Moritz Jenz
{{Short description|German football player (born 1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Moritz Jenz
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|4|30|df=y}}
| birth_place = Berlin, Germany
| height = 1.90m
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub = Mainz 05
(on loan from VfL Wolfsburg)
| clubnumber = 3
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–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
| years6 = 2024–
| clubs6 = → Mainz 05 (loan)
| caps6 = 18
| goals6 = 0
| club-update = 12 April 2025
}}
Moritz Jenz (born 30 April 1999) is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for {{German football updater|FSVMainz}} club Mainz 05, on loan from 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/august/Jenz-Joins-FC-Lausanne-Sport|title=JENZ JOINS FC LAUSANNE-SPORT|publisher=Fulham F.C.|date=25 August 2020|access-date=27 January 2021|archive-date=27 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220727181059/https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/august/Jenz-Joins-FC-Lausanne-Sport/|url-status=live}} The following month, he made his professional debut, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–1 win over Servette.{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/09/20/switzerland/super-league/fc-lausanne-sport/servette-fc-geneve/3361608/|title=LAUSANNE SPORT VS. SERVETTE 2 - 1|website=Soccerway|date=20 September 2020|access-date=27 January 2021|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423163141/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/09/20/switzerland/super-league/fc-lausanne-sport/servette-fc-geneve/3361608/|url-status=live}}
= Lorient =
On 30 August 2021, Jenz signed a five-year deal with Ligue 1 side Lorient.{{cite web|url=https://fclweb.fr/moritz-jenz-sengage-avec-les-merlus/|title=MORITZ JENZ S'ENGAGE AVEC LES MERLUS|publisher=FC Lorient|date=30 August 2021|accessdate=31 August 2021|language=French|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831100315/https://fclweb.fr/moritz-jenz-sengage-avec-les-merlus/|url-status=live}}
== 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.{{Cite web |date=19 July 2022 |title=Double signing swoop as Aaron Mooy and Moritz Jenz join Celtic |url=https://www.celticfc.com/news/2022/july/19/double-signing-swoop-as-aaron-mooy-and-moritz-jenz-join-celtic/ |access-date=19 July 2022 |website=Celtic FC |archive-date=19 July 2022 |archive-url=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/ |url-status=live }} This seen Jenz reunited with his former Fulham teammate Matt O'Riley.{{Cite web |last=FC |first=Celtic |title=Moritz Jenz: my pal, Matt O'Riley, told me I would love it at Celtic |url=https://www.celticfc.com/news/2022/july/19/moritz-jenz--my-pal--matt-o-riley--told-me-i-would-love-it-at-celtic/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=Celtic FC}} The following month, Jenz scored on his league debut at Ross County{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/36621/12665262/ross-county-1-3-celtic-mortiz-jenz-scores-debut-goal-as-hoops-win-in-the-highlands|title=Ross County 1-3 Celtic: Mortiz Jenz scores debut goal as Hoops win in the Highlands|website=Sky Sports|date=9 August 2022|accessdate=15 August 2022}} On 6 September 2022, Jenz made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3–0 home defeat against Real Madrid.{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=Celtic-Real Madrid {{!}} Line-ups {{!}} UEFA Champions League 2022/23 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2035651--celtic-vs-real-madrid/lineups/ |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=UEFA |language=en}}
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”.{{Cite web |title=Jenz über "Religion" Celtic, Spitznamen "Mercedes" und "großen Traum" vom DFB-Debüt |url=https://www.transfermarkt.ch/jenz-uber-bdquo-religion-ldquo-celtic-spitznamen-bdquo-mercedes-ldquo-und-bdquo-grossen-traum-ldquo-vom-dfb-debut/view/news/414748 |access-date=2022-12-31 |website=www.transfermarkt.ch |language=de}} 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.{{Cite web |title="Wenn man für einen Verein wie Celtic spielt, kann man nicht meckern" |url=https://www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2022/12/fussball-interview-moritz-jens-celtic-glasgow-hertha-union.html |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=www.rbb24.de |language=de}}{{Cite web |title='Thank you' - Moritz Jenz shares heartfelt farewell as he confirms Celtic exit |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/23276627.moritz-jenz-shares-heartfelt-farewell-confirms-celtic-exit/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=HeraldScotland |language=en}}
== 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.{{cite web|url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/moritz-jenz-loan/|title=Defender Moritz Jenz joins FC Schalke 04|website=FC Schalke04|date=26 January 2023|accessdate=26 January 2023}} Three days later, he made his debut for the club in a 0–0 draw against 1. FC Köln.{{Cite web |title=FC Schalke 04 - 1. FC Köln {{!}} Season 2022/2023 {{!}} Bundesliga |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/matchday/2022-2023/18/fc-schalke-04-vs-1-fc-koeln/lineup |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=bundesliga.com - the official Bundesliga website |language=en}} 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,{{cite web|url=https://bulinews.com/news/16306/jenz-wants-stay-schalke-04-years-come|title=Jenz wants to stay at Schalke 04 for years to come|website=Bulinews|date=15 February 2023|accessdate=18 June 2023}} the team confirmed that they would not push to sign Jenz permanently, and he would return to Lorient on 30 June.{{cite web|url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/schalke-04-bids-farewell-to-eight-first-team-players/|title=FC Schalke 04 bids farewell to eight first-team players|website=FC Schalke 04|date=7 June 2023|accessdate=18 June 2023}}
== 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.vfl-wolfsburg.de/en/newsdetails/news-detail/detail/news/vfl-sign-moritz-jenz|title=VfL sign Moritz Jenz|website=VfL Wolfsburg|date=16 June 2023|accessdate=18 June 2023}}
On 28 August 2024, Jenz moved on a season-long loan to Mainz 05.{{cite web|publisher=Mainz 05|url=https://www.mainz05.de/news/moritz-jenz-verteidigt-kuenftig-fuer-den-fsv|title=Moritz Jenz verteidigt künftig für den FSV|trans-title=Moritz Jenz will defend for FSV|date=28 August 2024|access-date=28 August 2024|language=de}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-dumped-nigeria-for-germany-says-jenz/|title=Why I dumped Nigeria for Germany, says Jenz - The Nation Newspaper|date=22 September 2022}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 12 April 2025.}}{{cite web|url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/moritz-jenz/2/|title=Moritz Jenz - Club matches|website=worldfootball.net}}
| 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"|League cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="3"|Lausanne-Sport
|30 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 31 | 1 | |||
| 2021–22
|Swiss Super League |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 2 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 33 | 1 | |||
| Lorient
|17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|– | colspan="2"|– | 18 | 1 | |||
| Celtic (loan)
|11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}} | 0 | 19 | 2 | |
| Schalke 04 (loan)
|11 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 11 | 0 | ||||
| VfL Wolfsburg
|Bundesliga |22 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| Mainz 05 (loan)
|Bundesliga |18 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 0 | |||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!111 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 123 | 4 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerway}}
- {{LFP Ligue 1|moritz-jenz}}
{{1. FSV Mainz 05 squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jenz, Moritz}}
Category:Footballers from Berlin
Category:German men's footballers
Category:German sportspeople of Nigerian descent
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:FC Lausanne-Sport players
Category:FC Schalke 04 players
Category:VfL Wolfsburg players
Category:1. FSV Mainz 05 players
Category:Swiss Super League players
Category:Scottish Professional Football League players
Category:German expatriate men's footballers
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Switzerland
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in France
Category:German expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Switzerland
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France