Ashkan Dejagah

Seyed Ashkan Dejagah (, born 5 July 1986), known as Ashkan Dejagah, is an Iranian former professional footballer who plays as a midfielder.

He represented Germany at youth levels between 2001 and 2009, going on to win the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

He played for German national youth teams from 2001 until 2009, winning the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

Dejagah made his professional debut for Hertha BSC in the 2004–05 Bundesliga season.

Dejagah made his professional debut for Hertha BSC against VfL Bochum in the opening match of the 2004–05 Bundesliga season, playing the last five minutes in a 2–2 home draw in his only first team appearance that year, thus becoming the youngest player to ever play for the club since it was founded in 1892.

In his three years at Hertha, he also played in the regional league.

Despite starting out as a central defender, he was quickly moved to the forward position and finished as the team's top scorer in 2005–06, with twelve goals in 23 appearances.

Hertha's manager, Falko Götz, showed continuous faith in Dejagah by gradually giving the youngster playing time in the Bundesliga, as well as three UEFA Cup showdowns in 2005–06, playing the following season in the Intertoto Cup against FC Moscow.

In 2007, he joined VfL Wolfsburg, winning the Bundesliga in the 2008–09 season.

In 2007, Dejagah joined VfL Wolfsburg.

In his first season at Wolfsburg, he showed himself as a talent by scoring eight goals and in his second season, he was a regular part of the Bundesliga winning team.

In the 2009–10 season, after the selection of Armin Veh as club manager, he lost his place in the starting line up and he could not return to the starting team under Steve McClaren.

He has played for the Iranian national team since 2011, helping them qualify for the 2014 World Cup, 2015 Asian Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup, although he did not play in the last.

With the return of Felix Magath, he found his form and in the 2011–12 season, he showed himself as a key player by scoring and assisting several goals for his club.

After Dejagah stated a desire to join Fulham FC in order to fulfill his childhood dream of playing in the Premier League, Magath stated that he wanted Dejagah to stay at Wolfsburg; however, he later sided with the player's wishes to play at Fulham.

Dejagah ended his career in the Bundesliga with 19 goals and 25 assists.

In 2012, he joined Premier League side Fulham on a €2.5 million three-year deal.

Dejagah was born in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Berlin, Germany, at the age of one.

He became a German citizen at the age of 16.

On 31 August 2012, Dejagah joined Fulham on a three-year deal with an additional year's option, reportedly for €2.5 million, reuniting with his former Wolfsburg teammate Sascha Riether.

He became only the third Iranian, after Andranik Teymourian and Karim Bagheri, to play in the Premier League.

He made his league debut on 20 October, in a 1–0 home win against Aston Villa, coming off the bench for Fulham with 20 minutes remaining.

He made his first start at Arsenal on 10 November, less than a month after his debut, in a 3–3 draw, while his first assist came on New Year's Day to Dimitar Berbatov in a 2–1 win at West Bromwich Albion.

Dejagah played his first game of the season for Fulham in a League Cup win over Burton Albion, and started his first league match of the season against Manchester United on 2 November.

On 4 December, Dejagah scored his first goal for Fulham against Tottenham Hotspur in René Meulensteen's first game as manager.

On 14 January, Dejagah scored a goal and provided an assist to Darren Bent in an FA Cup match against Norwich City.

On 22 February, Dejagah scored at West Bromwich Albion in his manager's first game again, this time being Felix Magath, his former coach at Wolfsburg.

On 15 March, Dejagah scored the winner against Newcastle United, eight minutes after coming on as a substitute, for his fourth Fulham goal.

On 30 March, he scored a similar goal against Everton, cutting into his right foot and shooting from outside the 18-yard box.

He was named the man of the match after scoring a goal against Hull City on 26 April.

Dejagah was voted by fans as Fulham's player of the year at the end of the season.

On 29 July 2014, Dejagah joined Qatari club Al-Arabi.

In his first season with Al-Arabi, Dejagah scored 5 goals in 24 appearances and helped Al-Arabi to an eight place finish.

In 2015, Dejagah was voted by fans on Navad as Iran's best ever left midfielder.

Dejagah scored his first goal of the 2015–16 season on 9 December 2015 in Al-Arabi's 4–1 victory against Al-Mesaimeer.

Dejagah was named as Al-Arabi's player of the season for 2015–16.

Despite this, the new board members of the club sought to remove him from the squad.

In July 2016 Dejagah was linked with loan moves to German club Hertha BSC and English club Watford.

After two years with Al Arabi, Dejagah was removed from the clubs squad on 16 September 2016.

Al Arabi could not loan out Dejagah, and in January 2017, after not coming to an agreement with the club, Dejagah was released.