Thomas Joseph Delaney (born 3 September 1991) is a Danish professionalfootballer, who plays as adefensive midfielder forDanish Superliga clubCopenhagen.
![]() Delaney training withWerder Bremen in 2017 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Thomas Joseph Delaney[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1991-09-03)3 September 1991 (age 33) | ||
Place of birth | Frederiksberg, Denmark | ||
Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Copenhagen | ||
Number | 27 | ||
Youth career | |||
1993–2008 | Copenhagen | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2008–2016 | Copenhagen | 172 | (19) |
2017–2018 | Werder Bremen | 45 | (7) |
2018–2021 | Borussia Dortmund | 62 | (4) |
2021–2024 | Sevilla | 34 | (2) |
2023 | →TSG Hoffenheim (loan) | 6 | (0) |
2023–2024 | →Anderlecht (loan) | 25 | (1) |
2024– | Copenhagen | 16 | (2) |
International career | |||
2008–2009 | Denmark U18 | 3 | (0) |
2009–2010 | Denmark U19 | 11 | (1) |
2011 | Denmark U20 | 2 | (0) |
2010–2012 | Denmark U21 | 11 | (0) |
2013–2024 | Denmark | 81 | (8) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:06, 16 March 2025 (UTC) |
Delaney began his career at Copenhagen, making 249 total appearances and scoring 24 goals, while winning the Danish Superliga five times and theDanish Cup on four occasions. He then played in Germany forWerder Bremen andBorussia Dortmund, making 107 totalBundesliga appearances, before a move toSevilla in 2021. Following loan stints atTSG Hoffenheim andAnderlecht, Delaney returned to Copenhagen in 2024.
Delaney made his international debut forDenmark in 2013. He was part of their squads at the2018 FIFA World Cup,UEFA Euro 2020, the2022 World Cup andEuro 2024, reaching the semi-finals of the 2020 tournament.
Club career
editCopenhagen
editDelaney started playing youth football atKjøbenhavns Boldklub, the reserve team of Danish clubCopenhagen.[3]
Delaney made his debut for Copenhagen in an unofficial friendly in August 2008. After playing the first half of the2008–09 season in the KB youth team, he was a part of the FCK squad in theDanish Cup that campaign. He made his official debut in the first leg of the semi-finals againstNordvest FC in April, where he substitutedHjalte Nørregaard in the middle of second half.[3] In the return leg two weeks later Delaney was among the starting eleven playing the first 60 minutes before he was substituted withŞaban Özdoğan.
In the summer break 2009, he was promoted to the first team squad together withŞaban Özdoğan. He scored on his continental debut on 22 July 2009, playing the full second leg in Copenhagen'sChampions League second qualifying round victory overFK Mogren.[4][5] His firstSuperliga match was on 9 August 2009 againstSønderjyskE replacingAtiba Hutchinson near the end of the match.[6] On 29 December 2011, signed a contract extension keeping him at Copenhagen until the end of 2014.[3] At the time, Delaney had the distinction of being the longest serving current player at the club, despite being only 20.[3]
On 6 July 2013, Delaney extended his contract with the club to 2015. At the same time, he got jersey number 8.[7] In the following season, he became a regular starter in his favorite position, includingUEFA Champions League matches againstJuventus,Real Madrid andGalatasaray. On 23 January 2014, he again extended his contract, until 2017.[6] At the same time, he was officially named vice-captain of the team.[6] Half a year later, Delaney was promoted to club captain.
