Dimitri Oberlin
{{Short description|Swiss footballer (born 1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Dimitri Oberlin
| full_name = Dimitri Joseph Oberlin Mfomo
| image = FC Red Bull Salzburg gegen DAC Dunajská Streda (1. Juli 2017 Testspiel) 09.jpg
| caption = Oberlin in 2017
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|9|27|df=y}}
| birth_place = Yaoundé, Cameroon
| height = 1.82 m
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Sepsi OSK
| clubnumber = 11
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = FC Étoile-Broye
| youthyears2 = 2008–2009
| youthclubs2 = FC Thierrens
| youthyears3 = 2009–2011
| youthclubs3 = Lausanne-Sport
| youthyears4 = 2011–2015
| youthclubs4 = Zürich
| youthyears5 = 2015–2016
| youthclubs5 = Red Bull Salzburg
| years1 = 2014–2015
| clubs1 = Zürich U21
| caps1 = 17
| goals1 = 7
| years2 = 2014–2015
| clubs2 = Zürich
| caps2 = 1
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2015–2018
| clubs3 = Red Bull Salzburg
| caps3 = 17
| goals3 = 4
| years4 = 2015
| clubs4 = Liefering
| caps4 = 15
| goals4 = 7
| years5 = 2016
| clubs5 = → Rheindorf Altach (loan)
| caps5 = 20
| goals5 = 9
| years6 = 2017–2018
| clubs6 = → Basel (loan)
| caps6 = 26
| goals6 = 5
| years7 = 2018–2021
| clubs7 = Basel
| caps7 = 20
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2019
| clubs8 = → Empoli (loan)
| caps8 = 5
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2019–2020
| clubs9 = → Zulte Waregem (loan)
| caps9 = 18
| goals9 = 2
| years10 = 2021
| clubs10 = Bayern Munich II
| caps10 = 12
| goals10 = 1
| years11 = 2021–2023
| clubs11 = Servette
| caps11 = 24
| goals11 = 2
| years12 = 2022–2023
| clubs12 = → Thun (loan)
| caps12 = 22
| goals12 = 4
| years13 = 2023–2024
| clubs13 = Adanaspor
| caps13 = 26
| goals13 = 3
| years14 = 2024–
| clubs14 = Sepsi OSK
| caps14 = 28
| goals14 = 6
| nationalteam1 = Switzerland U15
| nationalteam2 = Switzerland U16
| nationalyears1 = 2012
| nationalyears2 = 2012
| nationalcaps1 = 7
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 2014
| nationalteam3 = Switzerland U17
| nationalcaps3 = 8
| nationalgoals3 = 4
| nationalyears4 = 2015
| nationalteam4 = Switzerland U18
| nationalcaps4 = 2
| nationalgoals4 = 1
| nationalyears5 = 2014–2016
| nationalteam5 = Switzerland U19
| nationalcaps5 = 11
| nationalgoals5 = 9
| nationalyears6 = 2017
| nationalteam6 = Switzerland U20
| nationalcaps6 = 2
| nationalgoals6 = 0
| nationalyears7 = 2016–2018
| nationalteam7 = Switzerland U21
| nationalcaps7= 12
| nationalgoals7 = 5
| nationalyears8 = 2018
| nationalteam8 = Switzerland
| nationalcaps8 = 1
| nationalgoals8 = 0
| club-update = 18 May 2025
| nationalteam-update =
}}
Dimitri Oberlin (born 27 September 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga I club Sepsi OSK.{{soccerway|dimitri-joseph-oberlin-mfomo/335079}} Born in Cameroon, he represented the Switzerland national team.
