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// Workers AI · dad joke modeIs Naci Ünüvar a soccer star? Uni-formly great.

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Naci Ünüvar
Personal information
Full name Naci Ünüvar[1]
Date of birth (2003-06-13) 13 June 2003 (age 23)
Place of birth Zaandam, Netherlands
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Heracles Almelo
(on loan from Twente)
Number 9
Youth career
–2011 OFC
2011–2020 Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019–2025 Jong Ajax 73 (24)
2020–2025 Ajax 3 (1)
2022–2023 → Trabzonspor (loan) 8 (1)
2023–2024 → Twente (loan) 19 (3)
2024–2025 → Espanyol (loan) 2 (0)
2025– Twente 19 (2)
2026– → Heracles Almelo (loan) 10 (0)
International career‡
2017–2018 Netherlands U15 6 (0)
2018 Netherlands U16 2 (0)
2019 Netherlands U17 17 (5)
2019 Netherlands U18 3 (2)
2021 Netherlands U19 5 (2)
2023– Turkey U21 1 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winner2019U-17 Team
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 27 March 2023

Naci Ünüvar (born 13 June 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for Heracles Almelo, on loan from Twente.[2] Born in the Netherlands, he represents Turkey at youth international level. He was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation 2020".[3]

Early life and youth career

[edit]

Ünüvar was born in Zaandam, North Holland, and is of Turkish descent.[4] He began playing football locally with OFC Oostzaan before joining the Ajax Youth Academy in 2011 at age eight. Widely regarded as one of the most promising talents of his age cohort at Ajax, he progressed through the youth ranks ahead of his age bracket. In April 2018, aged 14, he was named Player of the Tournament at the annual ABN AMRO Future Cup after leading the Ajax Under-17 team to the trophy.[5] At the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, he received the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding talent in the Ajax academy.[6]

Club career

[edit]

Ajax

[edit]

Ünüvar made his senior professional debut for reserve team Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 13 December 2019 during a 3–2 away defeat to SC Cambuur.

On 22 January 2020, Ünüvar made his competitive first-team debut for Ajax in a 2019–20 KNVB Cup fixture against SV Spakenburg, entering as a late substitute and converting a penalty in a 7–0 victory. At 16 years and 223 days, he became the youngest player to score on his official debut for Ajax.[7]

Despite his early goalscoring debut, Ünüvar experienced a period of slow development in subsequent months, later reflecting that coping with rapid media attention and adapting to senior physical standards posed significant challenges.[8] In subsequent seasons, he expressed frustration over limited first-team opportunities under successive managers, despite maintaining consistent production for Jong Ajax.[9] Across four seasons with Jong Ajax, he made 73 Eerste Divisie appearances, recording 24 goals and 18 assists, highlighted by a 16-goal campaign during the 2021–22 season.

Loans to Trabzonspor, Twente, and Espanyol

[edit]

On 30 August 2022, Ünüvar was loaned to Süper Lig club Trabzonspor for the 2022–23 campaign.[10] He registered three goals in 12 appearances across all competitions.

For the 2023–24 season, Ünüvar returned to the Netherlands on loan with FC Twente.[11] He featured primarily as an impact substitute, showing flashes of creative play and contributing four goals in 25 matches across all competitions as Twente secured third place in the Eredivisie.[12]

On 29 August 2024, Ünüvar joined La Liga side RCD Espanyol on loan for the 2024–25 season.[13] He made four competitive appearances during his spell in Spain.

FC Twente

[edit]

On 16 January 2025, Ajax and Ünüvar mutually agreed to terminate his contract early.[14] Concurrently, he finalized a permanent three-and-a-half-year contract with FC Twente.[15]

Loan to Heracles Almelo

[edit]

On 27 January 2026, seeking greater match minutes, Ünüvar moved to Twente's regional rival Heracles Almelo on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.[16] The intra-regional move drew commentary in Dutch media due to the traditional rivalry between the two Overijssel clubs.[17] Upon signing, Heracles technical management highlighted his 1v1 capability and attacking creativity as key reasons for his acquisition.[18]

International career

[edit]

Ünüvar represented the Netherlands at youth international level from under-15 to under-19. He was part of the squad that won the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, scoring a goal in the 4–2 victory over Italy in the final.[19]

In 2023, Ünüvar elected to switch his international allegiance to Turkey. He made his debut for the Turkey U21 team on 27 March 2023.

