Jona Niemiec

Jona Niemiec
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-09-19) 19 September 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Lüdenscheid, Germany
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Number 18
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2021 TSG Sprockhövel 7 (3)
2021–2024 Fortuna Düsseldorf II 50 (16)
2023– Fortuna Düsseldorf 51 (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:29, 5 November 2024 (UTC)

Jona Niemiec (born 19 September 2001)[1] is a German footballer who plays as a forward for 2. Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Early and personal life

Niemiec was born in Lüdenscheid, North Rhine-Westphalia. His father, brother and uncle were all involved in local football.[2] He is of Polish origin.[3]

Niemiec began playing football in his hometown as a youth for LTV 61 and SD Lüdenscheid, before joining Rot-Weiß Lüdenscheid. In the summer of 2020, he was about to join the latter club's senior team, but instead chose to sign for TSG Sprockhövel in the fifth-tier Oberliga Westfalen. His first year as a senior was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but earned him trials at professional clubs Rot-Weiss Essen, SC Freiburg and FC Schalke 04 before he opted for Fortuna Düsseldorf. Aged 19, he left his job at plumbing manufacturer Flühs Drehtechnik.[2]

Career

Having scored three goals in seven games for TSG Sprockhövel while missing only three minutes, Niemiec joined Düsseldorf in May 2021, being assigned to the reserve team in the fourth-tier Regionalliga.[4]

On 8 February 2023, Niemiec made his professional debut in the DFB-Pokal round of 16 away to 1. FC Nürnberg. He came on as a substitute in added time for goalscorer Dawid Kownacki with Fortuna winning 1–0, but they conceded an equaliser and the game went to extra time. In time added onto extra time, he was fouled by opponent Florian Flick, who was sent off. The game went to a penalty shootout, in which he was the only player to miss,[5] his attempt being saved by FCN goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen.[6]

Four days after his cup debut, Niemiec played his first 2. Bundesliga game, again as a substitute. He assisted the second goal of a 2–0 win at home to SV Sandhausen, scored by Rouwen Hennings.[5][7] He played 12 games in his first league season, scoring once on 24 February to conclude a 3–1 win over Eintracht Braunschweig at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in his third match.[8]

In the summer of 2023, Niemiec wanted to transfer to a club in the 3. Liga due to a lack of playing time, but his move did not come to fruition.[9] On 5 December, in the last 16 of the cup, he came off the bench with five minutes remaining and scored both goals of a 2–1 win at 1. FC Magdeburg; his contributions earned the club €1.7 million in prize money.[10] Fortuna came third in the 2023–24 2. Bundesliga and contested the promotion/relegation playoff against VfL Bochum, surrendering a 3–0 away win from the first leg as the game went to penalties; Niemiec came on as a substitute and scored his attempt while his team lost in sudden death.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Jona Niemiec". Bundesliga. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b Machatzke, Thomas (19 July 2021). "Jona Niemiec gibt am Rhein Vollgas für den Traum vom Fußballprofi" (in German). Come On. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Skrzydłowy może odejść ze Śląska Wrocław. Chce go klub z Niemiec. Tego lata trafił tam już jeden Polak" (in Polish). Futbol.pl. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  4. ^ Wozniak, Krystian (11 May 2021). "Fortuna Düsseldorf: Neuer Stürmer für die Regionalliga-Reserve". Reviersport (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Krings, Norbert (28 February 2023). "Jona Niemiec hat das Zeug zum Star" (in German). D Sports. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Sieg vom Punkt: Nürnberg dreht Achtelfinale gegen Düsseldorf". Emsdettener Volkszeitung (in German). 8 February 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  7. ^ Kostudis, Anton (14 February 2023). "Schlägt jetzt seine große Stunde?Fortuna-Youngster Niemiec: Starkes Comeback nach Pokal-Drama". Express (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  8. ^ "Fortuna-Youngster NiemiecHype um Sturm-Hoffnung: Aber wer sein Trikot will, bekommt ein Problem". Express (in German). 27 February 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  9. ^ Stelly, Justus (9 July 2023). "Was Fortuna-Profi Niemiec zu seinem geplatzten Wechsel sagt". Rheinische Post (in German). Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Fortuna-Held: "Gar nicht realisiert"" (in German). Sport1. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  11. ^ "Bochum stun Fortuna Düsseldorf on penalties to survive play-off scare". Bundesliga. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.