Vitaly Janelt

Vitaly Janelt

Janelt playing for Brentford in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Vitaly Janelt [1]
Date of birth	(1998-05-10) 10 May 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth	Hamburg, Germany
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Brentford
Number	27
Youth career
0000–2007	Bargfelder SV
2007–2010	SSC Hagen Ahrensburg
2010–2014	Hamburger SV
2014–2017	RB Leipzig
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	RB Leipzig II	6	(0)
2016–2018	RB Leipzig	0	(0)
2017–2018	→ VfL Bochum (loan)	20	(0)
2018–2020	VfL Bochum	33	(2)
2020–	Brentford	155	(12)
International career
2013	Germany U15	2	(1)
2014–2015	Germany U17	16	(4)
2016	Germany U19	2	(0)
2019	Germany U20	1	(0)
2019–2021	Germany U21	10	(0)
Medal record UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2021
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:02, 4 November 2024 (UTC)

Vitaly Janelt (born 10 May 1998) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Brentford.

Janelt is a product of the Hamburger SV and RB Leipzig academies and made his professional breakthrough at VfL Bochum in 2017, before moving to England to join Brentford in 2020. He was capped by Germany at youth level and was a part of the 2021 European U21 Championship-winning squad.

Club career

RB Leipzig

After beginning his career with spells in the youth systems at Bargfelder SV, SSC Hagen Ahrensburg and Hamburger SV, Janelt joined the academy at RB Leipzig in 2014, ^[3] for a fee reported to be €150,000. ^[4] He signed a five-year professional contract in July 2016 and progressed to the reserve team, ^[5] for which he made six Regionalliga Nordost appearances during the 2016–17 season. ^[2] Prior to Janelt's departure from the Red Bull Arena at the end of the 2017–18 season, ^[3] disciplinary issues led to him spending 18 months away on loan. ^{[4] [6] [7]} He failed to win a call into a first team matchday squad during his time with RB Leipzig. ^[2]

VfL Bochum

Janelt playing for VfL Bochum in 2019.

On 9 January 2017, Janelt joined 2. Bundesliga club VfL Bochum on loan until 30 June 2018, ^[6] with an option to buy. ^[8] He made 20 appearances during an injury-affected spell and signed a three-year contract with the club on 30 May 2018, ^{[2] [8]} for an undisclosed fee. ^[3] Janelt looked set to make a breakthrough late in the 2018–19 season, before a torn adductor ruled him out of the final eight matches of the campaign. ^[9] He broke into the first team in 2019–20, making 24 appearances during a season which was ended prematurely by the COVID-19 pandemic. ^[2]

Then in the final season of his contract, ^[10] Janelt departed VfL Bochum in October 2020 and ended his 3+1⁄2 years at the Ruhrstadion with 54 appearances. ^{[2] [11]} In December 2021, Janelt stated that he "struggled to find consistency" during his spell with the club, ^[12] exacerbated by playing under six different managers. ^[13] He was frequently deployed as a utility player, filling in as a left winger, left back, central defender and on one occasion, ^[13] as a stand-in goalkeeper late in a match. ^[14]

Brentford

2020–21

On 3 October 2020, Janelt moved to England to sign a four-year contract with Championship club Brentford for an undisclosed fee of "around" £500,000. ^{[11] [13]} Despite being earmarked by co-director of football Rasmus Ankersen as an overseas player who would "need time to adapt to English football", ^[11] an injury suffered by first-choice defensive midfielder Christian Nørgaard in the days following the transfer allowed Janelt to break into the matchday squad. ^[14] By late October, he had assumed Nørgaard's starting role. ^{[2] [15]} Janelt retained his place throughout the campaign and finished Brentford's 2021 EFL Championship play-off final-winning 2020–21 season with 47 appearances and four goals. ^{[16] [17]}

2021–22

Janelt began the 2021–22 season as an ever-present starter in Premier League matches and he scored his first goal of the season in a 3–3 draw with Liverpool on 25 September 2021. ^[18] Aside from missing one month due to a thigh injury suffered in October 2021, ^{[18] [19]} Janelt continued in his virtual ever-present role and signed a new four-year contract on 1 April 2022. ^[20] The following day, he scored his third and fourth goals of the season in a 4–1 win over Chelsea and finished the campaign with 35 appearances. ^[18]

2022–23

Janelt began the 2022–23 season primarily in a substitute role and he captained the club for the first time during a 2–0 EFL Cup second round win over Colchester United on 23 August 2022. ^{[2] [21]} Despite airing some concerns about his playing time, ^[22] Janelt finished the season with 37 appearances (predominantly as a starter) and three goals. ^[2]

2023–24

Janelt was an ever-present in all competitions during 2023–24 season and ended the campaign with 42 appearances and one goal, ^[2] scored in a 4–2 defeat to Newcastle United on the final day of the season. ^[23] Following the loss of first-choice wing backs Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey due to injury, he deputised at left wing back on an ad-hoc basis. ^{[24] [25]} Janelt's performances during the 2023–24 season were recognised with the Brentford Players' Player of the Year award. ^[26]

International career

Janelt was capped by Germany at U15, U17, U19, U20 and U21 levels. ^[27] He was a part of the Germany squads at the 2015 UEFA European U17 Championship and the 2015 U17 World Cup. ^{[28] [29]} Janelt made four appearances during the U21 team's successful 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying campaign. ^{[27] [30]} He made four substitute appearances during the team's successful finals campaign. ^{[27] [31]} On 25 September 2021, it was reported that German senior head coach Hansi Flick was present at one of Janelt's club matches. ^[32]

