A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Džeko made his senior international debut in 2007, earning over 140caps and scoring72 goals since. Džeko became the highest Bosnia and Herzegovina goalscorer of all time on 7 September 2012 in a game againstLiechtenstein, scoring a hat-trick to surpassZvjezdan Misimović andElvir Bolić. On 11 September 2018, in a game againstAustria, he played his 95th game for Bosnia and Herzegovina and surpassedEmir Spahić to become the country's most-capped player. His ten goals in the qualifying campaign helped his national team qualify for its first international tournament, the2014 FIFA World Cup.[13]
Džeko began his career atŽeljezničar, playing as a midfielder between 2003 and 2005, but with little success playing in that position. He was widely regarded as too tall, and with poor technical abilities.[14][15] Džeko's coach at the time though,Jiří Plíšek, saw his potential and when Plíšek returned home, he advisedTeplice to buy him. Željezničar accepted a bid of just €25,000 for Džeko, one of Željezničar's directors saying years later, "[we] thought we won the lottery".[16]
Džeko had aloan spell withÚstí nad Labem in 2005, during which he scored six goals in 15 games. Later that year, he moved back to Teplice, staying there until 2007. With 13 goals in 30 games, he was the second-top goalscorer of theCzech League in the2006–07 season. Due to his performances,VfL Wolfsburg managerFelix Magath signed him for €4 million.[17]
After moving to Wolfsburg, Džeko scored five goals and recorded three assists in his first 11 games: he was named bySportal as the best striker in the first half of the 2007–08Bundesliga season. During his first season in Germany, Wolfsburg finished in fifth place, qualifying for aUEFA Cup spot for the following season. Džeko finished the2007–08 season with eight goals and seven assists in 17 games started.[18]
After Wolfsburg acquired fellow Bosnian internationalZvjezdan Misimović in July 2008, Džeko's performances improved significantly. During the first half of the2008–09 Bundesliga season Džeko scored five goals and added seven assists, but after the winter break he added 21 goals and three more assists. This upturn was especially visible during their ten-game winning streak from 7 February to 26 April, in which he scored 11 goals and added an assist. In May 2009 Džeko scored ahat-trick againstHoffenheim, and did so again two weeks later againstHannover 96, contributing 26 goals and 10 assists overall in 32 league matches. His goal tally was second only to teammateGrafite, with whom he formed the most successful strike duo in Bundesliga history;[19][20] Misimović, the team's main assist and key pass provider, himself broke a longstanding Bundesliga record for assists by setting up 20 goals,[21][19] the three players becoming known as"the magic triangle".[19][22] Wolfsburg ended the season asBundesliga champions for the first time in the club's history; they finished two points clear ofBayern Munich, the key match being the meeting between them on the 26th matchday which finished 5–1,[23][24] Džeko and Grafite scoring two goals each in an impressive performance (the latter added his second and the team's fifth with a memorable dribble andbackheel).[19][22] At that point Wolfsburg, in third at the start of the day, gained the lead in the table for the first time[25] and retained the position for the rest of the season to take the title.[21]
In theDFB-Pokal, Džeko scored six goals in two matches, and in theUEFA Cup, four goals and two assists in eight matches. These performances resulted in him being given the BundesligaPlayers' Footballer of the Year award.[26] Despite attracting interest fromA.C. Milan Džeko decided to stay, renewing his contract until June 2013.[27][28]
On 28 August 2010, Džeko became the top league scorer in Wolfsburg's history with 59 goals in 96 appearances, surpassingDiego Klimowicz who scored 57 in 149 games.[33] At the winter break stage of the2010–11 Bundesliga season, Džeko had scored 10 goals in 17 matches.[34]
After heavy speculation,Roberto Mancini, manager ofManchester City, confirmed on 3 January 2011 that a fee of £27 million (€32 million) had been agreed with Wolfsburg for Džeko, which was City's second highest transfer figure, afterRobinho's £32.5 million (€42.5 million) move fromReal Madrid in 2008. The transfer fee was the sixth highest in thePremier League history at the time.[35] Also, the sum broke the Bundesliga record departure transfer fee,[36] Bosnian record transfer fee, as well as that of any player fromformer Yugoslavia at the time.[37][38][39] The previous ex-Yugoslav record stood for more than a decade – the transfer fee paid by Real Madrid toFenerbahçe forElvir Baljić in 1999 (€26 million).[37][40] In August 2014 he signed a new four-year deal with the club, taking his contract up to 2018.[41]
