# Kerem Demirbay
**Kerem Demirbay** (born 1993) is a German-born professional footballer of Turkish descent who plays as a central midfielder for Kasımpaşa in the Turkish Süper Lig. He rose to prominence at [TSG 1899 Hoffenheim](https://www.edgepedia.org/tsg-1899-hoffenheim), moved to [Bayer 04 Leverkusen](https://www.edgepedia.org/bayer-04-leverkusen) in 2019 for a €32 million fee, and was called up by Germany head coach [Joachim Löw](https://www.edgepedia.org/joachim-low), then the national team's manager, to the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup squad.[1](https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?kisiID=1435043&pageId=526) • [2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675) • [3](https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/spor/kerem-demirbay-almanya-milli-takimi-kadrosunda/820357)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993; Galatasaray and the Turkish Football Federation list Herten, Germany, while Bayer 04's profile gives Haltern[1](https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?kisiID=1435043&pageId=526) • [4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay) |
| Position | Central midfielder, 1.83 m and about 75 kg[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay) |
| Bundesliga record | 184 appearances, 22 goals, 40 assists; 15 Champions League and 23 Europa League matches[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675) |
| Major transfers | Hoffenheim for €4.7M (2016), Leverkusen for €32M (2019), Galatasaray for €3.7M (2023); career total €40.4M[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675) • [5](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/players/kerem-demirbay/transfer-history) |
| International | Named to Germany's 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup squad; 2 senior Germany matches in the DFB record[3](https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/spor/kerem-demirbay-almanya-milli-takimi-kadrosunda/820357) • [6](https://datencenter.dfb.de/en/data-center/people/kerem-demirbay/player) |
| Current club | Kasımpaşa A.Ş., contract from 15 January 2026 to 30 June 2029[1](https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?kisiID=1435043&pageId=526) |
## Youth and early career
Demirbay entered football in Schalke 04's youth academy at age 6 and moved to [Borussia Dortmund](https://www.edgepedia.org/borussia-dortmund) in 2007.[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675) The DFB data center records youth and reserve spells with SG Wattenscheid 09, Borussia Dortmund, and [Borussia Dortmund II](https://www.edgepedia.org/borussia-dortmund-ii), including 28 matches in the 3rd League for Dortmund II in 2012/13.[6](https://datencenter.dfb.de/en/data-center/people/kerem-demirbay/player) In the summer of 2013 he transferred to [Hamburger SV](https://www.edgepedia.org/hamburger-sv), where his senior career began.[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675)
His breakthrough came on loan. He played 23 matches with 1 goal for 1. FC [Kaiserslautern](https://www.edgepedia.org/kaiserslautern) in 2014/15, then 26 matches with 11 goals for [Fortuna Düsseldorf](https://www.edgepedia.org/fortuna-dusseldorf) in 2015/16, both in the 2nd [Bundesliga](https://www.edgepedia.org/bundesliga).[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay) • [6](https://datencenter.dfb.de/en/data-center/people/kerem-demirbay/player)
## Hoffenheim and the Germany call-up
In the summer 2016 transfer window Demirbay joined TSG 1899 Hoffenheim for €4.7 million, the move his later club Galatasaray describes as his career breakthrough.[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675) Over three Bundesliga seasons he made 73 league appearances with 12 goals for the club.[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay)
His performances at Hoffenheim earned a place in Germany's squad for the 2017 [FIFA Confederations Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-confederations-cup) in Russia, named by head coach Joachim Löw.[3](https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/spor/kerem-demirbay-almanya-milli-takimi-kadrosunda/820357) The DFB data center records 2 senior Germany matches, one at the Confederations Cup and one friendly.[6](https://datencenter.dfb.de/en/data-center/people/kerem-demirbay/player) His family background is Turkish; he spent childhood summers in Devrek in Turkey, where he earned his first money from football by winning a fairground shooting game so often that the owner banned him from shooting.[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay)
