![]() Eckert with Celta in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Dennis-Yerai Eckert Ayensa[1][2] | ||
Date of birth | 9 January 1997 | ||
Place of birth | Bonn, Germany | ||
Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward, winger | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Union SG | ||
Number | 9 | ||
Youth career | |||
2001–2007 | Pulheimer SC | ||
2007–2011 | 1. FC Köln | ||
2011–2013 | Alemannia Aachen | ||
2013–2016 | Borussia Mönchengladbach | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2017 | Borussia Mönchengladbach II | 4 | (0) |
2017–2018 | Celta B | 48 | (9) |
2018–2019 | Celta | 9 | (0) |
2019 | → Excelsior (loan) | 12 | (2) |
2019–2022 | FC Ingolstadt | 78 | (25) |
2022– | Union SG | 16 | (8) |
International career | |||
2015 | Germany U19 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 November 2023 |
Dennis-Yerai Eckert Ayensa (born 9 January 1997) is a German professional footballer who plays for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise as a forward.[3]
After stints at Pulheimer SC, 1. FC Köln, and Alemannia Aachen, Eckert joined Borussia Mönchengladbach's youth setup in 2013 and made appearances in the UEFA Youth League.[4][5] He made his senior debut with the latter's reserve team on 5 September 2015 in a 2–2 Regionalliga home draw against SSVg Velbert.[6]
On 4 July 2017, Eckert joined Celta de Vigo and was initially assigned to the B-team in Segunda División B.[7] He made his first-team debut on 18 August of the following year, coming on as a late substitute for Maxi Gómez in a 1–1 La Liga home draw against RCD Espanyol.[8]
On 31 January 2019, Eckert joined Eredivisie side SBV Excelsior until June.[9] He scored the game-winning goal on 17 February in a 2–1 comeback win against FC Emmen for his first top-flight goal.[10]
On 2 September 2019, FC Ingolstadt announced the signing of Eckert.[11] He scored a goal and provided an assist in his debut for the club on 15 September 2019.[12] Eckert finished the season with 14 goals in 30 league matches, helping Ingolstadt reach the promotion play-offs.[13] Eckert helped Ingolstadt reach the promotion play-offs again the following season, leading Ingolstadt to the 2. Bundesliga.[14]
On 20 June 2022, Eckert signed for Belgian side Union SG ahead of their 2022–23 season after scoring 25 goals and providing 15 assists in 78 league matches for Ingolstadt.[15][16] He scored his first goal for Union in a pre-season match against Feyenoord on 16 July 2022.[17] Eckert made his Belgian Pro League debut on 23 July 2022 in their opening match against Sint-Truiden.[18] He made his senior UEFA competition debut on 9 August 2022 in a 2022–23 UEFA Champions League qualification match against Scottish side Rangers.[19][16] He scored his first league goal in his following match on 31 August 2022 against Royal Antwerp at the Bosuilstadion.[20] The following season, Eckert scored the first goal of the league season in the opening match against Anderlecht on 28 July 2023.[21] He scored his first senior European competition goal on 24 August 2023 during the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League play-off match against Lugano.[22]
Eckert has played for the Germany U19 national team.[23]
Eckert was born and raised in Bonn to a Galician mother and a German father of Iranian descent, along with his brother Joel who played college soccer for Cape Breton University.[23][24][25] Iranian actress Anahita Dargahi is his aunt.[26] Eckert holds dual German and Spanish citizenship, and is fluent in German, English, and Spanish, while knowing minimal Persian.[5][2]
Eckert is outfitted by American sportswear supplier Nike.[27][28]
Club | Season | League | Cup[a] | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Borussia Mönchengladbach II | 2015–16 | Regionalliga | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
2016–17 | Regionalliga | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
Total | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
Celta B | 2017–18 | Segunda División B | 36 | 8 | — | — | 4[b] | 0 | 40 | 8 | ||
2018–19 | Segunda División B | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||||
Total | 48 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 52 | 9 | ||
Celta | 2018–19 | La Liga | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 10 | 0 | ||
Excelsior (loan) | 2018–19 | Eredivisie | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 14 | 2 | |
FC Ingolstadt | 2019–20 | 3. Liga | 30 | 14 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | 32 | 14 | |
2020–21 | 3. Liga | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 1 | 26 | 10 | ||
2021–22 | 2. Bundesliga | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 2 | |||
Total | 78 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 83 | 26 | ||
Union SG | 2022–23 | Belgian Pro League | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | |
2023–24 | Belgian Pro League | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2[f] | 2 | — | 8 | 7 | ||
Total | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 9 | ||
Career total | 165 | 43 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 186 | 46 |