Club career
=Youth=
Oberlin started his youth football with FC Étoile-Broye, FC Thierrens and Lausanne-Sport, with whom he won an Under-15 championship in Switzerland.{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/uefa-champions-league/2/blog/post/3381198/basel-could-hit-manchester-city-with-dimitri-oberlins-blistering-pace |title=Basel could hit Manchester City with Dimitri Oberlin's blistering pace |work=ESPN |first=Michael |last=Yokhin |date=13 February 2018}}
=Zürich=
In 2011 he moved to FC Zürich, and signed his first professional contract with the club in 2014. While he was initially promised playing time in the first team, he was used sparingly at the club, and for that reason Oberlin sought to transfer away from the club. He was sought after by Manchester United in England, but would've started in their academy with the Under-18 team. For that reason, Oberlin chose to transfer to Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, where a path to the first team was clearer.{{cite web |url=https://www.blick.ch/sport/fussball/international/u21-juwel-dimitri-oberlin-embolo-ist-mein-bester-freund-id4837888.html |title=<
=Salzburg=
On 30 June 2015, Red Bull Salzburg made the announcement that they had signed a three-year contract with Oberlin.{{cite web | year = 2015 | url = http://sportreport.biz/2015/06/30/dimitri-oberlin-wechselt-vom-fc-zuerich-zu-red-bull-salzburg | title = Dimitri Oberlin wechselt vom FC Zürich zu Red Bull Salzburg | publisher = Red Bull Salzbug| access-date = 30 June 2015}} Oberlin scored his first goal with Salzburg in his second game with the club, against Rapid Wien on 1 August, after coming on as a second-half substitute. He ended up splitting his first season with Salzburg and their farm club, Liefering. He scored three goals with Salzburg, and seven with Liefering in the Erste Liga. Oberlin received an offer from Red Bull parent club RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, but declined, citing the importance of playing first team football.{{cite web |url=https://rblive.de/2016/10/20/dimitri-oberlin-kann-sich-rb-leipzig-vorstellen/ |title=Dimitri Oberlin kann sich RB Leipzig vorstellen |work=RB Live |date=20 October 2016}}
== Loan to Rheindorf Altach==
Oberlin was loaned out to fellow Austrian Football Bundesliga club Rheindorf Altach for the 2016–17 season. Oberlin got off to a good start with Altach, as he scored six goals in his first five games with the club. He finished the first half of the season with nine goals, second in the league to Deni Alar, as Altach were the surprise leaders of the league at the halfway point of the season.{{cite web |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2017/02/15/rheindorf-altach-the-village-team-fighting-to-conquer-austria/ |title=RHEINDORF ALTACH: THE VILLAGE TEAM FIGHTING TO CONQUER AUSTRIA |work=These Football Times |first=Ben |last=Cullimore |date=15 February 2017}} Oberlin was recalled by RB Salzburg at that point, and he found the back of the net on his first match back, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 win over Mattersburg.{{cite web |url=https://www.skysportaustria.at/bundesliga-at/oberlin-sichert-salzburg-drei-punkte-gegen-mattersburg/ |title=Oberlin sichert Salzburg drei Punkte gegen Mattersburg |work=Sky Sport Austria |date=25 February 2017 |language=de |trans-title=Oberlin secures three points for Salzburg against Mattersburg}} He made three more appearances before missing nearly two months with a muscle tear in his thigh, picked up while on international duty with the Swiss under-20 team.{{cite web |url=http://www.spox.com/at/sport/fussball/oesterreich/1703/Artikel/dimitri-oberlin-red-bull-salzburg-schwer-verletzt.html |title=Oberlin beim Nationalteam schwer verletzt |work=SPOX Österreich |date=30 March 2017}} Expected to miss the rest of the season, Oberlin returned in time to make a substitute appearance against his former club that season, Altach, in the final game.{{cite web |url=https://derstandard.at/2000058362381/Salzburg-siegt-nach-Eigentor-gegen-Altach |title=Salzburg siegt nach Eigentor gegen Altach und feiert Meistertitel - derstandard.at/2000058362381/Salzburg-siegt-nach-Eigentor-gegen-Altach |work=Der Standard |date=28 May 2017}} Altach were in fourth by that point in the season, and Salzburg won 1–0 as they ran away with the championship, their fourth in a row.
