Michael Frey (footballer)

Last updated

Michael Frey
Michael Frey 26042025 (2).jpg
Frey in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-07-19) 19 July 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth Münsingen, Switzerland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Queens Park Rangers
Number 12
Youth career
2000–2006 FC Münsingen
2006–2010 Thun
2010–2012 Young Boys
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2014 Young Boys 73 (17)
2014–2016 Lille 15 (2)
2016Luzern (loan) 16 (4)
2016–2017 Young Boys 29 (8)
2017–2018 FC Zürich 34 (12)
2018–2021 Fenerbahçe 15 (3)
2019–20201. FC Nürnberg (loan) 29 (4)
2020–2021Beveren (loan) 27 (12)
2021–2024 Royal Antwerp 53 (31)
2023Schalke 04 (loan) 15 (0)
2024– Queens Park Rangers 38 (9)
International career
2010–2011 Switzerland U17 4 (0)
2011–2013 Switzerland U19 12 (4)
2014 Switzerland U20 1 (1)
2013–2016 Switzerland U21 14 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 August 2025

Michael Frey (born 19 July 1994) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

Contents

Club career

Frey playing for Lille in 2014. Michael Frey (LOSC Lille).JPG
Frey playing for Lille in 2014.

In June 2017, Frey signed a four-year contract with FC Zürich. [1]

In August 2018, Frey joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe for a reported transfer fee of €2.64 million. He signed a four-year deal. [2] After his first season in Turkey, Frey joined 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Nürnberg on loan for the 2019–20 season. The club retained an option to make the move permanent. [3]

On 17 June 2021, Fenerbahçe announced that Frey had joined Antwerp on a permanent deal after an impressive loan spell with Beveren in the Belgian First Division A during the 2020–21 season. [4] On 8 August 2021, Frey scored all five goals for Antwerp in their 5–2 league win over Standard Liège. [5]

On 20 January 2023, after two and a half seasons in Belgium, he was loaned to German side Schalke 04, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, with an option to make the deal permanent. [6] [7]

Queens Park Rangers

On 28 January 2024, Frey signed for English club Queens Park Rangers. [8] [9] Frey scored his first goal for QPR in a 2–2 draw with Norwich City on 10 February 2024. [10]

Frey opened his account in the 2024–25 season with a goal in a 2–1 defeat of Cambridge United in the first round of the EFL Cup on 13 August. [11] The victory earned QPR their first win in the competition for three years. [11] He then scored his first league goal of the season in a 1–1 draw with Plymouth Argyle on 24 August. [12] Six days later, he scored the game winner in a come-from-behind 2–1 win over Luton Town in the league. [13]

Style of play

Described as a "high energy," "decisive" and "burly" striker, Frey's height, speed and strength make him a classic number 9, with the ability to hold the ball up and take on defenders, allied to precision and power in front of goal. [14] [15]

Career statistics

As of 27 August 2025 [16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] EuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Young Boys 2011–12 Swiss Super League 210021
2012–13 Swiss Super League3142410 [c] 1439
2013–14 Swiss Super League33920359
2014–15 Swiss Super League73004 [c] 2115
Total7317441439124
Lille 2014–15 Ligue 1 15210213 [c] 0213
Luzern (loan) 2015–16 Swiss Super League16410174
Young Boys 2016–17 Swiss Super League298448 [d] 14113
FC Zürich 2017–18 Swiss Super League3112543616
2018–19 Swiss Super League300030
Total3412543916
Fenerbahçe 2018–19 Süper Lig 143305 [c] 2225
2020–21 Süper Lig100010
Total1533052235
1. FC Nürnberg (loan) 2019–20 2. Bundesliga 294112 [e] 0325
Beveren (loan) 2020–21 Belgian Pro League 2712232 [f] 23117
Antwerp 2021–22 Belgian Pro League3924106 [c] 04624
2022–23 Belgian Pro League147316 [g] 22310
Total5331411226934
Schalke 04 (loan) 2022–23 Bundesliga 150150
Queens Park Rangers 2023–24 Championship 9191
2024–25 Championship2981011319
2025–26 Championship00000000
Total38910114010
Career total34410226173242842419131

Honours

FC Zürich

Individual

References

  1. "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet Michael Frey". fcz.ch (in German). 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. "Michael Frey joins Fenerbahce from FC Zurich". Turkish Football News. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  3. "Frey joins Nurnberg on loan from Fenerbahce". AA. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  4. "Welkom op De Bosuil, Michael Frey!". Royal Antwerp FC (in Dutch). 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  5. "Standard humiliated at home by Antwerp (2-5), Michael Frey author of five goals". Archy Sport. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
  6. "Striker Michael Frey joins Schalke 04". FC Schalke 04. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  7. "Michael Frey naar Schalke 04". Royal Antwerp FC (in Dutch). 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  8. "Striker Michael Frey joins QPR". QPR FC. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. "QPR sign Swiss striker Frey from Royal Antwerp". BBC Sport. 28 January 2024.
  10. "Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Norwich City: Recent signings combine to earn Rs a draw with Canaries". BBC. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  11. 1 2 "QPR won a superb Carabao Cup tie 2-1 at Cambridge to record their first win in the competition for three years". BBC. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  12. "Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Plymouth Argyle". EFL. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  13. "Match Report: Luton Town 1, QPR 2". QPR. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  14. "Luton Town 1-2 Queens Park Rangers". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  15. "QPR sign Swiss striker Frey from Royal Antwerp". BBC Sport. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  16. "Michael Frey - Club matches". worldfootball.net.
  17. "Super League – Salah zum SL-"Spieler des Jahres" gewählt". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 27 January 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2022.