Deniz Gül

FC Porto was European champions in title when Deniz Gül was born in the Swedish capital. The son of a Turkish father and a Swedish mother, he started playing football at Stuvsta IF, a club in his home town, before joining Segeltorps IF, IF Brommapojkarna, AIK Solna and FC Djursholm. In 2021, after a major physical transformation, the 1.90 metre player moved up on the pitch and joined the Hammarby's academy, where he became a modern striker. He attracted the interest of foreign clubs, but preferred to stay at home and won the junior championship, becoming the top scorer and eventually being named the tournament's best striker. ‘My dream is to reach the first team’, he stated at the time. Said and done. In September 2022, he joined Hammarby's senior team, but was eventually transferred to a satellite club where he made 23 appearances and scored 16 goals. He made his debut for the national youth team six months later, in a qualifying match for the UEFA European Under19 Championship against Portugal in Vizela. The numbers pleased those in charge and Deniz Gül made his senior debut in October 2023, against rivals Djurgårdens. A starter on the following week, he kept his position in the team, represented the national under20 and under21 teams, made himself known to the football world and, in the summer of 2024, switched to wearing blue and white, just like his countrymen Lars Eriksson in 1996 and Fredrik Söderström in 2001.