Derdiyok fulfilling youthful promise
An exceptionally athletic player and standing at 191 cm tall, Eren Derdiyok is one of the Bundesliga's most imposing forwards - and one with an uncanny penchant for the spectacular.
From Basel to Bundesliga
Born in Switzerland to Kurdish parents, Derdiyok's potential was evident from an early age. He began his footballing life with Old Boys Basel, whom he joined as a six-year-old in 1994. After progressing through the club's youth ranks, he broke into the first team at the beginning of the 2004/05 season.
His prolific goalscoring record resulted in a transfer to Swiss giants FC Basel 1893 and his first national title followed in 2008. Just a few months later, he was part of Switzerland's squad at UEFA EURO 2008, having made his international debut just four months earlier.
The towering forward caught the eye of Bayer 04 Leverkusen scouts while playing at the Euros and he moved to the Bundesliga a year later. Having loosened Patrick Helmes' and Theofanis Gekas' grip on places in the Bayer starting line-up, his goals helped the club into the UEFA Europa League. The side went one better in 2010/11 as Jupp Heynckes' Bayer side finished runners-up in the Bundesliga behind Borussia Dortmund.
Home again after Hoffenheim
A few eyebrows were raised when Derdiyok joined 1899 Hoffenheim in the summer of 2012, turning down approaches from FC Schalke 04 and Dortmund to join an ambitious club where he "can see the best potential for the future".
The move however, didn't help Derdiyok fulfill his "potential", and a return of one goal in 19 games with the Sinsheim club meant he went back on loan to Leverkusen ahead of the 2013/14 season.
