Mertcan Ayhan
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 September 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Gelsenkirchen, Germany | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Schalke 04 | ||
| Number | 43 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2014 | TuS Rotthausen | ||
| 2014–2025 | Schalke 04 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Schalke 04 | 28 | (0) |
| 2025 | Schalke 04 II | 1 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022–2023 | Turkey U17 | 18 | (3) |
| 2023 | Turkey U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Turkey U19 | 5 | (1) |
| 2026– | Turkey U21 | 1 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 31 August 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 1 April 2026 | |||
Mertcan Ayhan (born 8 September 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Schalke 04.[1] Born in Germany, he represents Turkey at international youth level.
Club career
[edit]Ayhan signed a professional contract with Schalke 04 on 21 July 2025, lasting until June 2028.[2][3] He made his first team debut for the club in the 2. Bundesliga in a 2–1 home win against Hertha BSC on 1 August 2025.[4]
International career
[edit]Ayhan has represented Turkey at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 level.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Ayhan is the younger brother of Turkish international player Kaan Ayhan, who also started his professional football career at Schalke 04.[3]
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 30 August 2026[1]
| Club | Season | League | DFB-Pokal | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Schalke 04 | 2025–26 | 2. Bundesliga | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2026–27 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 31 | 0 | ||
| Schalke 04 II | 2025–26 | Regionalliga West | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
Honours
[edit]Schalke 04
References
[edit]- 1 2 Mertcan Ayhan at WorldFootball.net
- ↑ "Mertcan Ayhan signs long-term contract". FC Schalke 04. 21 July 2025.
- 1 2 "Abwehrjuwel bleibt - Schalke bindet Mertcan Ayhan". Sky Sport (in German). 21 July 2025.
- ↑ "S04 defeat Hertha BSC 2-1 to kick off the new season". FC Schalke 04. 1 August 2025.
- ↑ Mertcan Ayhan at the Turkish Football Federation
- ↑ "Elversberg siegt – Schalke ist Meister!". bundesliga.com (in German). 3 May 2026. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
External links
[edit]- Profile at the Schalke 04 website
- Mertcan Ayhan at Soccerway
- Mertcan Ayhan at Kicker (in German)
Categories:
- 2006 births
- Living people
- Footballers from Gelsenkirchen
- Turkish men's footballers
- Turkey men's youth international footballers
- German men's footballers
- German people of Turkish descent
- Men's association football defenders
- Bundesliga players
- 2. Bundesliga players
- Regionalliga players
- FC Schalke 04 players
- FC Schalke 04 II players
- 21st-century Turkish sportsmen