Following his medical examination in London, he travelled to Manchester on 5 January, and on 7 January, Džeko was confirmed as a Manchester City player, joining the club on a four-and-a-half-year deal.[42]
He made his debut for the club in a 4–3 win overWolverhampton Wanderers on 15 January in which he set upYaya Touré for the third goal of the match.[43] Džeko marked hisFA Cup debut on 30 January 2011 with the equalising goal in Manchester City's fourth round match againstNotts County which ended in a 1–1 draw.[44] In the replay on 20 February, Džeko again scored, helping Manchester City progress to the next round with a 5–0.[45] Džeko scored twice againstAris Thessaloniki within four and a half minutes at theEtihad Stadium in the second leg of the last 32 of theUEFA Europa League on 24 February 2011.[46]
On 25 April 2011, Džeko scored his first Premier League goal with a right footed finish againstBlackburn Rovers atEwood Park.[47] This was the only goal of the game in a 1–0 win for Manchester City[48]
On 14 May 2011, Džeko was an unused substitute in Manchester City's 1–0 win overStoke City the2011 FA Cup Final, winning his first trophy with the club.[50]
Further on, he grabbed some important goals such as a header againstWigan Athletic that sealed a 1–0 win for City and extended their lead over title rivals Manchester United to three points,[54] and a goal that put Manchester City 2–0 up againstPorto in theEuropa League, as they won 6–1 on aggregate.[55] He also scored a headed goal against Blackburn Rovers, which put Manchester City 3–0 up, and sealed the game, this subsequently maintained City's narrow two-point margin over Manchester United.[56]
Bosnia and Herzegovina national managerSafet Sušić urged Džeko to leave City at the end of the season because of lack of first-team football towards the end of the season, with the likes ofJuventus andBayern Munich interested.[57] On the final day of the season, Džeko scored a 92nd-minute equaliser beforeSergio Agüero scored in the 94th minute to beatQueens Park Rangers3–2 and secure thePremier League title, the club's first in 44 years.[10] Following his goal that helped win the championship, his 19th goal and 40th appearance in all competitions, Džeko's agent denied reports that the striker would leave City saying it was all media speculation.[58]
Džeko began the new2012–13 season with an equalising goal againstSouthampton in a 3–2 win. He scored another goal against Queens Park Rangers taking his tally to two goals in the opening three games. He then scored the first goal of City'sChampions League campaign againstReal Madrid at theSantiago Bernabéu. On 29 September, he scored an 87th-minute winner away atFulham, one minute after appearing as a substitute. On 20 October, he came off the bench in the 79th minute to score a minute later. He scored a second goal two minutes into stoppage time to seal a comeback win for 10-man City againstWest Bromwich. On 11 November, Džeko scored another late winning goal as a substitute with a left-footed volley in the 88th minute against Tottenham Hotspur.[59] On 29 December 2012, he scored two goals againstNorwich City in a 4–3 victory.[60]
He finished the season with 14 goals in thePremier League and 15 overall.[61]
On 25 March 2014, Džeko scored twice in a 3–0Manchester Derby win against Manchester United. His first goal came after just 43 seconds, making it the fastest away goal scored atOld Trafford in Premier League history.[63] On 27 April, he scored City's first goal of a 2–0 defeat of Crystal Palace atSelhurst Park, closing the gap on league leaders Liverpool to three points with a game in hand.[64]
He scored a brace in City's match atEverton on 3 May, helping City to a 3–2 win and lift the club to the top of the table with two matches left. His second goal of the game was Man City 150th goal in all competitions.[65][failed verification] In City's penultimate game of the season againstAston Villa, Džeko scored two second-half goals as City won 4–0, ensuring that the club would be crowned champions with a draw againstWest Ham United at home on the final day, which City eventually won.[66]
On 17 August 2014, Džeko assistedDavid Silva for Manchester City's first goal of the2014–15 season in a 2–0 defeat of Newcastle United.[67] On 20 August, Džeko signed a new four-year contract with the club, tying him to Manchester City until 2018.[68]
On 24 September, Džeko scored his first two goals of the season as Manchester City beatSheffield Wednesday 7–0 in the third round of theFootball League Cup.[69] On 27 September, he again scored twice in Manchester City's 4–2 win away to Hull City to record his first goals of thePremier League season.[70]
On 21 February 2015, Džeko ended a run of 15 matches without a goal by scoring Manchester City's third goal in a 5–0 home victory against Newcastle United.[71]
