Deniz Naki

Deniz Naki — Biography

Born on 9 July 1989 in Düren, Germany, Deniz Naki is a footballer, standing 1.76 m tall, who holds both German and Turkish citizenship. Beginning his career in Germany and playing in an attacking role, he turned out for clubs including Paderborn 07, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Rot-Weiss Ahlen, Gençlerbirliği, and FC St. Pauli, before also playing for Amedspor in Turkey.

After repeatedly speaking out against the persecution of Kurdish people, Naki was banned for life from Turkish football by the Turkish Football Federation, a decision that effectively ended his playing career in the country. Beyond football, he has become a prominent advocate for Kurdish rights and has faced legal proceedings and threats over the years in connection with his activism.