Nadiem Amiri: Who is the Germany international starring for Mainz?
Mainz's Nadiem Amiri has 14 Germany caps to his name, but what else is there to know about the midfielder called up by new national-team coach Jürgen Klopp?
Stats correct as of 27 September 2027
Nadiem Amiri
Age: 29 (born 27 October 1996)
Club: Mainz
Position: Attacking midfielder
Country: Germany (14 caps)
Key stats
Born in Ludwigshafen on the river Rhine to parents who had fled Afghanistan in the 1980s, Amiri made his first steps in the game with Kaiserslautern, but it was Hoffenheim’s academy from which he graduated, having joined the Sinsheimers at U17 level in 2012 at the age of 15. Amiri raced through the age groups in Sinsheim, making his first-team debut under Markus Gisdol in February 2015 at 18 years, three months and 12 days of age.
Subsequently trusted by Gisdol’s successors Huub Steven and Julian Nagelsmann, the then 22-year-old Amiri had racked up a barely fathomable 106 Bundesliga appearances – scoring 11 goals – before making his switch to Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2019. Seven seasons on – which included a 13-game loan spell with Genoa in Italy's Serie A – Amiri has close to 300 top-flight games under his belt, as well as 39 goals.
At Mainz since January 2024, Amiri has assumed a leadership role within the squad. The dynamic No.10 has been one of the driving forces for the 05ers in his time at the club, propelling them to European qualification in the 2024/25 season – which led to a historic run to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Conference League – and to a creditable 10th-place finish the following campaign.
At international level, Amiri helped the Germany U21s to UEFA European Championship glory in 2017, starting seven games and chipping in with a goal against Denmark on the way to helping his country lift their second title at that level. Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, Timo Werner and Niklas Süle were among the players in that squad, and Amiri eventually concluded his youth national team career with 11 goals in 48 appearances.
A senior international debut came in a 2-2 draw with Argentina on 9 October 2019, and he now has a total of 14 Germany caps to his name, following his return to the national team under Julian Nagelsmann in March 2025, after a four-year absence from the global stage. He would go on to secure a spot in Nagelsmann's squad for the 2026 World Cup, where he made two substitute appearances, providing an assist for Deniz Undav in Die Nationalelf's comeback victory over Côte d'Ivoire. Following Jürgen Klopp's appointment as head coach after the tournament, the talented 29-year-old was included in the two Germany squads assembled for the extended international break, and he played from the start, replacing the injured Jamal Musiala, in Klopp's first match in charge – a 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw with the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Plays a bit like: Granit Xhaka
Despite performing proficiently as an attacking midfielder, Amiri has also moved further back when required. During Bo Henriksen's tenure at Mainz, the German operated as his side's metronome; he was the first player to receive the ball from his defenders before turning and looking to start attacks, much like Xhaka. The similarities to his Swiss counterpart don't stop there, as Amiri likewise works tirelessly off the ball, and though he stands a couple of inches shorter, he remains a physical presence in the middle of the park. Under Urs Fischer, he has been pushed back up into a more advanced position, where he now serves as the team's creative leader.
He has also demonstrated a knack for scoring at crucial moments, and he even finished the 25/26 campaign as Mainz's leading scorer in the Bundesliga (12 goals). In addition, Amiri has not lost his proclivity for striking the ball from range, a trait which is heavily associated with Xhaka.
"I'm a bit of a street footballer," he said. "I play with a lot of heart and try to do my best to help the team. My winning mentality definitely comes from the street."
Did you know?
Amiri may be one of German football’s fastest-rising stars, but he hasn’t forgotten his roots. The youngster has been involved in various refugee projects with his clubs, working with the Red Cross and local volunteers to provide support for those who experienced a similar ordeal to his parents 30 years ago.
Watch: Nadiem Amiri's roots
"It's very hard to be forced to leave your family at a young age and go to a foreign country where you don't speak the language," he told bundesliga.com previously. "But my parents were determined to make something of their lives. To do that you need willpower and heart. You have to be ready to work and learn the language. You can't just wait for a solution to pop up out of thin air."
What they’re saying
"Nadiem is a special player, because he has come through the TSG academy and calmly matured into a young professional of exceptional talent, and he's still getting better" – Amiri’s former Hoffenheim and Germany coach Nagelsmann
“Nadiem is really important. He's not only a good player, but also a good person. If he wants to, he can perform even better. Sometimes you have to give him tough love, and he plays better, and sometimes the opposite. I love that kid, he's a special person, a special footballer, and he can do wonders with the ball.” - Ex-Mainz head coach Bo Henriksen