After months of speculation during the 2015 summer transfer market, Džeko officially signed forSerie A outfitRoma on 12 August 2015, on a €4 million loan with an €11 million option to buy that would become mandatory after certain performance related goals were met.[72][73] These clauses were activated on 1 October 2015, making Džeko a permanent member of Roma.[74]
He made hisSerie A debut ten days after his move from Manchester City, playing the entirety of a 1–1 draw atHellas Verona,[75] and in his second appearance on 30 August, he scored the winning goal in the 79th minute to defeat reigning championsJuventus 2–1 at theStadio Olimpico.[76] On 21 February 2016, he scored his firstbrace for Roma, scoring the first and last goals in a 5–0 win overPalermo.[77]
After a relatively disappointing first season with the club, in which Džeko scored only 8 Serie A and 10 goals in all competitions for Roma, he started the2016–17 season with 12 goals in 15 games, 17 goals in 20 overall, thus equaling the start of the season thatGabriel Batistuta had, in which he won the league title with Roma.[78] On 24 November 2016, he scored ahat-trick in the Europa League, in a 4–1 win overViktoria Plzeň.[79] On 16 February 2017, he also scored a hat-trick in the first leg of a Europa League match againstVillarreal, which Roma won 4–0.[80] On 12 March 2017, he became the fourth Roma player to reach 30 goals in all competitions in a season.[81]
On 1 April 2017, Džeko became the first Roma player ever to reach 33 goals in a season in all competitions, surpassing the previous record of 32 goals jointly held byRodolfo Volk andFrancesco Totti.[82] He ended the season with a tally of 39 goals in all competitions of which his 29 goals in Serie A made him theCapocannoniere for that season becoming the first Bosnian player to do so.[83][84]
Džeko started his third season at the Roman club with six goals in first five league games. He scored his first goal of the season againstInter Milan on 26 August 2017, which Roma lost 1–3.[85] In the next two games, he scored two braces, againstVerona[86] andBenevento.[87] He continued his goalscoring form by opening the score againstA.C. Milan on 1 October, in a 2–0 win away atSan Siro.[88] On 9 October, Džeko was one of 30 players to be nominated for the2017 Ballon d'Or prize by French newspaperFrance Football.[89] Džeko then scored a brace againstChelsea atStamford Bridge on 19 October. The game ended in a 3–3 draw.[90] His next big game of the season came againstNapoli, in which he scored a brace and helped his team to a 4–2 victory.[91] Džeko also helped Roma reachUEFA Champions League quarter-finals by scoring the winning goal againstShakhtar Donetsk.[92] Džeko was instrumental in Roma's qualification toUEFA Champions League semi-finals, their first in over 30 years. He scored in both quarter-final legs againstBarcelona, which Roma won on away goals.[93] In the semi-finals, Džeko scored in both legs, but it wasn't enough, as Roma were eventually eliminated byLiverpool 6–7 on aggregate.[94] Džeko ended the season with 24 goals, 16 of which he scored in Serie A, making him club's best goalscorer in the league and joint sixth overall. He also added 8 goals in Champions League, which meant he ended as competition's fifth best goalscorer.[95]
On 13 April 2019, Džeko scored his 8th goal in the league againstUdinese in the 68th minute, giving Roma a win.[98] He scored his 9th league goal for Roma on 12 May 2019, in a 2–0 home win against league championsJuventus in the 90+3rd minute.[99]
During pre-season of the2019–20 season, Džeko extended his contract with Roma until June 2022 on 16 August 2019.[100] He scored his first official goal for the club in the new season on 25 August 2019, in a 3–3 home league draw againstGenoa.[101] On 22 September 2019, Džeko scored a 93rd minute goal in Roma's 1–2 away league win overBologna.[102]
In a game againstCagliari on 6 October 2019, Džeko fractured hiszygomatic bone (cheekbone),[103] needing to go getsurgery[104] and afterwards wear a protective mask in some of his first games after the recovery.[105] He scored his 5th goal in the season for Roma in the club's 2–1 home league win againstMilan on 27 October 2019.[106] With a goal in aUEFA Europa League game againstWolfsberg on 12 December 2019, which Roma drew 2–2, Džeko helped his team qualify for thelast 16 of the2019–20 UEFA Europa League season.[107]
He made his 200th appearance for the club in Roma's 3–1 home league win againstS.P.A.L. on 15 December 2019.[108]
On 14 August 2021, Džeko joinedSerie A clubInter Milan, but without being officially introduced he played afriendly match against Ukrainian clubDynamo Kyiv after being named in the starting line-up,[109] and scored his side's second goal during a 3–0 home win.[110] Later that day, Inter announced that he had signed a two-year deal.[111] He scored his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win against Genoa.[112]
In his first season with the club, he scored 13 goals in 36 Serie A matches, and totally 17 goals and assisted 10 more in all competitions in 49 matches.