Style of play

[edit]

Operating primarily as a left winger or an attacking midfielder, Ünüvar is noted for his technical execution, ball control, and 1v1 dribbling. Raised within the positional training methods of Ajax's youth academy, he frequently cuts inside from the left flank onto his stronger right foot to create shooting opportunities or make decisive passes into the penalty area.

Personal life

[edit]

His younger brother, Emre Ünüvar, is also a professional footballer who progressed through the Ajax Youth Academy.[20] Naci has publicly provided guidance and advice to his brother regarding managing expectations and navigating elite youth football.[21]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 6 August 2026[22]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup[a] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong Ajax 2019–20 Eerste Divisie 101–––101
2020–21 Eerste Divisie 297–––297
2021–22 Eerste Divisie 3316–––3316
2022–23 Eerste Divisie 10–––10
Total 7324–––7324
Ajax 2019–20 Eredivisie 0011000011
2021–22 Eredivisie 0020000020
Total 0031000031
Trabzonspor (loan) 2022–23 Süper Lig 81222[b]0–123
FC Twente (loan) 2023–24 Eredivisie 193006[c]1–254
Espanyol (loan) 2024–25 La Liga 202000–40
FC Twente 2024–25 Eredivisie 110–2[b]0–130
2025–26 Eredivisie 8210——92
2026–27 Eredivisie 00001[d]0—10
Total 1921030—232
Heracles Almelo (loan) 2025–26 Eredivisie 10000——100
Career total 13130831110015034
  1. ↑ Includes KNVB Cup and Turkish Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  4. ↑ Appearance in UEFA Conference League

Honours

[edit]

Netherlands U17

Individual

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019: List of Players: Netherlands" (PDF). FIFA. 31 October 2019. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2019.
  2. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar op huurbasis naar Twente". De Telegraaf. 24 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar 2022'ye kadar Ajax'ta". www.trtspor.com.tr.
  5. ↑ "Ünüvar (14) bezorgt Ajax Onder-17 prestigieuze Future Cup". vi.nl (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 2 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar wint Abdelhak Nouri Trofee voor grootste talent in jeugdopleiding Ajax". AD.nl (in Dutch). 28 May 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "Zidane-Vergleiche und designierte Ziyech-Nachfolge: Das ist Ajax-Juwel Naci Ünüvar". Goal.com (in German). 3 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ünüvar verklaart terugval na droomdebuut bij Ajax". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 23 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "Voormalig talent Ünüvar blikvanger bij Twente: 'Had op meer kansen bij Ajax gehoopt'". NOS (in Dutch). 3 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar op huurbasis naar Trabzonspor" (in Dutch). Ajax. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar op huurbasis naar Twente". De Telegraaf. 24 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Ünüvar laat zichzelf zien bij FC Twente: 'Bij vlagen mooie dingen laten zien'". Ajax Showtime (in Dutch). 20 May 2024.
  13. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar, nou jugador del RCD Espanyol" [Naci Ünüvar, new player of RCD Espanyol] (in Catalan). RCD Espanyol. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  14. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar leaves Ajax". AFC Ajax. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  15. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar tekent contract bij FC Twente" [Naci Ünüvar signs contract with FC Twente] (in Dutch). FC Twente. 16 January 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
  16. ↑ "Heracles Almelo versterkt selectie met Naci Ünüvar" [Heracles Almelo strengthens selection with Naci Ünüvar] (in Dutch). Heracles Almelo. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "FC Twente-speler Naci Ünüvar op weg naar rivaal Heracles: 'Het is niet makkelijk'". Sportnieuws.nl (in Dutch). 13 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Heracles Almelo versterkt selectie met Naci Ünüvar" (in Dutch). Heracles Almelo. 27 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Netherlands retain #U17EURO title: at a glance". UEFA. 19 May 2019.
  20. ↑ "Emre Ünüvar stelt zichzelf voor: 'Ik ben snel en scoor makkelijk doelpunten'". Ajax Showtime. 26 March 2024.
  21. ↑ "Groot Ajax-talent (17) krijgt vaderlijk advies van grote broer bij FC Twente". Sportnieuws.nl (in Dutch). 20 November 2025.
  22. ↑ Naci Ünüvar at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Ünüvar (14) bezorgt Ajax Onder-17 prestigieuze Future Cup". vi.nl (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 2 April 2018.
  24. ↑ "Naci Ünüvar wint Abdelhak Nouri Trofee voor grootste talent in jeugdopleiding Ajax". AD.nl (in Dutch). 28 May 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
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