=Basel=
On 20 June 2017, FC Basel announced that they had acquired Oberlin on loan from Salzburg, with the option of a definite transfer.{{cite web | date = 20 June 2017 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/1-mannschaft/2017/07/dimitri-oberlin-wechselt-leihweise-zum-fcb/ | title = Dimitri Oberlin wechselt leihweise zum FCB | format = | work = Dimitri Oberlin is loaned to FCB | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}} He joined Basel's first team for their 2017–18 season under head coach Raphaël Wicky. On 15 May 2018 Basel pulled this optioned and signed him definitively.{{cite web | date = 15 May 2018 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/1-mannschaft/2018/05/der-fcb-uebernimmt-dimitri-oberlin-definitiv/ | title = Der FCB übernimmt Dimitri Oberlin Definitiv | format = | work = FCB sign Dimitri Oberlin permanent | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}} Oberlin played his domestic league debut for the club in the away game in the Stockhorn Arena on 5 August 2017. He scored his first goal for his new club in same game, it was the last goal of the match, as Basel won 3–0 against Thun.{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 5 August 2017 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=31217 | title = FC Thun - FC Basel 0:3 (0:2) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2022-11-16}}
Basel, as champions of the Swiss Super League the previous year, earned a spot in the group stage of the Champions League. Oberlin appeared as a substitute against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but started for Basel against Portuguese club Benfica. On 27 September 2017, Oberlin's 20th birthday, he played in the starting eleven in the Champions League Group stage match against Benfica. Basel ran out 5–0 victors at St. Jakob-Park, with Oberlin scoring two goals and assisting a third, highlighted by his full-field sprint after heading away a Benfica corner to finish off a Basel counter-attack with a goal within just 12 seconds after the corner kick.{{cite web | first = Josh | last = Lawless | year = 2017 | url = http://www.sportbible.com/football/take-a-bow-watch-basel-star-dimitri-oberlin-channeled-his-inner-usain-bolt-20170928 | title = WATCH: Basel Star Dimitri Oberlin Channeled His Inner Usain Bolt Last Night | publisher = sportbible.com | access-date = 28 September 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190413140335/http://www.sportbible.com/football/take-a-bow-watch-basel-star-dimitri-oberlin-channeled-his-inner-usain-bolt-20170928 | archive-date = 13 April 2019 | url-status = dead }}{{cite web | last = thelocal.ch | year = 2017 | url = https://www.thelocal.ch/20170928/swiss-side-basel-thrash-benfica-in-champions-league| title = FC Basel thrash Benfica in Champions League | publisher = thelocal.ch | access-date = 12 September 2017}} Oberlin made four starts in the group stage, scoring four goals as Basel advanced to the knockout stages, ending second in their group behind Manchester United. Drawn against Manchester City, Basel lost 5–2 on aggregate, but they did defeat City in the second leg in Manchester 2–1, and Oberlin was in the starting eleven both legs.
In the following season, under new trainer Marcel Koller, Basel won the Swiss Cup in the 2018–19 competition. In the first round Basel beat FC Montlingen 3–0, in the second round Echallens Région 7–2 and in the round of 16 Winterthur 1–0. In the quarter-finals Sion were defeated 4–2 after extra time and in the semi-finals Zürich were defeated 3–1. All these games were played away from home. The final was held on the 19 May 2019 in the Stade de Suisse Wankdorf Bern against Thun. Striker Albian Ajeti scored the first goal, Fabian Frei the second for Basel, then Dejan Sorgić netted a goal for Thun, but the end result was 2–1 for Basel.{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=31396 | title = FC Basel - FC Thun 2:1 (1:0) | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2019-11-16}} Oberlin played in two cup games and scored a goal in the second round against Echallens Région.
== Loan to Empoli==
On 31 January 2019, the last day of the 2018–19 winter transfer window, Oberlin moved to Serie A side Empoli F.C. on loan for the rest of the season with Empoli securing an option to make the signing permanent.{{cite web |last1=Frische |first1=David |title=Dimitri Oberlin wird an Empoli ausgeliehen |url=https://telebasel.ch/2019/01/31/dimitri-oberlin-wird-an-empoli-ausgeliehen/?channel=3563 |website=Telebasel |access-date=1 February 2019 |language=de|date=31 January 2019 }} Empoli did not pull the option for the permanent signing.
