What Happened to Ozan Muhammed Kabak?
Ozan Kabak is a Turkish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim and the Turkey national team. After emerging from Galatasaray's youth academy, he moved to Germany, playing for VfB Stuttgart and Schalke 04, with loan spells at Liverpool and Norwich City. Following a significant cruciate ligament injury in June 2024, he made a strong comeback in late 2025, extended his contract with Hoffenheim until 2030, and was named in Turkey's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Quick Answer
Ozan Kabak is currently a key centre-back for TSG Hoffenheim in the German Bundesliga and a member of the Turkey national team. After suffering a severe cruciate ligament injury in June 2024, which sidelined him for the entire 2024/25 season, he successfully returned to action in October 2025. He has since regained his form, extended his contract with Hoffenheim until 2030, and was selected for Turkey's 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, expressing excitement about participating in the tournament.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Born in Ankara, Turkey
Ozan Muhammed Kabak was born in Ankara, Turkey.
Joined Galatasaray Youth Academy
Kabak began his football development by joining the Galatasaray youth academy.
Galatasaray Senior Debut
Made his professional debut for Galatasaray in a 2–0 Süper Lig win over Yeni Malatyaspor, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play in the league.
Transferred to VfB Stuttgart
Moved to Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart, signing a contract until June 2024.
Joined Schalke 04
Transferred to Schalke 04 on a five-year contract for a fee of €15 million after Schalke activated a release clause.
Turkey Senior National Team Debut
Made his debut for the Turkey senior team in a UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against Andorra.
Loaned to Liverpool FC
Signed for Liverpool on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season, becoming the first Turkish player to appear for an English club in the UEFA Champions League.
Loaned to Norwich City
Joined newly promoted Norwich City on a season-long loan deal with an option to make the deal permanent.
Transferred to TSG Hoffenheim
Moved to TSG Hoffenheim and signed a contract until June 30, 2026.
Suffered Cruciate Ligament Injury
Tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee during a friendly match for Turkey against Italy, ruling him out of Euro 2024 and the entire 2024/25 season.
Returned from Injury
Made his comeback as a substitute for Hoffenheim in a 3-0 victory over St. Pauli after a long injury layoff.
First Bundesliga Start & Goal After Injury
Earned his first Bundesliga start since returning from injury and scored a goal in Hoffenheim's 4-1 victory over Hamburg.
Signed Hoffenheim Contract Extension
Agreed to a lucrative contract extension with TSG Hoffenheim until 2030, reportedly including a €25 million exit clause.
Named in Turkey's 2026 World Cup Provisional Squad
Included in Turkey manager Vincenzo Montella's 35-man preliminary squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Expressed World Cup Excitement
Spoke at a press conference about his excitement for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aiming to make history with the national team.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Ozan Muhammed Kabak's professional football journey began in Turkey, where he rose through the ranks of Galatasaray's esteemed youth academy. He signed his first professional contract in July 2017 and made his senior debut in May 2018, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to play in the Süper Lig. His impressive performances, including a Champions League debut in October 2018, quickly attracted European attention.
In January 2019, Kabak made his first move abroad, joining Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart. Despite Stuttgart's relegation, his individual displays earned him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award for 2018–19. This led to a swift transfer to Schalke 04 in June 2019 for a reported fee of €15 million, where he continued to develop as a robust central defender.
The 2020-21 season saw Kabak gain Premier League experience with loan spells at Liverpool and then Norwich City. At Liverpool, he made history as the first Turkish player to represent an English club in the UEFA Champions League. However, neither loan move resulted in a permanent transfer, and he returned to Germany.
In July 2022, Kabak joined TSG Hoffenheim, signing a contract until June 2026. This move provided him with stability, and he re-established himself as a consistent performer in the Bundesliga. A significant setback occurred in June 2024 when he tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing for Turkey in a friendly against Italy, forcing him to miss Euro 2024 and the entire 2024/25 club season.
Demonstrating remarkable resilience, Kabak made his comeback as a substitute for Hoffenheim on October 19, 2025, and earned his first Bundesliga start after the injury on December 13, 2025, even scoring a goal in a 4-1 victory over Hamburg. His strong return to form led to Hoffenheim extending his contract until 2030 in April 2026, with reports suggesting a €25 million exit clause. As of June 2026, Kabak is a regular starter for Hoffenheim and was named in Turkey's provisional squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, expressing his excitement to make history with the national team.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Ozan Muhammed Kabak made different choices?