Moritz Jenz Explained

Moritz Jenz
Birth Date:30 April 1999
Birth Place:Berlin, Germany
Height:1.90m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:VfL Wolfsburg
Clubnumber:25
Youthyears1:–2015
Youthclubs1:Tennis Borussia Berlin
Youthyears2:2015–2020
Youthclubs2:Fulham
Years1:2020–2021
Clubs1:Lausanne-Sport
Caps1:32
Goals1:1
Years2:2021–2023
Clubs2:Lorient
Caps2:17
Goals2:1
Years3:2022–2023
Clubs3:Celtic (loan)
Caps3:11
Goals3:2
Years4:2023
Clubs4:Schalke 04 (loan)
Caps4:11
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:VfL Wolfsburg
Caps5:22
Goals5:0
Club-Update:12 May 2024

Moritz Jenz (born 30 April 1999) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg.

Career

Early career

Jenz joined English side Fulham in July 2015 after being scouted playing for Tennis Borussia Berlin.

Lausanne-Sport

On 25 August 2020, Jenz joined newly-promoted Swiss Super League side Lausanne-Sport on a permanent deal. [1] The following month, he made his professional debut, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–1 win over Servette.[2]

Lorient

On 30 August 2021, Jenz signed a five-year deal with Ligue 1 side Lorient.[3]

Celtic (loan)

On 19 July 2022, Jenz joined Scottish Premiership side Celtic on a season-long loan, with the club having the option of making the move permanent.[4] This seen Jenz reunited with his former Fulham teammate Matt O'Riley.[5] The following month, Jenz scored on his league debut at Ross County[6] On 6 September 2022, Jenz made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3–0 home defeat against Real Madrid.[7]

In an interview with German website Transfermarkt, Jenz spoke of his admiration for Celtic with him quoted as saying (in German): “Celtic is old school, Celtic is mysterious, Celtic is pure football and above all Celtic is a religion. When you stand at a home game, close your eyes and get goosebumps just from the chants, you know why this club fascinates the world”. Popular with Celtic fans, he is often called by his nickname “Mercedes Jenz”.[8] Although Jenz expressed his desire to remain at Celtic beyond his loan spell - it would later be terminated in January after lack of playing opportunities from November onwards due to the winter arrival of Yuki Kobayashi and regular starting centreback Carl Starfelt returning from injury.[9] [10]

Schalke 04 (loan)

On 26 January 2023, Jenz joined Bundesliga club Schalke 04 on loan until the end of the season, with the move becoming permanent if his new club avoid relegation in the 2022–23 season.[11] Three days later, he made his debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against 1. FC Köln.[12] Jenz appeared in 11 matches as Schalke failed to climb out of the relegation zone, finishing in 17th. Following the season, despite Jenz expressing his desire to stay with Schalke,[13] the team confirmed that they would not push to sign Jenz permanently, and he would return to Lorient on 30 June.[14]

Wolfsburg

On 16 June 2023, Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg announced they had agreed to terms with Lorient to sign Jenz on a 4-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[15]

Personal life

Jenz was born in Germany to a Nigerian father and German mother, making him eligible to play for the Nigerian national team. However, his desire was to represent Germany at international level.[16]

Career statistics

[17]

Club!rowspan="2"
SeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lausanne-Sport2020–21Swiss Super League30110311
2021–22Swiss Super League200020
Total32110331
Lorient2021–22Ligue 117110181
Celtic (loan)2022–23Scottish Premiership112002060192
Schalke 04 (loan)2022–23Bundesliga110110
VfL Wolfsburg2023–24Bundesliga22010230
Career total9343020601044

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JENZ JOINS FC LAUSANNE-SPORT. Fulham F.C.. 25 August 2020. 27 January 2021. 27 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220727181059/https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/august/Jenz-Joins-FC-Lausanne-Sport/. live.
  2. Web site: LAUSANNE SPORT VS. SERVETTE 2 - 1. Soccerway. 20 September 2020. 27 January 2021. 23 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210423163141/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/09/20/switzerland/super-league/fc-lausanne-sport/servette-fc-geneve/3361608/. live.
  3. Web site: MORITZ JENZ S'ENGAGE AVEC LES MERLUS. FC Lorient. 30 August 2021. 31 August 2021. French. 31 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210831100315/https://fclweb.fr/moritz-jenz-sengage-avec-les-merlus/. live.
  4. Web site: 19 July 2022 . Double signing swoop as Aaron Mooy and Moritz Jenz join Celtic . 19 July 2022 . Celtic FC . 19 July 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220719140136/https://www.celticfc.com/news/2022/july/19/double-signing-swoop-as-aaron-mooy-and-moritz-jenz-join-celtic/ . live .
  5. Web site: FC . Celtic . Moritz Jenz: my pal, Matt O'Riley, told me I would love it at Celtic . 2022-12-31 . Celtic FC.
  6. Web site: Ross County 1-3 Celtic: Mortiz Jenz scores debut goal as Hoops win in the Highlands. Sky Sports. 9 August 2022. 15 August 2022.
  7. Web site: UEFA.com . Celtic-Real Madrid Line-ups UEFA Champions League 2022/23 . 2022-12-31 . UEFA.com . en.
  8. Web site: Jenz über „Religion“ Celtic, Spitznamen „Mercedes“ und „großen Traum“ vom DFB-Debüt . 2022-12-31 . www.transfermarkt.ch . de.
  9. Web site: "Wenn man für einen Verein wie Celtic spielt, kann man nicht meckern" . 2023-01-26 . www.rbb24.de . de.
  10. Web site: 'Thank you' - Moritz Jenz shares heartfelt farewell as he confirms Celtic exit . 2023-01-26 . HeraldScotland . en.
  11. Web site: Defender Moritz Jenz joins FC Schalke 04. FC Schalke04. 26 January 2023. 26 January 2023.
  12. Web site: FC Schalke 04 - 1. FC Köln Season 2022/2023 Bundesliga . 2023-01-29 . bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website . en.
  13. Web site: Jenz wants to stay at Schalke 04 for years to come. Bulinews. 15 February 2023. 18 June 2023.
  14. Web site: FC Schalke 04 bids farewell to eight first-team players. FC Schalke 04. 7 June 2023. 18 June 2023.
  15. Web site: VfL sign Moritz Jenz. VfL Wolfsburg. 16 June 2023. 18 June 2023.
  16. Web site: Why I dumped Nigeria for Germany, says Jenz - The Nation Newspaper. 22 September 2022.
  17. Web site: Moritz Jenz - Club matches. worldfootball.net.