WikiMini

Jens Castrop

Jens Castrop
Personal information
Date of birth (2003-07-29) 29 July 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth Düsseldorf, Germany
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Number 17
Youth career
–2015 Fortuna Düsseldorf
2015–2020 1. FC Köln
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2023 1. FC Köln II 20 (2)
2020–2023 1. FC Köln 0 (0)
2022–2023 → 1. FC Nürnberg (loan) 34 (2)
2022 → 1. FC Nürnberg II (loan) 7 (1)
2023–2025 1. FC Nürnberg 86 (7)
2025– Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 (0)
International career‡
2018 Germany U16 2 (0)
2019–2020 Germany U17 6 (0)
2020 Germany U18 2 (1)
2021–2022 Germany U19 6 (1)
2022–2023 Germany U20 6 (0)
2024–2025 Germany U21 4 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 August 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 25 August 2025

Jens Castrop (born 29 July 2003) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach. Born in Germany, he chose to represent the South Korea national team.

Club career

[edit]

A native of Düsseldorf, Castrop began his career in the youth academy of Fortuna Düsseldorf. In 2015, he transferred to the academy of Düsseldorf's rival, 1.FC Köln, where he played for the club's U15 and U17 teams. In August 2020, Castrop was promoted to the club's first team by manager Markus Gisdol. He also signed a long-term professional contract until June 2023.[2]

In January 2022, it was announced that Castrop would join 1. FC Nürnberg on a loan deal.[3] In June 2023, the club activated a €450,000 option to sign Castrop on a permanent basis.[4]

On 2 February 2025, Castrop signed a four-season contract with Borussia Mönchengladbach, beginning in the 2025–26 season.[5]

International career

[edit]

Castrop was born in Germany to a German father and South Korean mother.[6] He played for Germany national youth teams at between under-16 and under-21 level before being affiliated to Korea Football Association.[7]

His request to switch international allegiance to South Korea was approved by FIFA on 11 August 2025,[8][9] and he was called up to the South Korea national team for friendlies held in September.[10]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played on 24 August 2025[11]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League DFB-Pokal Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1. FC Köln II 2020–21 Regionalliga West 5 0 — — — 5 0
2021–22 Regionalliga West 15 2 — — — 15 2
Total 20 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 2
1. FC Nürnberg II 2021–22 Regionalliga Bayern 7 1 — — — 7 1
1. FC Nürnberg 2021–22 2. Bundesliga 5 0 0 0 — — 5 0
2022–23 2. Bundesliga 29 2 4 0 — — 33 2
2023–24 2. Bundesliga 27 2 1 0 — — 28 2
2024–25 2. Bundesliga 25 3 1 0 — — 26 3
Total 86 7 6 0 0 0 0 0 92 7
Borussia Mönchengladbach 2025–26 Bundesliga 1 0 1 0 — — 2 0
Career total 114 11 7 0 0 0 0 0 121 10

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Jens Castrop at kicker (in German)
  2. ^ "Köln bindet 17-jährigen Castrop: "Weg, an den ich glaube"". Kicker. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ "1. FC Nürnberg leiht Jens Castrop vom 1. FC Köln aus". bundesliga.com (in German). Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Nürnberg zieht Kaufoption bei Castrop – Kontert Köln?". Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger (in German). 19 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Jens Castrop to join Borussia ahead of 2025/26 season". Borussia Mönchengladbach. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  6. ^ "FIFA approve Jens Castrop's switch of allegiance to South Korea". Get German Football News. 12 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Jens Castrop – Spielerprofil". DFB. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  8. ^ "FIFA Change of Association Platform". FIFA. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  9. ^ "FIFA bestätigt: Castrop wechselt Verband und hofft auf Einsätze mit Son" (in German). kicker. 12 August 2025.
  10. ^ '카스트로프 발탁' 남자 A대표팀, 9월 A매치 명단 발표 (in Korean). KFA. 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  11. ^ Jens Castrop at Soccerway
[edit]