On 4 January 2023, Džeko scored the only goal of the match against championship leaders Napoli, giving them their first league defeat for the 2022–23 season.[113] Fourteen days later, he scored in the 3–0 win over Milan in the2022 Supercoppa Italiana and was named Man of the Match;[114][115] with this goal he became the oldest goalscorer (36 years and 307 days) of the competition, breaking the previous record set byCristiano Ronaldo (35 years and 350 days) in2020.[116]
On 10 May 2023, Džeko scored a volley in a 2–0 win over Milan in theChampions League semifinals, and in doing so at the age of 37 years and 54 days, he became the second oldest player to score in the semifinals of the UCL, afterRyan Giggs (37 years and 148 days in April 2011).[117] On 3 June 2023, Džeko played his 100th Inter match in all competitions in a 1–0 away win overTorino in the last matchday of Serie A.[118] On 10 June, he was in the starting eleven in Inter'sUEFA Champions League final against his former side Manchester City.[119] Džeko was substituted forRomelu Lukaku in the 57th minute.[120] City eventually beat Inter 1–0 at theAtatürk Olympic Stadium inIstanbul to win the Champions League.[121]
Later that month, it was confirmed that Džeko would leave the club after two seasons, during which he won four trophies, scored 31 goals and assisted 15 more in all competitions.[122]
On 22 June 2023,Süper Lig sideFenerbahçe announced that Džeko arrived in Istanbul to complete his transfer to Turkey.[123] He signed a two-year contract on the same day.[124][125] A month later, on 26 July, he made his debut for the club as the captain, in which he scored a goal and provided two assists in their 5–0 win overZimbru Chișinău in theEuropa Conference League second qualifying round, becoming at 37 years Fenerbahçe oldest player and goalscorer in European competitions.[126]
On 13 August, he made his Süper Lig debut againstGaziantep at theŞükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, scoring both goals in a 2–1 win for Fenerbahce.[127] On 29 October, he scored his first Süper Lig hat-trick in a 5–0 away win againstPendikspor.[128] He concluded his debut season as Fenerbahçe's top scorer with 21 goals, ranking second in the league, just behindMauro Icardi.[129]
In his second season with the club, he made a very strong start with new coachJosé Mourinho. On 23 July 2024, he made his season debut againstLugano in anUEFA Europa League second qualifying round away game, scoring a hat-trick in a 4–3 win for Fenerbahçe.[130]
On 19 June 2025, Džeko returned to Serie A, joiningFiorentina on a one-year deal with an option to extend for a second season.[131] On 23 October 2025, Džeko scored Fiorentina's second goal in a 3-0 win atSK Rapid, aged 39 years 220 days, becoming the oldest scorer in UEFA Conference League history.[132]
He made his senior debut againstTurkey on 2 June 2007. It was a memorable debut for the player, scoring a volleyed goal during the first halfstoppage time. The goal levelled the score at 2–2 and Bosnia went on to win 3–2.[15]
On 8 September 2012, in an 8–1 win overLiechtenstein, Džeko scored his firsthat-trick for the national team and at the same time became the leading goal scorer in the history of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team with 24 goals. The record was previously held byElvir Bolić who scored 22 goals.[135]
Džeko ended the2014 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign as second-top scorer with ten goals as Bosnia and Herzegovina qualified for the first major tournament in its history.[136]
In June 2014, Džeko was named in Bosnian squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[137] He debuted in the team's opening group match, a narrow defeat toArgentina at theMaracanã Stadium.[138] On 25 June with the team already eliminated, in the final group match againstIran, Džeko scored the opening goal to help Bosnia and Herzegovina to their first everFIFA World Cup win.[139]
On 28 March 2015, Džeko netted his second international hat-trick, scoring all of the goals in a 3–0 away win overAndorra inUEFA Euro 2016 qualifying, their first win in five games of the qualification campaign.[141]
On 13 November 2016, Džeko had an altercation in a2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier againstGreece with Greek playerKyriakos Papadopoulos, in which he pulled downSokratis Papastathopoulos' shorts while trying to obtain the ball. The subsequent fight between the two teams saw both Džeko and Papadopoulos sent off. It was his first red card in the national jersey.[142]
On 28 March 2017, Džeko became the first Bosnian player to score 50 international goals.[143] On 23 March 2019, he made his 100th appearance for Bosnia in a 2–1 win overArmenia in theUEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers.[144]
On 14 June 2022, by playing againstFinland in a2022–23 UEFA Nations League B game, Džeko became his country's oldest player at 36 years and 2 months, beatingSamir Muratović's record.[145] On 7 September 2024, by scoring a goal against theNetherlands in a2024–25 UEFA Nations League A game, he became Bosnia and Herzegovina's oldest goalscorer at 38 years and 5 months, surpassing Emir Spahić's record.[146]