On 14 May 2015 he was named Man of the Match as his side won theDanish Cup final 3–2 after extra-time against fellow Superliga sideFC Vestsjælland.[8][9]
On 27 September 2016, Delaney contributed to a comfortable 4–0 victory for his side with a left-footed half-volley from 30 yards against Belgian sideClub Brugge KV[10] in theUEFA Champions League.[11]The goal came third in the vote for goal of the season in the UEFA Champions League.[12]
Werder Bremen
editOn 17 August 2016,Werder Bremen announced Delaney would be joining the club in January 2017.[13][14] On 18 February 2017, he scored his first goal for the club, a free kick, in Werder Bremen's 2–0 win away toMainz 05 before being stretchered off the pitch with a suspected concussion. It was the club's first win of the new year following four straight defeats.[15]
On 1 April 2017, Delaney scored ahat-trick, the first of his career, in Werder Bremen's 5–2 win away againstSC Freiburg.[16]
Borussia Dortmund
editOn 7 June 2018, Delaney signed forBorussia Dortmund on a four-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Werder Bremen was reported as €20 million.[17][18]
On 13 May 2021, Delaney was a second-half substitute for Dortmund in their 4–1 victory overRB Leipzig in the2021 DFB-Pokal Final.[19]
Sevilla
editOn 25 August 2021, Delaney moved to Spain to joinLa Liga sideSevilla on a four-year deal for a fee reported byDiario de Sevilla as €7 million.[20]
Loan to TSG Hoffenheim
editOn 30 January 2023, Delaney returned to Germany and joinedTSG Hoffenheim on loan until the end of the 2022–23 season.[21]
Loan to Anderlecht
editOn 22 August 2023, Delaney joinedBelgian Pro League clubAnderlecht on a season-long loan with an option-to-buy.[22]
He made his debut for the club on 27 August 2023 in a 2-1 victory againstCharleroi.
He scored his first goal for the Mauves on 1 december 2023, in a 3-1 away win againstKVC Westerlo.
With Anderlecht, Delaney was inconsistent, mainly due to injuries, which limited his playing time at the Belgian giants, eventually leading toAnderlecht not triggering the buy option for Delaney.[23] He made a total of 25 appearances for the club.
Return to Copenhagen
editOn 20 July 2024, after 7,5 years he finally made his return toDanish Superliga clubFC København, signing a two year deal.[24]
International career
editDelaney made his debut for the Denmark under-18 team in October 2008, and went on to play three matches in total. He played 11 games for theDenmark U-19 team. On 11 August 2010, he made his debut for theDenmark U-21 team in a friendly against theItaly U-21 team.
Delaney made his debut for thesenior national team on 15 October 2013 in a2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match againstMalta. He played the full 90 minutes of the 6–0 home win.[25] His second cap did not come until 25 March 2015, as a half-time substitute in a 3–2 friendly win over theUnited States inAarhus.[26]
Delaney scored his first international goal on 1 September 2017 to open a 4–0 home win over Poland in2018 FIFA World Cupqualification.[27] Three days later, he scored a hat-trick as the team came from behind to win 4–1 away toArmenia.[28]
In June 2018, he was named in Denmark's squad for the World Cup in Russia.[29] He was also named in the 26-man squad forUEFA Euro 2020.[30] He scored the first goal in the 2–1 quarter-final game against theCzech Republic.[31]
On 25 August 2024, Delaney announced his retirement from international football. He scored eight goals in 81 international appearances.[32]
Personal life
editDelaney was born in Denmark and spent his youth there. His father was also born in Denmark but has American citizenship due to his own father (Thomas Delaney's paternal grandfather) being born in the United States.[33] Delaney also has Irish roots through his paternal great-grandfather who moved from Ireland to the United States in the 19th century during theGreat Famine.[34]
Delaney is red–greencolour blind.[35][36][37]
Delaney married Michelle Lindemann Jensen on 27 December 2020. Michelle is the daughter of formerBrøndby coachHenrik Jensen and the sister of former national team playerMike Jensen.[38] Delaney and Michelle met while studying atNiels Brock Copenhagen Business College. They have a daughter, Billie, born in February 2021.[39]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of match played 16 March 2025[40]
Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Copenhagen | 2008–09 | Danish Superliga | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | |||
2009–10 | Danish Superliga | 9 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3[b] | 1 | — | 12 | 1 | ||
2010–11 | Danish Superliga | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2[c] | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
2011–12 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7[d] | 0 | — | 27 | 1 | ||
2012–13 | Danish Superliga | 21 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 8[e] | 0 | — | 32 | 1 | ||
2013–14 | Danish Superliga | 32 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 43 | 3 | ||
