executive Programme. (Source: TRTSPOR)

Honours

• Serie A Champion – Juventus, 2019/20
• Coppa Italia Winner – Juventus, 2020/21
• Supercoppa Italiana Winner – Juventus, 2020