Sebastian Polter

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Sebastian Polter

| image = SebastianPolter2015.jpg

| caption = Polter playing for Union Berlin in 2015

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|4|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Wilhelmshaven, Germany

| height = 1.92 m{{cite web |url=https://schalke04.de/en/teams/profis/person/sebastian-polter/ |title=Sebastian Polter |publisher=FC Schalke 04 |access-date=31 August 2022}}

| position = Striker

| currentclub = Eintracht Braunschweig

| clubnumber = 17

| youthyears1 = 1994–2003

| youthclubs1 = Heidmühler FC

| youthyears2 = 2003–2004

| youthclubs2 = SV Wilhelmshaven

| youthyears3 = 2004–2005

| youthclubs3 = Werder Bremen

| youthyears4 = 2005–2006

| youthclubs4 = SV Wilhelmshaven

| youthyears5 = 2006–2007

| youthclubs5 = Eintracht Braunschweig

| youthyears6 = 2007–2010

| youthclubs6 = VfL Wolfsburg

| years1 = 2008–2012

| clubs1 = VfL Wolfsburg II

| caps1 = 68

| goals1 = 19

| years2 = 2011–2013

| clubs2 = VfL Wolfsburg

| caps2 = 12

| goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2012–2013

| clubs3 = → 1. FC Nürnberg (loan)

| caps3 = 26

| goals3 = 5

| years4 = 2012–2013

| clubs4 = → 1. FC Nürnberg II (loan)

| caps4 = 2

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2013–2015

| clubs5 = Mainz 05

| caps5 = 13

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2013–2014

| clubs6 = Mainz 05 II

| caps6 = 7

| goals6 = 3

| years7 = 2014–2015

| clubs7 = → Union Berlin (loan)

| caps7 = 29

| goals7 = 14

| years8 = 2015–2017

| clubs8 = Queens Park Rangers

| caps8 = 51

| goals8 = 10

| years9 = 2017–2020

| clubs9 = Union Berlin

| caps9 = 72

| goals9 = 30

| years10 = 2020–2021

| clubs10 = Fortuna Sittard

| caps10 = 32

| goals10 = 9

| years11 = 2021–2022

| clubs11 = VfL Bochum

| caps11 = 33

| goals11 = 10

| years12 = 2022–2024

| clubs12 = Schalke 04

| caps12 = 31

| goals12 = 5

| years13 = 2024

| clubs13 = → Darmstadt 98 (loan)

| caps13 = 9

| goals13 = 0

| years14 = 2024–

| clubs14 = Eintracht Braunschweig

| caps14 = 27

| goals14 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2008–2009

| nationalteam1 = Germany U18

| nationalcaps1 = 6

| nationalgoals1 = 3

| nationalyears2 = 2012

| nationalteam2 = Germany U20

| nationalcaps2 = 1

| nationalgoals2 = 2

| nationalyears3 = 2012–2013

| nationalteam3 = Germany U21{{cite web|url=https://www.dfb.de/u-21-maenner/spiele-termine/spielplan/?spieledb_path=%2Fteams%2F28796%2Fnational_player%2F129852|title=U 21-Männer: Sebastian Polter|trans-title=U 21-men: Sebastian Polter|access-date=17 January 2015|language=de|publisher=DFB}}

| nationalcaps3 = 10

| nationalgoals3 = 4

| club-update = 20 May 2025

}}

Sebastian Polter (born 1 April 1991) is a German professional footballer who plays as a striker for {{German football updater|Braunsch}} club Eintracht Braunschweig.

Club career

=Early career=

Polter played for VfL Wolfsburg II from July 2008 until June 2012.{{cite web |title=Sebastian Polter |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/sebastian-polter/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=23 August 2018}} During the 2008–09 season, Polter made 10 appearances without scoring a goal.{{cite web |title=Sebastian Polter |url=https://www.kicker.de/sebastian-polter/spieler/2-bundesliga/2024-25/eintracht-braunschweig |website=Kicker |publisher=kicker |access-date=23 August 2018 |language=de}} During the 2009–10 season, Polter scored three goals in 15 appearances.{{cite web |title=Sebastian Polter |url=https://www.kicker.de/sebastian-polter/spieler/2-bundesliga/2024-25/eintracht-braunschweig |website=Kicker |publisher=kicker |access-date=23 August 2018 |language=de}} During the 2010–11 season, Polter scored 11 goals in 25 appearances.{{cite web |title=Sebastian Polter |url=https://www.kicker.de/sebastian-polter/spieler/2-bundesliga/2024-25/eintracht-braunschweig |website=Kicker |publisher=kicker |access-date=23 August 2018 |language=de}} He played for both the first team and reserve team during the 2011–12 season.{{cite web |title=Sebastian Polter » Club matches |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/sebastian-polter/2/ |publisher=World Football |access-date=23 August 2018}} He scored two goals in 12 appearances for the first team and five goals in 18 appearances for the reserve team.

