Ümit Akdağ

Ümit Akdağ
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-10-06) 6 October 2003 (age 21)
Place of birth Bucharest, Romania
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Toulouse
(on loan from Alanyaspor)
Number 6
Youth career
2011–2015 Steaua București
2015–2017 Chelsea
2017–2023 Alanyaspor
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022– Alanyaspor 1 (0)
2023–2024 → Göztepe (loan) 25 (3)
2024– → Toulouse (loan) 3 (0)
International career‡
2023– Romania U21 4 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 October 2024

Ümit Akdağ (born 6 October 2003) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Toulouse, on loan from Süper Lig club Alanyaspor.[1]

Club career

Alanyaspor

After representing Steaua București and Chelsea at youth level, Akdağ moved to Turkish club Alanyaspor in 2017. He made his professional debut for the latter on 3 June 2023, coming on as a 46th-minute substitute for Umut Güneş in a 5–1 away Süper Lig loss to Trabzonspor.

Loan to Göztepe

During the 2023–24 season, Akdağ was loaned out to TFF First League team Göztepe. He recorded his debut in a goalless draw at Ümraniyespor on 19 August 2023, and on 21 October scored his first senior goal in a 3–0 home win over Şanlıurfaspor.

Akdağ contributed with three goals from 25 appearances in the second tier championship, as Göztepe finished as runners-up and promoted to the Süper Lig.

Loan to Toulouse

On 23 August 2024, Akdağ joined French club Toulouse on loan.[2] He made his Ligue 1 debut on 22 September 2024, starting in a 2–0 away loss to Brest.

International career

In November 2023, Akdağ was called up by head coach Daniel Pancu to the Romania under-21 national team for the matches against Albania and Switzerland in the 2025 UEFA European Championship qualifiers. He made his debut on the 17th, coming on as 71st-minute substitute for Cătălin Vulturar in a 5–0 victory against the former opponent.[3][4]

On 15 October 2024, Akdağ scored in a 3–1 home win over Switzerland, which secured Romania first place in its group and qualified it for its fourth consecutive European Under-21 Championship.[5]

Personal life

Akdağ was born in Bucharest, Romania, to parents of Turkish ethnicity.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 December 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Alanyaspor 2022–23 Süper Lig 1 0 0 0 — — 1 0
Göztepe (loan) 2023–24 TFF First League 25 3 2 0 — — 27 3
Toulouse (loan) 2024–25 Ligue 1 3 0 1 0 — — 4 0
Career total 29 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 32 3
  1. ^ Appearances in the Süper Lig promotion play-offs

References

  1. ^ "Umit Akdag". flashscore.ro. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Umit Akdag rejoint le TeFeCe !". Toulouse FC (in French). 23 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Cine este Umit Akdag, turcul care poate debuta la naționala U21 a României". digisport.ro. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Lotul convocat de Daniel Pancu pentru Albania U21 - România U21". gsp.ro. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  5. ^ "U21 spre EURO 2025 | CALIFICAREEEEE! România învinge Elveția și se califică la al patrulea turneu final consecutiv!" [U21 towards EURO 2025 | QUALIFICATION! Romania defeats Switzerland and qualifies for the fourth consecutive final tournament!] (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.