| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 September 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Gelsenkirchen, Germany | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Schalke 04 | ||
| Number | 43 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2010–2014 | TuS Rotthausen | ||
| 2014–2025 | Schalke 04 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2025– | Schalke 04 | 29 | (0) |
| 2025– | Schalke 04 II | 2 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022–2023 | Turkey U17 | 18 | (3) |
| 2023 | Turkey U18 | 3 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Turkey U19 | 5 | (1) |
| 2026– | Turkey U21 | 2 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20 October 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 7 October 2026 | |||
Mertcan Ayhan (born 8 September 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Schalke 04. [1] Born in Germany, he represents Turkey at international youth level.
Ayhan signed a professional contract with Schalke 04 on 21 July 2025, lasting until June 2028. [2] [3] He made his first team debut for the club in the 2. Bundesliga in a 2–1 home win against Hertha BSC on 1 August 2025. [4]
Ayhan has represented Turkey at under-17, under-18, under-19 and under-21 level. [5]
Ayhan is the younger brother of Turkish international player Kaan Ayhan, who also started his professional football career at Schalke 04. [3]
| Club | Season | League | DFB-Pokal | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Schalke 04 | 2025–26 | 2. Bundesliga | 27 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 29 | 0 |
| 2026–27 | Bundesliga | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| Total | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 32 | 0 | ||
| Schalke 04 II | 2025–26 | Regionalliga West | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| 2026–27 | Regionalliga West | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 31 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 | ||
Schalke 04
