Turkish · Mannheim, Germany · Born 8 February 1994Set-piece specialist and playmaker who reinvented himself as a deep-lying midfielder at Inter Milan with outstanding results.
Hakan Çalhanoğlu was born on 8 February 1994 in Mannheim, Germany, to Turkish parents who had relocated from the Bayburt region of northeastern Turkey. He began his youth career with local clubs including 1. FC Turanspor Mannheim and Waldhof Mannheim before joining Karlsruher SC's academy, making his professional debut for the club's first team after being promoted from the under-19 side in 2012. Despite being born and raised entirely in Germany, Çalhanoğlu chose to represent Turkey internationally, reflecting his family's heritage, and has become one of the most influential Turkish players of his generation. His technical quality, vision, and renowned free-kick ability — he has scored some of the most spectacular set-piece goals in recent European football — made him a standout performer for Hamburger SV and then Bayer Leverkusen, where his career truly flourished. Çalhanoğlu moved to AC Milan in 2017, spending four seasons as one of Serie A's most creative midfielders before a high-profile, controversial transfer across the Milan divide to rivals Inter in 2021 — a move that drew fierce criticism from Milan supporters but proved hugely successful, with Çalhanoğlu becoming a key figure in Inter's subsequent period of domestic and European success. Çalhanoğlu has represented Turkey at three European Championships, in 2016, 2020, and 2024, and remains the creative fulcrum of the Turkish national team, renowned throughout Italian and German football for his set-piece mastery and standing as one of the finest players never to have represented one of the traditional football powerhouses at a World Cup.
Exceptional free-kick taking ability and technical skills
He once scored a free kick from over 40 yards out at Bayer Leverkusen that went viral, establishing him as one of football's greatest set-piece takers.
Did You Know?How They Played
Creative attacking midfielder with exceptional set-piece delivery and long-range shooting
Career Honours
- Serie A 2x
- Coppa Italia 2x
- Italian Super Cup 2x
- Serie A 2021
- Serie A 2024
- Coppa Italia 2022
- Coppa Italia 2024
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karlsruher | 2011–2013 | — | 50 | 17 |
| Hamburger SV | 2013–2014 | — | 32 | 11 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2014–2017 | — | 79 | 17 |
| AC Milan | 2017–2021 | Free transfer | 135 | 22 |
| Inter Milan | 2021–Present | Free transfer | 150 | 37 |
 Turkey | — | — | 88 | 18 |
Turkish Athletes