Style of play

A defensive midfielder or "number eight", ^[10] Janelt is "strong, versatile, commanding, composed in possession, possesses great awareness, is a good passer and an aggressive winner of the ball". ^[9] He had also been deployed at centre back and left back. ^{[9] [33]}

Personal life

Janelt's brothers Vincent and Victor became footballers in the German lower leagues. ^[12] He was married as of November 2024. ^[34]

Career statistics

As of match played 4 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [lower-alpha 1]		League cup [lower-alpha 2]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
RB Leipzig II	2016–17 [2]	Regionalliga Nordost	6	0	—		—		—		6	0
VfL Bochum (loan)	2016–17 [2]	2. Bundesliga	7	0	—		—		—		7	0
	2017–18 [2]	2. Bundesliga	13	0	0	0	—		—		13	0
VfL Bochum	2018–19 [2]	2. Bundesliga	9	1	1	0	—		—		10	1
	2019–20 [2]	2. Bundesliga	24	1	0	0	—		—		24	1
	Total		53	2	1	0	—		—		54	2
Brentford	2020–21 [16]	Championship	41	3	1	0	2	0	3 [lower-alpha 3]	1	47	4
	2021–22 [18]	Premier League	31	4	2	0	2	0	—		35	4
	2022–23 [35]	Premier League	35	3	1	0	1	0	—		37	3
	2023–24 [36]	Premier League	38	1	2	0	2	0	—		42	1
	2024–25 [37]	Premier League	10	1	0	0	2	0	—		12	1
	Total		155	12	6	0	9	0	3	1	173	13
Career total			214	14	7	0	9	0	3	1	223	15

1. Includes DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in Championship play-offs

Honours

Brentford

• EFL Championship play-offs: 2021 ^[17]

Germany U21

• UEFA European U21 Championship: 2021 ^{[27] [31]}

Individual

• Brentford Players' Player of the Year: 2023–24 ^[26]

References

1. "EFL Squad List 2020/21 & U21 Registered Contract Players" (PDF). p. 22. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
2. Vitaly Janelt at Soccerway. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
3. "VfL verpflichtet Vitaly Janelt". www.vfl-bochum.de (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2020.
4. "RB Leipzig: Vitaly Janelt und Idrissa Touré aus Nationalelf geworfen". Die Welt (in German). 15 October 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
5. "Janelt and Toure pen professional deals with Leipzig". Vavel. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
6. "VfL leiht Vitaly Janelt aus". VfL Bochum 1848 (in German). Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
7. "VfL-Sportvorstand Christian Hochstätter im Exklusiv-Interview: "Man kann es nie allen recht machen!"". Lokalkompass (in German). Retrieved 3 October 2020.
8. "Vom Skandalprofi zum Hoffnungsträger – bleibt Janelt oder ist er bald Geschichte?". Einsachtvieracht (in German). 22 April 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
9. Brace, Jack (29 August 2021). "Vitaly Janelt's journey from being branded scandalous to a Brentford fan favourite". Vavel. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
10. Soyke, Marius. "Convinced by Moneyball presentation: Janelt gets off to a flying start at Brentford". Transfermarkt. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
11. "Vitaly Janelt joins Brentford". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
12. "Inside your Match Programme: Watford". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
13. Goodwin, Adam. "Vitaly Janelt: A Very Brentford Signing". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 1 November 2023.
14. Harris, Jay. "Vitaly Janelt: Brentford's pressing machine" . The Athletic. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
15. Westbrook, Ian (12 December 2020). "Frank hails Janelt after superb Brentford victory". West London Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
16. "Games played by Vitaly Janelt in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
17. Vincent, Gareth (29 May 2021). "Brentford 2–0 Swansea City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
18. "Games played by Vitaly Janelt in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
19. Harris, Jay. "Brentford's injury problems mean what was a good victory becomes a great one" . The Athletic. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
20. "Vitaly Janelt signs new contract". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
21. "Vitaly praises squad mentality". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
22. "Janelt im Interview: "Ich wusste nicht mal, wo Brentford liegt"". kicker (in German). Retrieved 28 May 2023.
23. "Newcastle beat Brentford to secure seventh place". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
24. Harris, Jay. "Janelt and Yarmoliuk could be the answer to Brentford's left-back problem" . The Athletic. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
25. "Janelt 'very proud' to captain Brentford against Brighton". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
26. "Pinnock wins Brentford Supporters' Player of the Year". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
27. Vitaly Janelt at DFB (also available in German )
28. "UEFA Under 17 Championship – Bulgaria 2015 – 6–22 May – Official Programme" (PDF). p. 11. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
29. "FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile 2015 – Teams – Germany". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
30. "Vitaly Janelt heading to Under-21 Euros with Germany". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
31. "Deutsche U 21 zum dritten Mal Europameister". DFB – Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
32. "Premier League: Brentford earn brilliant point in thriller against Liverpool – reaction". BBC Sport. 24 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
33. Majid, Uzzi (12 December 2021). "Roerslev praises Brentford belief after mounting late comeback win vs Watford". Football.London. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
34. "Exclusive: Vitaly Janelt on versatility, leadership and reliability". hounslowherald.com. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
35. "Games played by Vitaly Janelt in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
36. "Games played by Vitaly Janelt in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
37. "Games played by Vitaly Janelt in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 August 2024.

External links

• Vitaly Janelt at Soccerbase
• Vitaly Janelt at WorldFootball.net
• Vitaly Janelt at DFB (also available in German )
• Vitaly Janelt at Brentford F.C.
• Vitaly Janelt at Premier League
• Vitaly Janelt – UEFA competition record ( archive ) 
• Vitaly Janelt – FIFA competition record (archived)