== Loan to Zulte Waregem==
On 1 July 2019, Oberlin moved to Belgian First Division A to join S.V. Zulte Waregem on a 1 year loan with an option to make the signing permanent.{{cite web|title=Transfer News {{!}} Dimitri Oberlin will join SV Zulte Waregem |url=https://twitter.com/FC_Basel_en/status/1139127977818677249/photo/1}} Zulte Waregem did not decide on their option of a permanent transfer.
==Return to Basel==
After his loan period Oberlin returned to Basel for the 2020–21 season under head coach Ciriaco Sforza. He played just one test game and the match in the third qualifying round of the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League against Anorthosis Famagusta FC as he was substituted in during the 76th minute.{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | author-link = | date = 24 September 2020 | url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/saison/spiele?command=detail&id=31549 | title = FC Basel - Anorthosis Famagusta FC 3:2 (3:1) | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | access-date = 2022-11-16}} Things did not work out between Sforza and Oberlin and he did not play a further game. On 5 December 2020 Basel announced that Oberlin's contract had been dissolved.{{cite web | date = 5 December 2020 | url = https://www.fcb.ch/aktuell/news/1-mannschaft/2020/12/der-fcb-und-dimitri-oberlin-loesen-den-vertrag-auf | title =Der FCB und Dimitri Oberlin lösen den Vertrag auf | format = | work = FCB and Dimitri Oberlin terminate the contract | publisher = FC Basel 1893 AG | language = de | access-date = 2022-11-16}} Between the years 2017 and 2020 Oberlin played in a total of 79 games for Basel scoring a total of 15 goals. 46 of these games were in the Swiss Super League, seven in the Swiss Cup, 13 in the UEFA competitions (Champions League and Europa League) and 13 were friendly games. He scored five goals in the domestic league, two in the cup, four in the Champions League and the other four were scored during the test games.{{cite web | last = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | authorlink = | year = 2020| url = https://www.fcb-archiv.ch/spieler?command=detail&id=9402 | title = Dimitri Oberlin - FCB statistic | format = | publisher = Verein "Basler Fussballarchiv” | accessdate = 2022-11-16}}
=Bayern Munich II=
On 26 January 2021, Oberlin signed a six-month contract with Bayern Munich to play for their reserve team in the 3. Liga.{{cite web|title=Dimitri Oberlin verstärkt die FC Bayern Amateure|url=https://fcbayern.com/de/news/2021/01/fc-bayern-amateure-verpflichten-dimitri-oberlin|publisher=FC Bayern Munich|date=26 January 2021|language=de}}
= Servette FC =
On 28 July 2021, Oberlin signed a three-year contract with Servette FC to play in the Swiss Super League.{{Cite web|last=Reymond|first=Maxime|title=Dimitri Oberlin est servettien ! - servettefc.ch {{!}} SFC|url=https://www.servettefc.ch/index.php/saison/actualites/2595-dimitri-oberlin-est-servettien|access-date=2 August 2021|website=Servette FC|date=28 July 2021 |language=fr-fr}} He made his competitive debut for Servette on 22 August in a 4–1 league win over FC Luzern, coming off the bench in the 68th minute alongside Ronny Rodelin, and immediately contributed with an assist in the same minute to a goal scored by Rodelin.{{cite web |title=Servette vs. Luzern – 22 August 2021 – Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/08/22/switzerland/super-league/servette-fc-geneve/fc-luzern/3524195/ |website=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=23 February 2022}} Oberlin made ten appearances in his first six months at the club, all as a substitute.