Džeko is renowned for his physical presence, strength and aerial ability.[148][149] Considered by pundits and managers to be one of the best strikers in Europe at his peak, although he is mainly known for his goalscoring abilities, he is also a generous player, who has a penchant for providing a good number of assists in addition to scoring many goals.[6][150] He is also known for shooting the ball with both feet equally well.[151] Wherever he played, he posted impressive goalscoring records, playing mainly as astriker.[152] His former Roma managerLuciano Spalletti once described him as the "perfect prototype" of a striker, noting that he is "strong, tall, fast for his height, combative, aggressive and has good technique."[6] In his youth, he also played as amidfielder,[6] and as awinger.[153]
During his time with Manchester City, he was considered a "super-sub", as he scored many important goals coming off the bench,[154] a label which he himself rejected on several occasions.[155] In retrospective, Džeko is now often described, by his peers and experts alike,[156] as one of the most underrated players in recent history,[157] whose career is too often overlooked in discussions and considerations by football writers and pundits.[158][159]
Džeko was born inSarajevo,SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, at that time part of SFR Yugoslavia, to Midhat and Belma Džeko.[160][161] He stated that his family was always supportive throughout his career, especially his father, who took him to training sessions while he was atŽeljezničar. His father also played professionally in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Džeko is considered a local superstar in Sarajevo.[162]
Džeko was six years old when theSiege of Sarajevo began, lasting for the next three years. His family home was destroyed, and 15 family members had to live in his grandparents' apartment that measured 35 square metres.[163] He continued to play outside in the neighbourhood ofOtoka; on a rare occasion that his mother forbade him to play outside, a missile killed several children on the local football pitch.[164]
In November 2009, Džeko became Bosnia's firstUNICEF ambassador.[175] He has since visited schools and children in his home country affected by theBosnian War. On 6 July 2012, Džeko was accepted to theUniversity of Sarajevo to study sport and physical education.[176] On 10 September 2018, he graduated with abachelor's degree.[177]
Džeko has been in a relationship with model and actress,Amra Silajdžić since 2011, marrying her in 2014. They have three daughters and a son.[178][179][180]
^Sinovčić, Dean (26 May 2009)."Džeko: 'Mislili su da sam balvan'" [Džeko:'They thought I was a log'].Nacional (in Croatian). Zagreb. Archived fromthe original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved28 December 2010.
^"Džeko, budalaštine i krkani" [Džeko, nonsense and nonsense] (in Bosnian). sarajevo-x.com. 29 August 2011.Archived from the original on 16 October 2011. Retrieved29 August 2011.
^"Roma 3–0 Verona: doppietta Dzeko e Nainggolan" [Roma 3–0 Verona: Džeko scores a brace, and Nainggolan adds one.].sportmediaset.it (in Italian). 16 September 2017.Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved19 September 2017.
^"Inter v Dynamo Kyiv line-ups".Inter Milan. 14 August 2021.Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved15 August 2021.INTER (3-5-1-1): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar, 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 36 Darmian, 23 Barella, 77 Brozovic, 20 Calhanoglu, 14 Perisic; 12 Sensi; 9 Dzeko
^Krvavac, Fuad; Röber, Philip; Menicucci, Paolo; Zlámal, Ondřej (23 March 2019)."How brilliant is Edin Džeko?".UEFA.Archived from the original on 30 July 2020. Retrieved25 June 2020.
^Krishna, Keerthi (16 August 2017)."The rebirth of Edin Dzeko". footballbh.net.Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved4 March 2018.
^ab"E. Džeko: Summary".Soccerway. Perform Group.Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved31 August 2025.
^"Profil Hráče Edin DŽEKO" [Edin DŽEKO Player Profile].FKTeplice.cz (in Czech).Teplice. 14 April 2021.Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved1 September 2024.
^"Pohár ČMFS 2005–06" [ČMFS Cup 2005–06].iDNES.cz (in Czech).iDNES.Archived from the original on 17 August 2024. Retrieved1 September 2024.
^Ondřej Zlámal; Philip Röber; Paolo Menicucci; Fuad Krvavac (23 March 2019)."How brilliant is Edin Džeko?".UEFA. UEFA.Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved7 July 2021.
^"Edin Dzeko".ESPN.co.uk.Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved7 July 2021.
^"Torschützenkönige".DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (in German). 13 February 2014.Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved7 July 2021.
.jpg)
.jpg)
