Field Insider
Centre-backTurkey2. Bundesliga

Mertcan Ayhan

Rising starFC Schalke 04 · 19 yrsRotation
69.3
Ratingi
41.2
Seasoni
21.2
Valuei

based on the 2025/26 season · updated 18 Aug 2026

Profile

Full nameMertcan Ayhan
PositionCentre-back
NationalityTurkey
Age19
Date of birth8 Sept 2006
BirthplaceGelsenkirchen
Height190 cm
Shirt number#43
ClubFC Schalke 04
More about M. Ayhan →
Centre-back

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
27
Appearances
0
Goals
0
Assists
1959
Minutes

Domestic-league season · FC Schalke 04.

Scout report

Rising starCentral defender

M. Ayhan is a 19-year-old central defender at FC Schalke 04, rated 69.319 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 8th of 116 on scout potential in the 2. Bundesliga and 57th of 653 U-21 players tracked. A young player, he has been a regular starter this season (64% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.35 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Ayhan.

Judged on this season alone, Ayhan graded 41 — a strong campaign that ranks top 16% of the 26 centre-backs in the 2. Bundesliga, on 9 clean sheets and 3.354 defensive actions per 90.

We hold a single season for Ayhan, so there's no year-on-year comparison to draw yet — the read above is this campaign only.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 69, top 4% of the 26 centre-backs in the 2. Bundesliga. At 19 Ayhan is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 21.2 reflects that trajectory.

Current potentialTop 4% centre-backs · 2. BundesligaCurrent seasonTop 16% centre-backs · 2. Bundesliga4th-best centre-back in the 2. Bundesliga8th in the 2. Bundesliga · potential1st-highest potential centre-back in the 2. Bundesliga57th-highest potential U-21 tracked
69.319
Ratingi
1st of 26 centre-backs
41.2
Seasoni
developing / rotation level
64%
Minutes
a regular starter
3.35
Def. actions / 90
moderate defensive volume

Output in context · FC Schalke 04 finished 1st of 18 · a title-challenging side

27
Apps
3.35
Def. / 90
41
Tackles
24
Interceptions
9
Clean sheets

3.35 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 9 clean sheets across 27 appearances. Behind a title-challenging side (1st of 18) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume.

Strengths

  • Availability. On the pitch for 64% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
  • Ceiling. High potential at just 19 — room to grow into a bigger role.

Watch points

  • Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 69.319, Ayhan carries the 1st-highest potential of the centre-backs in the 2. Bundesliga (top 4%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.35 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). At 19 the trajectory points up — potential sits near its ceiling (99/100) and market value should climb as minutes and output follow. With this floor already at 19, the ceiling gets tested by a step up in level — one to track.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the 2. Bundesliga with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles41
Interceptions24
Blocks8

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.