==Loan to Thun==
On 31 August 2022, Oberlin moved on a season-long loan to Swiss Challenge League club Thun.{{cite web|publisher=Thun|url=https://fcthun.ch/de/News?section=News&cmd=1&pos=20#news-entry-4065|title=Oberlin zu Thun / Havenaar geht|date=31 August 2022|access-date=13 October 2022|language=de}}
International career
Oberlin received his first call to the Switzerland national football team for friendlies against Greece and Panama in March 2018.{{Cite web | url=https://www.bluewin.ch/de/sport/fussball/petkovic-nimmt-anlauf-77925.amp.html |title = Nati-Coach Petkovic: Deshalb habe ich Drmic und Oberlin aufgeboten}} Born in Cameroon, Oberlin moved to Switzerland at the age of 9, and has participated in their youth ranks from the age of 14.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/who-is-dimitri-oberlin-the-on-loan-basel-forward-who/1fyvhqyzqmws71rw03myvlayzz |title=Who is Dimitri Oberlin? The on-loan Basel forward who rejected Man Utd |work=Goal |first=Peter |last=McVitie |date=22 November 2017}} He made his debut on 23 March 2018 in a game against Greece.{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/lineups?gameId=499992|title=Greece v Switzerland game report|date=23 March 2018}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 18 May 2025|{{cite web |title=D. Oberlin |url=https://uk.soccerway.con/players/dimitri-oberlin/335079/ |work=Soccerway |publisher=Perform Group |access-date=23 January 2018 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}}}{{cite web |title=Dimitri Oberlin » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/dimitri-oberlin/2/ |website=worldfootball.net |access-date=1 February 2019}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Zürich U21
|17 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 7 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Zürich
|1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15
|Swiss Super League |0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 1 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Red Bull Salzburg
|12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League and one in the UEFA Europa League | 0 | 15 | 3 | |
| 2016–17
|Austrian Bundesliga |5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 4 | |
| Liefering
|15 | 7 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 7 | |||
| Rheindorf Altach (loan)
|Austrian Bundesliga |20 | 9 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 9 | ||
| Basel (loan)
|Swiss Super League |26 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 8Appearances in the Champions League | 4 | 37 | 10 | |
| rowspan="4"|Basel
|Swiss Super League |14 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4Two appearances in the Champions League and two in the Europa League | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| 2019–20
|Swiss Super League |6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2020–21
|Swiss Super League |0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1Appearances in the UEFA Europa League | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| colspan="2"|Total
!46 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 13 | 4 | 65 | 11 | |
| Empoli (loan)
|5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | |||
| Zulte Waregem (loan)
|18 | 2 | 4 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 3 | ||
| Bayern Munich II
|12 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 12 | 1 | |||
| rowspan="3"|Servette
|Swiss Super League |20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 2 | ||
| 2022–23
|Swiss Super League |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!24 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 24 | 2 | ||
| Thun (loan)
|22 | 4 | 3 | 1 | colspan="2"|— | 25 | 5 | ||
| Adanaspor
|26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 3 | ||
| Sepsi OSK
|28 | 6 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 29 | 6 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!251 | 50 | 18 | 4 | 16 | 4 | 285 | 58 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Red Bull Salzburg
Basel
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{NFT player|70773}}
{{Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oberlin, Dimitri}}
Category:Footballers from Yaoundé
Category:Naturalised citizens of Switzerland
Category:Cameroonian emigrants to Switzerland
Category:Swiss people of Cameroonian descent
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Swiss men's footballers
Category:Switzerland men's youth international footballers
Category:Switzerland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Switzerland men's international footballers
Category:Cameroonian men's footballers
Category:Swiss expatriate men's footballers
Category:Swiss Super League players
Category:Austrian Football Bundesliga players
Category:2. Liga (Austria) players
Category:Swiss Challenge League players
Category:Belgian Pro League players
Category:FC Red Bull Salzburg players
Category:SC Rheindorf Altach players
Category:S.V. Zulte Waregem players
Category:FC Bayern Munich II players
Category:Adanaspor footballers
Category:Sepsi OSK Sfântu Gheorghe players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Austria
Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Austria
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy
Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Belgium
Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Romania
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey
Category:Swiss expatriate sportspeople in Turkey