Dennis-Yerai Eckert Ayensa (born 9 January 1997) is a German professional footballer who plays for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise as a forward.[1]
![]() Eckert with Celta in 2018 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Dennis-Yerai Eckert Ayensa | ||
Date of birth | (1997-01-09) 9 January 1997 (age 25) | ||
Place of birth | Bonn, Germany | ||
Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward, winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Union SG | ||
Youth career | |||
2001–2007 | SC Pulheim | ||
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 | 3 | (2) |
International career | |||
2015 | Germany U19 | 1 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 September 2022 |
Eckert was born in Bonn to a Galician mother and a German father with Iranian roots.[2] He joined Borussia Mönchengladbach's youth setup in 2013, after stints at Alemannia Aachen, 1. FC Köln and SC Pulheim.[3] He made his senior debut with the former's reserve team on 5 September 2015, playing the last five minutes in a 2–2 Regionalliga home draw against SSVG Velbert.
On 4 July 2017, Eckert joined Celta de Vigo and was initially assigned to the B-team in Segunda División B.[4] 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 home draw against RCD Espanyol.[5]
On 31 January 2019, Eckert joined Eredivisie side SBV Excelsior until June.[6] He scored the game-winning goal on 17 February in a 2–1 comeback win against FC Emmen for his first top-flight goal.[7]
On 2 September 2019, FC Ingolstadt announced the signing of Eckert.[8] He scored a goal and provided an assist in his debut for the club on 15 September 2019.[9] Eckert finished the season with 14 goals in 30 league matches, helping Ingolstadt reach the promotion play-offs.[10] Eckert helped Ingolstadt reach the promotion play-offs again the following season, leading Ingolstadt to the 2. Bundesliga.[11]
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.[12][13] He scored his first goal for Union in a pre-season match against Feyenoord on 16 July 2022.[14] Eckert made his Belgian league debut on 23 July 2022 in their opening match against Sint-Truiden.[15] He made his senior UEFA competition debut on 9 August 2022 in a 2022–23 UEFA Champions League qualification match against Scottish side Rangers.[16][13] He scored his first league goal in his following match on 31 August 2022 against Royal Antwerp at the Bosuilstadion.[17]
Eckert has played for the Germany U19 national team.[2]
Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
Borussia Mönchengladbach II | 2015–16 | Regionalliga West | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
2016–17 | 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 | 0 | 40 | 8 | ||
2018–19 | 12 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 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 | 0 | 14 | 2 | |
FC Ingolstadt | 2019–20 | 3. Liga | 30 | 14 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 32 | 14 | |
2020–21 | 24 | 9 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | 25 | 10 | |||
Total | 54 | 23 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 57 | 24 | |||
Career total | 127 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 137 | 35 |
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise – current squad | |
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