Michael Frey (footballer)

Michael Frey

Frey playing for Lille in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth	(1994-07-19) 19 July 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth	Münsingen, Switzerland
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Queens Park Rangers
Number	12
Youth career
2000–2006	FC Münsingen
2006–2010	Thun
2010–2012	Young Boys
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2014	Young Boys	73	(17)
2014–2016	Lille	15	(2)
2016	→ Luzern (loan)	16	(4)
2016–2017	Young Boys	29	(8)
2017–2018	FC Zürich	34	(12)
2018–2021	Fenerbahçe	15	(3)
2019–2020	→ 1. FC Nürnberg (loan)	29	(4)
2020–2021	→ Beveren (loan)	27	(12)
2021–2024	Royal Antwerp	53	(31)
2023	→ Schalke 04 (loan)	15	(0)
2024–	Queens Park Rangers	24	(6)
International career
2010–2011	Switzerland U17	4	(0)
2011–2013	Switzerland U19	12	(4)
2014	Switzerland U20	1	(1)
2013–2016	Switzerland U21	14	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:06, 7 January 2025 (UTC)

Michael Frey (born 19 July 1994) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a forward for EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers.

Club career

In June 2017, Frey signed a four-year contract with FC Zürich.[1]

In August 2018, Frey joined Turkish club Fenerbahçe for a reported transfer fee of €2.64 million. He signed a four-year deal.[2] After his first season in Turkey, Frey joined 2. Bundesliga side 1. FC Nürnberg on loan for the 2019–20 season. The club retained an option to make the move permanent.[3]

On 17 June 2021, Fenerbahçe announced that Frey had joined Antwerp on a permanent deal after an impressive loan spell with Beveren in the Belgian First Division A during the 2020–21 season.[4] On 8 August 2021, Frey scored all five goals for Antwerp in their 5–2 league win over Standard Liège.[5]

On 20 January 2023, after two and a half seasons in Belgium, he was loaned to German side Schalke 04, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, with an option to make the deal permanent.[6][7]

Queens Park Rangers

On 28 January 2024, Frey signed for English club Queens Park Rangers.[8][9] Frey scored his first goal for QPR in a 2–2 draw with Norwich City on 10 February 2024.[10]

Frey opened his account in the 2024–25 season with a goal in a 2–1 defeat of Cambridge United in the first round of the EFL Cup on 13 August.[11] The victory earned QPR their first win in the competition for three years.[11] He then scored his first league goal of the season in a 1–1 draw with Plymouth Argyle on 24 August.[12] Six days later, he scored the game winner in a come-from-behind 2–1 win over Luton Town in the league.[13]

Style of play

Described as a "high energy," "decisive" and "burly" striker, Frey's height, speed and strength make him a classic number 9, with the ability to hold the ball up and take on defenders, allied to precision and power in front of goal.[14][15]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 January 2025[16][17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Young Boys	2011–12	Swiss Super League	2	1	0	0	—		—		—		2	1
	2012–13	Swiss Super League	31	4	2	4	—		10[c]	1	—		43	9
	2013–14	Swiss Super League	33	9	2	0	—		—		—		35	9
	2014–15	Swiss Super League	7	3	0	0	—		4[c]	2	—		11	5
	Total		73	17	4	4	—		14	3	—		91	24
Lille	2014–15	Ligue 1	15	2	1	0	2	1	3[c]	0	—		21	3
Luzern (loan)	2015–16	Swiss Super League	16	4	1	0	—		—		—		17	4
Young Boys	2016–17	Swiss Super League	29	8	4	4	—		8[d]	1	—		41	13
FC Zürich	2017–18	Swiss Super League	31	12	5	4	—		—		—		36	16
	2018–19	Swiss Super League	3	0	0	0	—		—		—		3	0
	Total		34	12	5	4	—		—		—		39	16
Fenerbahçe	2018–19	Süper Lig	14	3	3	0	—		5[c]	2	—		22	5
	2020–21	Süper Lig	1	0	0	0	—		—		—		1	0
	Total		15	3	3	0	—		5	2	—		23	5
1. FC Nürnberg (loan)	2019–20	2. Bundesliga	29	4	1	1	—		—		2[e]	0	32	5
Beveren (loan)	2020–21	Belgian Pro League	27	12	2	3	—		—		2[f]	2	31	17
Antwerp	2021–22	Belgian Pro League	39	24	1	0	—		6[c]	0	—		46	24
	2022–23	Belgian Pro League	14	7	3	1	—		6[g]	2	—		23	10
	Total		53	31	4	1	—		12	2	—		69	34
Schalke 04 (loan)	2022–23	Bundesliga	15	0	—		—		—		—		15	0
Queens Park Rangers	2023–24	Championship	9	1	—		—		—		—		9	1
	2024–25	Championship	15	5	0	0	1	1	—		—		16	6
	Total		24	6	0	0	1	1	—		—		25	7
Career total			330	99	25	17	3	2	42	8	4	2	404	128

1. Includes Swiss Cup, Coupe de France, Turkish Cup, DFB-Pokal, Belgian Cup
2. Includes Coupe de la Ligue, EFL Cup
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
4. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
5. Appearances in 2. Bundesliga relegation play-offs
6. Appearances in Belgian Pro League relegation play-offs
7. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

FC Zürich

• Swiss Cup: 2017–18

Individual

• Swiss Super League Young Footballer of the Year: 2013–14[18]

References

1. "Der FC Zürich verpflichtet Michael Frey". fcz.ch (in German). 19 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
2. "Michael Frey joins Fenerbahce from FC Zurich". Turkish Football News. 23 August 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
3. "Frey joins Nurnberg on loan from Fenerbahce". AA. 19 August 2019. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
4. "Welkom op De Bosuil, Michael Frey!". Royal Antwerp FC (in Dutch). 17 June 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
5. "Standard humiliated at home by Antwerp (2-5), Michael Frey author of five goals". Archy Sport. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.
6. "Striker Michael Frey joins Schalke 04". FC Schalke 04. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
7. "Michael Frey naar Schalke 04". Royal Antwerp FC (in Dutch). 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
8. "Striker Michael Frey joins QPR". QPR FC. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
9. "QPR sign Swiss striker Frey from Royal Antwerp" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
10. "Queens Park Rangers 2-2 Norwich City: Recent signings combine to earn Rs a draw with Canaries". BBC. 10 February 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
11. "QPR won a superb Carabao Cup tie 2-1 at Cambridge to record their first win in the competition for three years". BBC. 13 August 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
12. "Queens Park Rangers 1-1 Plymouth Argyle". EFL. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
13. "Match Report: Luton Town 1, QPR 2". QPR. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
14. "Luton Town 1-2 Queens Park Rangers". BBC Sport. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
15. "QPR sign Swiss striker Frey from Royal Antwerp". BBC Sport. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
16. "Michael Frey - Club matches". worldfootball.net.
17. "Michael Frey statistics". Ogol.
18. "Super League – Salah zum SL-"Spieler des Jahres" gewählt". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). 27 January 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2022.

External links

• Switzerland U21 stats
• Michael Frey at Soccerway
• Michael Frey at WorldFootball.net