Who is Mahmoud Dahoud?

Stats correct as of 1 February 2024

Mahmoud Dahoud
Age: 24
Club: VfB Stuttgart (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
Position: Central midfield
Country: Germany (two caps)

Key stats

Dahoud cut his teeth in the game at Borussia Mönchengladbach, joining the club's academy at the age of 14 in 2010. His coaches soon recognised his talents and, after contributing eight goals and 13 assists in 55 games for the Foals' U17 and U19 sides between 2011/12 and 2013/14, he was promoted to the first team at the age of 18 in 2014.

Lucien Favre - then in charge at Gladbach and later overseeing Dahoud's development at Dortmund - handed him his senior debut on 27 August that year in a UEFA Europa League play-off win over FK Sarajevo. He made his Bundesliga bow that same season: after being an unused substitute several times in 2014/15, he took to the pitch against Dortmund in a 3-1 victory on Matchday 28.

Dahoud became a first-team regular in the following campaign after Andre Schubert had taken over the reigns following Favre's departure. Seven goals, 15 assists and 60 Bundesliga outings from a possible 68 over the next two seasons caught the eye of Dortmund, who swooped to secure his signature in 2017 after Dahoud had helped Germany win the U21 European Championship that summer.

A string of injuries limited his game time at the Signal Iduna Park, where he made just 141 competitive appearances in his five years at the club, but Dahoud did earn a couple of Germany caps late in 2020. The 5'8" midfielder showed glimpses of his former self across nine English Premier League appearances for Brighton during the first half of 2023/24, before sealing a loan move back to Stuttgart on deadline day of the winter transfer window.

Plays a bit like: Ilkay Gündogan

Silky in possession, able to glide forward from midfield and pick out the perfect pass with the right weight at the right time, Dahoud shares a number of traits with his predecessor in the BVB midfield. A willing runner who is equally likely to score as he is to track back and cut out opposition attacks, he is the kind of player every coach would like in their team.

Watch: The best of Mahmoud Dahoud in the Bundesliga

Did you know?

Dahoud was born in Amuda, a town in northern Syria on the Turkish border in January 1996, but moved to Germany later that year when his parents fled the regime in their homeland.

What they're saying

"Mo has already proven his enormous quality in the Bundesliga and internationally. We're sure that he will quickly find his feet and will be a valuable addition to our squad." - Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth

"He's a number eight. He covers a lot of ground, can dribble really well and is quick. He can do a lot of things." – former Dortmund head coach Favre