| Damian Szymański | |
| Upright: | 0.9 |
| Full Name: | Damian Dawid Szymański[1] |
| Birth Date: | 1995 6, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Kraśnik, Poland |
| Height: | 1.85 m |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | AEK Athens |
| Clubnumber: | 4 |
| Youthclubs1: | MUKS Kraśnik |
| Youthyears2: | –2011 |
| Youthclubs2: | Stal Kraśnik |
| Youthyears3: | 2011–2012 |
| Youthclubs3: | GKS Bełchatów |
| Years1: | 2013–2016 |
| Clubs1: | GKS Bełchatów |
| Caps1: | 48 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Years2: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs2: | Jagiellonia Białystok |
| Caps2: | 16 |
| Goals2: | 1 |
| Years3: | 2017–2019 |
| Clubs3: | Wisła Płock |
| Caps3: | 49 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 2019–2020 |
| Clubs4: | Akhmat Grozny |
| Caps4: | 13 |
| Goals4: | 0 |
| Years5: | 2020 |
| Clubs5: | → AEK Athens (loan) |
| Caps5: | 16 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2020– |
| Clubs6: | AEK Athens |
| Caps6: | 120 |
| Goals6: | 9 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2014 |
| Nationalteam1: | Poland U20 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2018– |
| Nationalteam2: | Poland |
| Nationalcaps2: | 18 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 2 |
| Club-Update: | 23:00, 30 November 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 10 June 2024 |
Damian Dawid Szymański (born 16 June 1995) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Greek Super League club AEK Athens, which he captains, and the Poland national team.
Szymański started his career with GKS Bełchatów.[2]
On 12 January 2019, Wisła Płock announced his transfer to the Russian Premier League club FC Akhmat Grozny.[3] Three days later Akhmat confirmed that the club signed a 4.5-year contract with Szymański.[4]
On 13 January 2020, Szymański travelled to Athens to pass his medicals and complete a move to AEK Athens.[5] The Polish midfielder will join the Greek club on an initial six-month loan, and AEK will maintain the right to buy him for a fee of €1,500,000.[6] One day later, the deal was made official and Szymański was presented by his new club.[7]
On 30 June 2020, Szymański signed a four-year contract with AEK after his transfer from Akhmat Grozny was made permanent.[8] The Greek club paid €1,300,000 for his services, while Akhmat will keep a resale rate of 15%.[9] Five days later, Szymanski scored his first goal for the club, sealing an emphatic 4–1 away win against Aris Thessaloniki.[10]
On 20 January 2021, he scored helping to a 2–0 home win against Apollon Smyrnis for the first leg of the Greek Cup round of 16.[11] On 15 February 2021, he sealed a dramatic 4–2 away win against AEL, after a low cross from Levi García.[12] The following week, Szymański scored a brace in a 2–2 home draw against Asteras Tripolis.[13] On 5 December 2021, he was the only scorer in a vital 1–0 home win against rivals Panathinaikos.[14]
At the start of the 2022–23 season, the appointment of Matías Almeyda as the club's new coach helped Damian to revive his career, eventually receiving a call-up for the 2022 World Cup. He also became the team's second captain, behind Sergio Araujo. The Argentine coach managed to harness his athleticism and passion, making him a significant member of the team, thus attracting interest from various clubs including Standard Liège.[15]
On 20 April 2023, Szymański signed a new contract with AEK Athens, running until the summer of 2027.[16]
Szymański debuted for the Polish senior squad on 7 September 2018 in a 2018–19 UEFA Nations League A game against Italy.[17] He started for the return game against the same country on 14 October.
On 8 September 2021, Szymański scored his first goal, an equaliser in the injury time of the second half during a 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification draw against England.[18]
Szymański was included in the 47-man preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[19] He was included in the final squad.[20]
Szymański was included in the 29-man preliminary squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.[21] He was included in the final squad.[22]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| GKS Bełchatów | 2013–14 | I liga | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15 | Ekstraklasa | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 0 | ||||
| 2015–16 | I liga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 48 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 51 | 2 | |||||
| Jagiellonia Białystok | 2016–17 | Ekstraklasa | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18 | Ekstraklasa | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | ||||
| Wisła Płock | 2017–18 | Ekstraklasa | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 4 | |||
| 2018–19 | Ekstraklasa | 20 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 23 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 52 | 8 | |||||
| Akhmat Grozny | 2018–19 | Russian Premier League | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2019–20 | Russian Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 | |||||
| AEK Athens (loan) | 2019–20 | Superleague Greece | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 1 | |||
| AEK Athens | 2020–21 | Superleague Greece | 21 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 4 | |||
| 2021–22 | Superleague Greece | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| 2022–23 | Superleague Greece | 30 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 2 | ||||
| 2023–24 | Superleague Greece | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | 37 | 2 | |||
| Total | 125 | 10 | 19 | 1 | 12 | 0 | — | 156 | 11 | ||||
| Career total | 251 | 19 | 26 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 291 | 22 | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poland | 2018 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 3 | 1 | ||
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2023 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Total | 18 | 2 | ||
Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Szymański goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 2021 | Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | ||
| 2 | 24 March 2023 | Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic | 1–3 | 1–3 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
GKS Bełchatów
AEK Athens