Deniz Undav
VFB
Left Winger
Right Winger
Shadow Striker
Jul 19, 1996 (30)
Both
5'10"
190 lb
Returns to action in friendly
Undav (muscular) is in the starting XI for Stuttgart's friendly against Heidenheim after recently dealing with minor muscular problems.
Analysis: Undav's inclusion in the starting lineup is an encouraging sign after the muscular issue forced him to train individually earlier in the international break. The friendly provides an opportunity to test his fitness and build match sharpness before Bundesliga play resumes. Barring a setback, Undav appears to be progressing toward full availability for Stuttgart's return to competitive action on Oct. 10.
Dealing with minor muscle issue
Undav (muscular) missed Tuesday's team training due to minor muscular problems and instead completed an individual session in the gym, according to Stuttgarter Nachrichten.
Analysis: Undav entered the international break carrying a minor muscular issue that kept him out of Stuttgart's Tuesday team session, though he was able to complete an individual workout in the gym. No specific diagnosis or recovery timeline has been provided, so it is too early to determine whether the issue will affect his involvement beyond the training session. With Stuttgart not returning to Bundesliga action until Oct. 10, Undav has a sizable window to recover, while the upcoming friendlies against Heidenheim and Greuther Furth offer opportunities to assess whether he can resume full training and match involvement.
Assists twice in win
Undav assisted twice to go with four shots (zero on goal), one cross (zero accurate) and three chances created in Wednesday's 3-1 victory versus Viking FK.
Analysis: Undav set up Stuttgart's final two goals, as he displayed his chemistry with Ermedin Demirovic. Undav is a reliable scoring threat on his own, but if he thrives as a playmaker, that would add another dimension to his fantasy profile. Expect Undav to remain a key player for Stuttgart, and he has a favorable matchup against Slovan Bratislava on Oct. 14.
Ready for preseason
Undav returned to VfB Stuttgart on Friday following his participation with Germany at the World Cup, the club announced.
Analysis: Undav scored three goals and added two assists during the tournament, adding to his profile as a proven finisher in the final third. He'll begin his return with performance tests before joining the rest of the squad Monday for the club's training camp at Grassau on Lake Chiemsee. The forward remains an undisputed starter for Stuttgart, and expectations are high for another big season after his strong World Cup showing.
Earns start in Germany's exit
Undav registered one shot (zero on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Monday's 1-1 (5-4) penalty shootout defeat versus Paraguay.
Analysis: Undav would get the start over Jamal Musiala in a bit of a shocking move, earning the spot after decent shifts from the bench in three straight games. Unfortunately for Germany, the move wouldn't work out, as his one shot would be off target and Germany only found themselves tied by the time he exited the field, being his final minutes of the 2026 World Cup. He did still see a decent campaign, notching three goals on six shots and two assists on seven chances created in four appearances (one start).
Comes off bench again
Undav recorded one shot (zero on goal) and two chances created in Thursday's 2-1 defeat against Ecuador.
Analysis: Undav was once again introduced to the match from the bench despite some talk of him earning a start, as the attacker would play 30 minutes. He would see a shot and a few chances created, but was unable to make it a remarkable third game in a row from the bench with a goal contribution. Either way, he remains a storyline of the group stages, earning one goal and two assists in the first match and two goals in their second contest.
Scores brace off bench in win
Undav scored two goals to go with three shots (three on goal) and two chances created in Saturday's 2-1 victory versus Cote D'ivoire.
Analysis: Undav led his team's late comeback by taking advantage of a couple of opportunities inside the box in the 68th and 86th minutes, respectively, of this match. After replacing Jamal Musiala for the final half hour of play, Undav added another attempt on target from long range. He's now among the top attacking contributors in the 2026 World Cup thanks to his three goals and two assists in just 56 minutes, so he'll push for increased outings at the expense of either Musiala or Leroy Sane.
Records three goal contributions
Undav recorded one goal on one shot and two assists on three chances created in Sunday's 7-1 win against Curacao.
Analysis: Undav entered the field Sunday in the 64th minute, playing 26 minutes in the win. However, his presence was felt, as just four minutes after entering the field, he assisted on Nathaniel Brown's goal. He wouldn't stop there, as he then scored in the 78th minute before another assist on Kai Havertz's 88th-minute goal. This could be something to monitor, as the performance could boost him into more minutes, especially after an expected starter, Lennart Karl, had to exit the team due to injury.
Comes off bench in friendly
Undav (hamstring) came off the bench in Saturday's 2-1 win over United States.
Analysis: Undav entered the game in the 61st minute to replace Kai Havertz, and it seems the injury he sustained against Finland last Sunday wasn't as severe as initially thought. Undav will compete with Havertz and Nick Woltemade for minutes upfront in the World Cup. The Stuttgart forward scored twice in the 4-0 win over Finland on May 31.
Scores brace before hamstring issue
Undav scored two goals in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Finland before being substituted after feeling some hamstring discomfort, though the Germany striker played down the severity of the issue, per iMiaSanMia. "I felt a bit of pain but it's nothing bad. A few days of treatment and it should be fine."
Analysis: Undav's brace underlined his importance to Germany's attacking options heading into the World Cup, and his reassuring words after the match suggest the hamstring problem is purely precautionary rather than any serious concern. The DFB team will monitor his condition over the coming days before providing any further update, with Germany confident of having him available when their World Cup campaign gets underway.
Likely backup for Germany
Undav is set to serve as a backup forward option for Germany at the 2026 World Cup.
Analysis: Undav is with Germany heading into the World Cup, as the 27-year-old joins the team as one of their forwards, likely to serve as a backup with Nick Woltemade behind Kai Havertz. He has earned his role on the team after three straight seasons of excellence with Stuttgart, recording 46 goals and 18 assists in 86 league appearances (68 starts), with 19 goals and six assists in 29 appearances during the 2025/26 season. That said, he will likely be more of a rotational option for Germany, with most of his time coming from the bench. However, as the group stages move on and Germany moves closer to advancing, he could earn a start for some rotation in the new expanded format.
Assists Saturday
Undav assisted once to go with one shot (zero on goal) and four chances created in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Analysis: Undav had a down year in 2024/25, but this season he was back to his brilliant best. He scored 19 goals and added six assists in the Bundesliga, tacking on nine more goal contributions in the Europa League. The forward has been brilliant throughout the campaign and is poised to be the talisman for Stuttgart if he remains at the club.
Scores one
Undav scored one goal to go with seven shots (three on goal) during the 3-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen.
Analysis: Undav netted a goal to help get the win over Frankfurt. Through 12 matches, he's scored seven goals with two assists, giving him 19 goals and five assists through 28 appearances, surpassing his career high for a single season.
Fires four shots
Undav took four off target shots, crossed twice inaccurately and created two chances during Sunday's 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen.
Analysis: Undav was held off the scoresheet while tying for the team-high in shots Sunday. The attacker has combined for 14 shots, three crosses and seven chances created over his last three appearances.
Select Player
Search and select a player to compare