2009 Everton Height 1.84 m 2006–2009 Hamburger SV Nationality German | Number 5 Role Footballer Playing position Name Shkodran Mustafi Salary 800,000 EUR (2014) | |
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Date of birth (1992-04-17) 17 April 1992 (age 23) Current teams Valencia CF (#5 / Defender), Germany national football team (Defender) Parents Fatime Mustafi, Kujtim Mustafi Similar People Nicolas Otamendi, Paco Alcacer, Benedikt Howedes, Daniel Parejo, Erik Durm Profiles | ||
Place of birth Bad Hersfeld, Germany | ||
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Shkodran Mustafi ([ˈʃkoːdʁan ˈmʊstafiː]; born 17 April 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for English club Arsenal and the Germany national team.
Contents
- Who is Mesut Ozils best friend in football Spin the Wheel
- Early career
- Everton
- Sampdoria
- Valencia
- Arsenal
- International career
- Personal life
- Club
- International
- International goals
- References
He began his career in the youth ranks of Hamburger SV and English club Everton, where he made one substitute appearance in two-and-a-half-years before leaving to Sampdoria in January 2012. He signed a five-year deal at Valencia in August 2014, and moved to Arsenal for a reported £35 million two years later.
Mustafi made his full international debut against Poland on 13 May 2014, and was part of the German teams that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup, also competing at UEFA Euro 2016.
Early career
Born in Bad Hersfeld, Hesse, to an Albanian family, originally from Gostivar, Macedonia, Mustafi started his career in the youth system of local 1. FC Bebra, and had a stint with SV Rotenburg, before joining Hamburger SV's youth setup in 2006.
Everton
In May 2009, Mustafi joined Everton, initially assigned to the Academy team. He later stated that "Goodison Park feels like home", after turning down offers from Manchester City and Newcastle United.
Mustafi made his competitive debut on 16 December 2009, replacing Tony Hibbert in the 75th minute of a 0–1 home loss against BATE Borisov, for the season's UEFA Europa League. He was also named on the bench for the Premier League matches against Arsenal and Manchester City in January. Mustafi only appeared on the bench nine times in the following two campaigns, but never played in any further matches.
Sampdoria
In January 2012, Mustafi moved to Italian Serie B side U.C. Sampdoria, on a free transfer. Mustafi was released by Everton after he asked manager David Moyes to allow him to move on for more game time.
Mustafi made his Samp debut on 26 May 2012, starting and playing the full 90 minutes of a 1–3 loss at Varese. It was his maiden appearance in the competition, as Sampdoria returned to Serie A at first attempt. He made his debut in the Italian top flight on 11 November 2012, starting in a 0–2 loss at Palermo.
On 26 October of the following year he scored his first professional goal, netting the game's only against Atalanta at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.
Valencia
On 7 August 2014, Mustafi signed a five-year deal with La Liga's Valencia CF, for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be €8 million. He debuted for his new team on 25 September, against Córdoba in an eventual 3–0 home win. A month later, he scored his first goal for the team, opening a 3–1 home win over Elche. In Valencia's next match on 2 November, against another regional rival, Villarreal, Mustafi scored a brace in a 3–1 away win to put Valencia into second place in the league.
On 3 March 2016, Mustafi received a straight red card in the first half of Valencia's 7–0 loss at FC Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final, after conceding a penalty with a foul on Lionel Messi. He then pleaded for the team's forgiveness by the Che supporters.
Arsenal
On 30 August 2016, Mustafi joined English club Arsenal for an undisclosed fee, reported to be in excess of £35 million. He made his debut in Arsenal's 2–1 Premier League win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on 10 September. Mustafi beat Bacary Sagna's record unbeaten start of 17 games at the club in Arsenal's 3–3 draw against Bournemouth with his 18th game without defeat. On 22 January 2017, he scored his first goal for the club in a home 2–1 league win over Burnley. Because of illness, he missed Arsenal's 2–1 win over Chelsea in the 2017 FA Cup Final on 27 May.
International career
Eligible to represent both Germany and Albania, Mustafi played for his country of birth at youth level; with the under-17 team he won the 2009 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship.
Joachim Löw called up Mustafi to the German national squad for a friendly match against Chile in February 2014, he made his full international debut in a friendly match against Poland, playing the full 90 minutes of a goalless draw at the Volksparkstadion on 13 May 2014.
Mustafi was selected in Germany's 30-man provisional squad before the 2014 FIFA World Cup by Löw. After initially not making the squad for the finals, he was subsequently nominated as the replacement for the injured Marco Reus. He appeared as a substitute in Germany's opening World Cup game against Portugal, coming on in the 73rd minute in place of Mats Hummels to win his second cap. In the team's second match, he again came on as a substitute, replacing Jérôme Boateng at half time against Ghana. He was selected to start at right back in Germany's round of 16 match against Algeria, but was substituted in the 70th minute for Sami Khedira due to an injury in his left thigh. It was later confirmed by the DFB that Mustafi would take no further part in the World Cup due to the torn fibre muscle.
Mustafi was also called up for UEFA Euro 2016. In Germany's opening match against Ukraine in Lille, he headed a delivery from Toni Kroos to open a 2–0 win.
Personal life
Mustafi is a practising Muslim who has said that his faith is "more important than anything" and an aid to his career. In July 2016, Mustafi married model Vjosa Kaba in Gostivar. In July 2017, Vjosa gave birth to a daughter.