2014–15 | Danish Superliga | 27 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 10[f] | 0 | — | 42 | 3 | ||
2015–16 | Danish Superliga | 29 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4[g] | 0 | — | 38 | 6 | ||
2016–17 | Danish Superliga | 19 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 11[c] | 2 | — | 30 | 8 | ||
Total | 172 | 19 | 26 | 2 | 51 | 3 | — | 249 | 24 | |||
Werder Bremen | 2016–17 | Bundesliga | 13 | 4 | — | — | — | 13 | 4 | |||
2017–18 | Bundesliga | 32 | 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 3 | |||
Total | 45 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 49 | 7 | ||||
Borussia Dortmund | 2018–19 | Bundesliga | 30 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 38 | 3 | |
2019–20 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | |
2020–21 | Bundesliga | 20 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7[c] | 0 | 1[h] | 0 | 34 | 1 | |
2021–22 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
Total | 62 | 4 | 9 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 88 | 4 | ||
Sevilla | 2021–22 | La Liga | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 7[i] | 0 | — | 35 | 2 | |
2022–23 | La Liga | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4[g] | 0 | — | 12 | 0 | ||
Total | 34 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — | 47 | 2 | |||
TSG Hoffenheim (loan) | 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
Anderlecht (loan) | 2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 1 | ||
Copenhagen | 2024–25 | Danish Superliga | 16 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 10[j] | 0 | — | 29 | 3 | |
Career total | 358 | 35 | 47 | 3 | 88 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 494 | 41 |
- ^IncludesDanish Cup,DFB-Pokal,Copa del Rey,Belgian Cup
- ^One appearance and one goal inUEFA Champions League, two appearances inUEFA Europa League
- ^abcdefAppearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^abAppearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^Appearance inDFL-Supercup
- ^Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
- ^Appearances inUEFA Conference League
International
editNational team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
Denmark | 2013 | 1 | 0 |
2014 | 0 | 0 | |
2015 | 4 | 0 | |
2016 | 9 | 0 | |
2017 | 9 | 4 | |
2018 | 11 | 0 | |
2019 | 9 | 1 | |
2020 | 7 | 0 | |
2021 | 15 | 2 | |
2022 | 7 | 0 | |
2023 | 3 | 1 | |
2024 | 6 | 0 | |
Total | 81 | 8 |
- Scores and results list Denmark's goal tally first.[41]
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 1 September 2017 | Parken Stadium,Copenhagen, Denmark | Poland | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
2. | 4 September 2017 | Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium,Yerevan, Armenia | Armenia | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
3. | 3–1 | |||||
4. | 4–1 | |||||
5. | 5 September 2019 | Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar | Gibraltar | 4–0 | 6–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
6. | 3 July 2021 | Olympic Stadium,Baku, Azerbaijan | Czech Republic | 1–0 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 |
7. | 7 September 2021 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark | Israel | 4–0 | 5–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
8. | 17 November 2023 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark | Slovenia | 2–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
Honours
editCopenhagen
Borussia Dortmund
Individual
- Arla's Talent Award: 2009[3]
- F.C. Copenhagen Player of the Year: 2015, 2016[42]
References
edit- ^"UEFA Nations League 2019: Booking List before League phase Matchday 5"(PDF). UEFA. 6 November 2018. p. 8. Archived fromthe original(PDF) on 23 November 2020. Retrieved24 November 2020.
- ^"Thomas Delaney". Bundesliga. Retrieved27 May 2023.
- ^abcde"Contract Extension for Delaney". FCK. 29 December 2011. Retrieved2 August 2019.
- ^"Misery for Mogren in Copenhagen". UEFA. 15 July 2009. Retrieved2 August 2019.
- ^"Mogren 0-6 Copenhagen". Sky Sports. 22 July 2009. Retrieved2 August 2019.
- ^abc"Delaney signs new contract". FCK. 24 January 2014. Retrieved2 August 2019.
- ^Thomas Delaney forlænger til 2015,F.C. Copenhagen, 6 July 2013
- ^"FC Vestsjaelland - FC Kobenhavn". FCK. 14 May 2015. Retrieved2 August 2019.
- ^"FCK beat Vestsjælland to win Danish Cup". UEFA. 14 May 2015. Archived fromthe original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved2 August 2019.
- ^"Delaney stunner helps Danish champions canter to victory".beIN SPORTS.
- ^uefa.com (27 September 2016)."UEFA Champions League 2016/17 - History - København-Club Brugge – UEFA.com".
- ^UEFA.com (5 June 2017)."Observers' choice: goals of the #UCL season".
- ^"Thomas Delaney to move to Werder in the winter".Werder Bremen. 17 August 2016. Archived fromthe original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved17 August 2016.
- ^Walsh, Jonathan (17 August 2016)."Delaney delight at Werder move".VAVEL. Retrieved17 August 2016.
- ^"Bremen bounce back at Mainz".Bundesliga. 18 February 2017. Retrieved18 February 2017.
