| 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.
Jenz joined English side Fulham in July 2015 after being scouted playing for Tennis Borussia Berlin.
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]
On 30 August 2021, Jenz signed a five-year deal with Ligue 1 side Lorient.[3]
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]
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]
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]
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]
| Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Lausanne-Sport | 2020–21 | Swiss Super League | 30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22 | Swiss Super League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 33 | 1 | |||||
| Lorient | 2021–22 | Ligue 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 1 | |||
| Celtic (loan) | 2022–23 | Scottish Premiership | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 19 | 2 | |
| Schalke 04 (loan) | 2022–23 | Bundesliga | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2023–24 | Bundesliga | 22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 93 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 104 | 4 | |||