## Bayer 04 Leverkusen
In 2019 [Leverkusen](https://www.edgepedia.org/leverkusen) signed Demirbay from Hoffenheim for a €32 million transfer fee, one of the club's significant outlays of that window alongside [Moussa Diaby](https://www.edgepedia.org/moussa-diaby) and [Nadiem Amiri](https://www.edgepedia.org/nadiem-amiri).[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675) • [7](https://as.com/futbol/2019/08/12/reportajes/1565628032_178191.html) He became a regular: the DFB data center lists 25, 29, 29, and 25 Bundesliga appearances across his four seasons, with 4 goals and 3 assists in 2022/23.[6](https://datencenter.dfb.de/en/data-center/people/kerem-demirbay/player) • [8](https://www.bundesliga.com/de/spieler/kerem-demirbay) In his final Leverkusen season he played 36 official matches with 5 goals and 3 assists.[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675)
His Leverkusen years also included disciplinary episodes. In March 2022 the DFB sports court fined him €10,000 for unsporting behavior, a ruling he accepted and which became final.[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay) In December 2021 UEFA confirmed a Europa League suspension against him.[4](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay)
## Galatasaray and later Turkish clubs
On 1 August 2023 Galatasaray announced an agreement with Demirbay and Bayer 04 Leverkusen, paying a reported €3.7 million fee and signing him for five seasons, with net seasonal salaries rising from 1,350,000 TL in 2023/24 to 3,500,000 TL in 2027/28.[5](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/players/kerem-demirbay/transfer-history) • [9](https://www.kap.org.tr/tr/api/BildirimPdf/1179411) The Turkish Football Federation registered his Galatasaray contract as running from 2 August 2023 to 30 June 2026.[1](https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?kisiID=1435043&pageId=526)
His time in Istanbul ended by mutual termination on 31 May 2025, after which he signed with Eyüpspor on 2 July 2025; that contract too was ended by mutual termination on 14 January 2026.[1](https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?kisiID=1435043&pageId=526) On 15 January 2026 he joined Kasımpaşa A.Ş. on a contract running to 30 June 2029.[1](https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?kisiID=1435043&pageId=526)
## Playing style and record
Demirbay operates as a central or defensive midfielder, with the DFB data center and transfer databases listing him as a central midfielder and, in later seasons, a defensive midfield option.[6](https://datencenter.dfb.de/en/data-center/people/kerem-demirbay/player) • [5](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/players/kerem-demirbay/transfer-history) His Bundesliga totals of 184 matches, 22 goals, and 40 assists, plus 15 Champions League and 23 Europa League appearances, mark him as an attacking contributor from midfield rather than a purely holding player.[2](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675) His 2022/23 Bundesliga season at Leverkusen included 152 won duels, 1,268 intensive runs, and 196.9 km of total running distance across 25 appearances.[8](https://www.bundesliga.com/de/spieler/kerem-demirbay)
## References
1. [KEREM DEMİRBAY – Player Details, Turkish Football Federation (TFF)](https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?kisiID=1435043&pageId=526)
2. [Galatasaray'a hoş geldin Kerem Demirbay!, Galatasaray SK](https://www.galatasaray.org/haber/futbol/galatasaray-a-hos-geldin-kerem-demirbay/53675)
3. [Kerem Demirbay Almanya Milli Takımı kadrosunda, Anadolu Agency](https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/spor/kerem-demirbay-almanya-milli-takimi-kadrosunda/820357)
4. [Kerem Demirbay – Mittelfeld, Bayer 04 Leverkusen](https://www.bayer04.de/de-de/player/werkself/ehemalige/kerem-demirbay)
5. [Kerem Demirbay Transfer History, FootballTransfers](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/players/kerem-demirbay/transfer-history)
6. [Kerem Demirbay – Player profile, DFB data center](https://datencenter.dfb.de/en/data-center/people/kerem-demirbay/player)
7. [Calidad arriba y una tarea pendiente en la defensa, AS](https://as.com/futbol/2019/08/12/reportajes/1565628032_178191.html)
8. [Kerem Demirbay – Spielerprofil, Bundesliga.com](https://www.bundesliga.com/de/spieler/kerem-demirbay)
9. [KAP disclosure: Kerem Demirbay transfer, Galatasaray Sportif A.Ş.](https://www.kap.org.tr/tr/api/BildirimPdf/1179411)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › German footballers born before 1995*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license