Polter played for 1. FC Nürnberg between July 2012 and June 2013 and for the reserve team in April 2013. He scored five goals in 27 appearances for the first team and a goal in two appearances for the reserve team.

Polter played for 1. FSV Mainz 05 between July 2013 and August 2014 and 1. FSV Mainz 05 II between September 2013 and June 2014. For the first team, he played in 15 matches without scoring a goal, and for the reserve team, he scored three goals in seven appearances.

In late August 2014, he was loaned to 2. Bundesliga club Union Berlin for the season. He scored 14 goals in 29 appearances.{{cite web |title=Sebastian Polter |url=https://www.kicker.de/sebastian-polter/spieler/2-bundesliga/2024-25/eintracht-braunschweig |website=Kicker |publisher=kicker |access-date=23 August 2018 |language=de}}

=Queens Park Rangers=

In July 2015 it was announced that Queens Park Rangers had signed Polter from FSV Mainz 05 on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee. Polter made an instant impact on his debut scoring QPR's third goal in their 10–0 win over Italian side Verona Stars in the club's first pre-season fixture of the summer. Polter's league debut came in a 2–0 away loss to London rivals Charlton Athletic as he came on as a sub for Charlie Austin in the 84th minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33744140|title=Charlton 2–0 QPR|publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 August 2015|access-date=12 August 2015}} His full debut came in a League Cup match against Yeovil Town, he scored the first goal for QPR as they secured a comfortable 3–0 victory.{{cite news|title=Yeovil 0–3 QPR|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33768850|access-date=12 August 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=12 August 2015}} He finished the 2015–16 season with seven goals in 33 appearances. During the 2016–17 season for Queens Park Rangers, he scored 12 goals in 23 appearances.

=Union Berlin=

He rejoined Union Berlin on 10 January 2017.{{cite web |title="Wie eine Heimkehr": Polter zurück bei Union Berlin |url=https://www.kicker.de/wie-eine-heimkehr_polter-zurueck-bei-union-berlin-668392/artikel |website=Kicker |publisher=kicker |access-date=23 August 2018 |language=de |date=10 January 2017}} During the 2016–17 season for Union Berlin, he scored seven goals in 15 appearances. He finished the 2017–18 season with 12 goals in 26 appearances.{{cite web |title=Sebastian Polter |url=https://www.kicker.de/sebastian-polter/spieler/2-bundesliga/2024-25/eintracht-braunschweig |website=Kicker |publisher=kicker |access-date=23 August 2018 |language=de}}

On 28 May 2020, Union Berlin president Dirk Zingler announced in a statement that Polter would not play for the club until the end of his contract in June, stating that Polter was the only member of the club that did not "stand up for each other and for our club," during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title= Polter won't play for Union in the Bundesliga |url=https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/en/union-live/latest-news/professional/Polter-won-t-play-for-Union-in-the-Bundesliga-465S/ |publisher=Union Berlin |access-date=28 May 2020 |date=28 May 2020}} He had, as the sole member of the first team, refused to take a pay cut as the club was struggling financially due to the effects of the pandemic.{{cite news |last1=France |first1=Sam |title=Polter exiled from Union Berlin squad for failing to uphold 'fundamental community values' of Bundesliga club {{!}} Goal.com |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/polter-exiled-union-berlin-fundamental-community-values/7uwt52wvnpw1191w7x6boxh0e |work=GOAL |date=28 May 2020 |language=en}}

=Fortuna Sittard=

Polter signed a two-year contract with Dutch Eredivisie club Fortuna Sittard on 17 August 2020.{{cite web |title=Fortuna Sittard en Sebastian Polter vinden elkaar in tweejarig contract |url=https://www.fortunasittard.nl/fortuna-sittard-slaat-opnieuw-grote-slag-met-sebastian-polter/ |website=Fortuna Sittard |language=nl-NL |date=17 August 2020 |last1=Geel |first1=Jurjen van }}{{cite news |title=Fortuna neemt in opspraak geraakte spits Polter over van Union Berlin |url=https://www.nu.nl/voetbal/6071328/fortuna-neemt-in-opspraak-geraakte-spits-polter-over-van-union-berlin.html |work=NU |date=17 August 2020 |language=nl}}

