Youth and Academy Years
Yusuf Demir was born on June 2, 2003, in Vienna, Austria. He is of Turkish descent, with his family originating from Trabzon. He started playing football in the First Vienna academy and later joined Rapid Wien's academy in 2013. His performances in Rapid Wien’s youth teams caught attention, and he earned an opportunity to be promoted to the first team at a young age.
Professional Career
Rapid Wien
On May 26, 2019, he signed a professional contract with Rapid Wien and made his first professional appearance on December 14, 2019, against Admira. In his early seasons in the Austrian Bundesliga, he played as a rotation player, standing out with his technical ability and vision.
On September 15, 2020, he scored against Gent in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, becoming the youngest Austrian player to score in a European competition at the age of 17. During his time at Rapid Wien, he played a total of 57 matches, scoring 11 goals and providing 5 assists.
Barcelona (On Loan, 2021-2022)
On July 9, 2021, he joined Barcelona on a one-season loan deal for a fee of €500,000. His contract included a €10 million buy option. At the age of 18 years and 80 days, he made his La Liga debut against Athletic Bilbao, becoming one of the youngest players in Barcelona's history to play in the league after Lionel Messi.
His time at Barcelona was short, making only six official appearances. To prevent the activation of the mandatory purchase clause in his contract, he returned to Rapid Wien in January 2022.
Yusuf Demir at Barcelona - goal.com
Galatasaray
On September 8, 2022, he signed a four-year contract with Galatasaray, with the club paying Rapid Wien a €6 million transfer fee. In his first season at Galatasaray, he struggled to find playing time in the Süper Lig but was part of the squad that won the 2022-23 league title.
Basel (Loan, 2023-2024)
On August 16, 2023, he joined Swiss club Basel on a one-season loan. He made his league debut for Basel on September 3, 2023, against Zürich. On September 16, 2023, he scored his first goal for the club in the second round of the Swiss Cup against FC Bosporus.
During his time at Basel, he suffered an injury while playing for Austria's U-21 team in a match against North Macedonia in November 2023. He tore a muscle fiber in his calf, causing him to miss several matches in the first half of the season.
International Career
Despite his Turkish origins, Yusuf Demir chose to represent Austria at the international level. He played for Austria in various youth categories and received his first call-up to the Austria senior national team in March 2021.
On March 28, 2021, he made his senior national team debut in Austria's 3-1 victory against the Faroe Islands in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He has made a total of four appearances for the Austria senior national team.
Achievements
Club Achievements
- Süper Lig Champion: 2022-23 (Galatasaray)
Individual Performance Statistics
- Rapid Wien (2019-2022): 57 matches, 11 goals, 5 assists
- Barcelona (2021-2022, on loan): 6 matches
- Basel (2023-24, on loan): 1 goal in the Swiss Cup