- ^"Thomas Delaney treble boosts Werder Bremen".Bundesliga. 1 April 2017. Retrieved1 April 2017.
- ^"Delaney wechselt für 20 Millionen Euro zum BVB".kicker Online (in German). 7 June 2018. Retrieved7 June 2018.
- ^"Borussia Dortmund verpflichtet Thomas Delaney" (in German). 7 June 2018. Retrieved7 June 2018.
- ^"Borussia Dortmund beats Leipzig 4-1 in German Cup final".AP. 13 May 2021.
- ^"El Sevilla cierra a Delaney por 7 millones de euros".Diario de Sevilla (in Spanish). 24 August 2021. Retrieved27 January 2022.
- ^"TSG Hoffenheim sign Thomas Delaney on loan". TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. 30 January 2023. Retrieved30 January 2023.
- ^"Mercato : Anderlecht officialise l'arrivée de Thomas Delaney, sa 10e recrue".Le Soir (in French). 22 August 2023. Retrieved22 August 2023.
- ^"Geen Delaney voor Anderlecht, Brusselaars zien af van terugkeer Deen" [No Delaney for Anderlecht, Brussels club backs out of Danish player’s return.].Voetbalprimeur.be (in Dutch). 18 July 2024.
- ^"Thomas Delaney returns to Copenhagen".FCK.DK. 20 July 2024.
- ^"Delaney, Larsen og Duncan med fra start".Berlingske (in Danish). 15 October 2013. Retrieved27 January 2022.
- ^"Hattrick af Bendtner sikrer 3-2 sejr" (in Danish). Danish Football Association. 25 March 2015. Retrieved27 January 2022.
- ^"Poland thrashed 4-0 by Denmark in World Cup qualifying". Associated Press. 1 September 2017. Retrieved27 January 2022.
- ^"Thomas Delaney hat-trick helps Denmark to victory over Armenia".Shropshire Star. 4 September 2017. Retrieved27 January 2022.
- ^"Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad - Final 23-man lists".Goal.com.
- ^Pope, Conor (13 June 2021)."Euro 2020 squads: Every confirmed team for the 2021 tournament".FourFourTwo. Retrieved3 July 2021.
- ^"Denmark beat Czechs to reach last four".BBC Sport. Retrieved3 July 2021.
- ^Asmussen, Birgitte Skovlund; Nielsen, Morten Løvig (25 August 2024)."Thomas Delaney stopper på landsholdet".DR (in Danish). Archived fromthe original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved25 August 2024.
- ^"DELANEY DISCUSSES AMERICAN ROOTS". Yanks Abroad. 11 April 2012. Archived from the original on 13 March 2015.
- ^Croke, Ruaidhrí (10 November 2017)."Thomas Delaney: Dane with Irish name has eyes only for Russia".The Irish Times. Retrieved10 June 2020.
- ^Seales, Rebecca (10 July 2018)."World Cup 2018: Why millions of fans see the football like this".BBC.com. Retrieved11 July 2018.
- ^"Socceroos play nice with kit change".Blue Mountains Gazette. 22 June 2018. Retrieved15 March 2024.
- ^"Thomas Delaney: An inspiration for colour blindness".MARCA. 5 July 2021. Retrieved15 March 2024.
- ^Mayoni, Sebastian Dall (27 January 2018)."Thomas Delaney: "Det var ekstremt angstprovokerende, da jeg som 16-årig begyndte at træne med FCKs førstehold"".Euroman (in Danish). Archived fromthe original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved25 August 2024.
- ^Kofoed, Pernille Lewinsky; Knutzen, Susanne (8 October 2021)."7 ting om Thomas Delaney, som du (måske) ikke vidste".7 ting om Thomas Delaney, som du (måske) ikke vidste (in Danish). Archived fromthe original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved25 August 2024.
- ^Thomas Delaney at Soccerway
- ^ab"Delaney, Thomas".National Football Teams. Retrieved22 June 2021.
- ^"Årets spiller..." (in Danish). F.C. Copenhagen Fan Club. 2006. Retrieved2 January 2008.[dead link]
External links
edit- Thomas Delaney national team profile at theDanish Football Association(in Danish)
- F.C. Copenhagen profile(in Danish)
- Thomas Delaney onTwitter
- Profile atFootball-Lineups.com