=VfL Bochum=

On 13 August 2021, VfL Bochum signed Polter on a free transfer until 30 June 2023.{{cite web | url=https://www.vfl-bochum.de/en/news/overview/pro/sebastian-polter-joins-vfl/ | title=Sebastian Polter joins VfL|website=VfL Bochum|date=13 August 2021}}

=Schalke 04=

On 20 June 2022, Polter signed a three-year contract with Schalke 04, which promoted to the Bundesliga.{{cite web|url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/fc-schalke-04-sign-sebastian-polter/|title=FC Schalke 04 sign Sebastian Polter|website=Schalke 04|date=20 June 2022|access-date=20 June 2022}} On 22 August 2024, his contract with Schalke was mutually terminated.{{cite news|url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/polter-contract-dissolved/|title=Schalke 04 and Sebastian Polter agree to dissolve contract|website=FC Schalke 04|date=22 August 2024}}

==Loan to Darmstadt 98==

On 1 February 2024, Polter was loaned to Bundesliga club Darmstadt 98 until the end of the season.{{cite news|url=https://schalke04.de/en/team/polter-loan-darmstadt/|title=FC Schalke 04 loan out Sebastian Polter to SV Darmstadt 98|website=Schalke 04|date=1 February 2024}}

=Eintracht Braunschweig=

On 29 August 2024, Polter joined Eintracht Braunschweig on a two-year contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.eintracht.com/news/artikel/verpflichtung-polter|title=Sebastian Polter stürmt ab sofort für Eintracht Braunschweig|website=Eintracht Braunschweig|date=29 August 2024|language=de}}

International career

Polter was a member of several German youth national teams and also appointed to the squad for 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Israel where Germany were eliminated at the group stage.

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club	rowspan="2"\|Season	colspan="3"\|League	colspan="2"\|Cup{{efn\|Appearances in DFB-Pokal and KNVB Cup.}}	colspan="2"\|League Cup	colspan="2"\|Other	colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable nowrap" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="5"\|VfL Wolfsburg II	2008–09	Regionalliga Nord	10	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	10	0
2009–10	Regionalliga Nord	15	3	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	15	3
2010–11	Regionalliga Nord	25	11	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	25	11
2011–12	Regionalliga Nord	18	5	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	18	5
colspan="2"\|Total	68	19	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	68	19
VfL Wolfsburg	2011–12	Bundesliga	12	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	12	2
1. FC Nürnberg (loan)	2012–13	Bundesliga	26	5	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	27	5
1. FC Nürnberg II (loan)	2012–13	Regionalliga Bayern	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2	1
Mainz 05	2013–14	Bundesliga	13	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	15	0
Mainz 05 II	2013–14	Regionalliga Südwest	7	3	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	7	3
Union Berlin (loan)	2014–15	2. Bundesliga	29	14	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	29	14
rowspan="3"\|Queens Park Rangers	2015–16	Championship	31	6	0	0	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	33	7
2016–17	Championship	20	4	0	0	3	0	colspan="2"\|—	23	4
colspan="2"\|Total	51	10	0	0	5	1	colspan="2"\|—	56	11
rowspan="5"\|Union Berlin	2016–17	2. Bundesliga	15	7	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	15	7
2017–18	2. Bundesliga	24	12	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	26	12
2018–19	2. Bundesliga	20	9	1	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	21	11
2019–20	Bundesliga	13	2	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	13	2
colspan="2"\|Total	72	30	3	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	75	32
Fortuna Sittard	2020–21	Eredivisie	32	9	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	34	10
VfL Bochum	2021–22	Bundesliga	33	10	3	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	36	11
rowspan="4"\|Schalke 04	2022–23	Bundesliga	19	2	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	21	2
2023–24	2. Bundesliga	11	3	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	13	3
2024–25	2. Bundesliga	1	0	0	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	1	0
colspan="2"\|Total	31	5	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	35	5
Darmstadt 98 (loan)	2023–24	Bundesliga	9	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	9	0
Eintracht Braunschweig	2024–25	2. Bundesliga	27	2	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	2{{efn\|Appearances in 2. Bundesliga relegation play-offs.}}	0	29	2
colspan="3"\|Career total	412	110	15	4	5	1	2	0	434	115