Mertcan Ayhan: Can Schalke’s Young Defender Become a Future Star for Turkey?
Mertcan Ayhan’s rise at Schalke 04 has given the club and Turkish football plenty to watch. The 20-year-old centre-back has already moved from the academy into the senior side, established himself in a promotion-winning campaign and earned recognition at under-21 level. His progress has not been entirely smooth, however, and the new season has brought a fresh challenge: fighting to regain his place.
There is a family connection to Schalke’s history. In October 2013, Mertcan’s older brother, Kaan Ayhan, made his first-team debut for the club. Kaan went on to play in major domestic competitions and the Champions League before joining Galatasaray. Nearly twelve years later, Mertcan followed him onto the professional stage, appearing as a substitute on the opening matchday of the 2025 season against Hertha BSC.
For the younger Ayhan, that brief appearance represented the culmination of years of work. He joined Schalke’s youth system in 2014 and progressed through the club’s age groups, making his senior breakthrough a particularly meaningful achievement. A place in the first team is a major milestone for any academy graduate; becoming a regular is a more demanding test.
Mertcan began to meet that test under Schalke coach Miron Muslic. From the eighth matchday onward, the right-footed defender became a regular in the team’s three-man back line. He grew in importance as the campaign developed, contributing to Schalke’s push for promotion and emerging as one of the squad’s prominent young players.
Several conditions helped him settle into the role. Muslic showed faith in a young defender, while Schalke’s compact structure gave Ayhan support in the spaces around him. He also had experienced centre-backs Hasan Kuruçay and Nikola Katic alongside him, offering guidance and helping organise the defensive unit.
Ayhan’s first full professional season was encouraging rather than spectacular. His numbers did not dominate the statistics, but a more detailed assessment suggests a player with a reliable foundation and clear room to develop. German scout Florian Först described the campaign as composed and solid, highlighting Ayhan’s willingness to defend proactively.
His timing, pace and athleticism helped him deal with dangerous situations before they became serious threats. He also showed promise when Schalke had possession. Rather than simply clearing the ball under pressure, Ayhan appeared comfortable receiving it and looking for forward options, an increasingly valuable quality in a modern centre-back.
There are important areas for improvement, too. Först identified aerial defending as a particular weakness, noting that Ayhan needs to win a greater share of his headed contests. In one-on-one situations, the defender must also sharpen his technique and intensity while avoiding unnecessary aggression.
His judgement when stepping out to challenge an opponent will be just as important. A centre-back who moves forward to intercept or engage can disrupt an attack, but a mistimed decision may expose space behind him. Learning when to press and when to hold his position is a key part of becoming a dependable defender at a higher level.
The start of the new season has made that development more complicated. Timo Becker has been moved from the flank into Schalke’s back three, and the change has cost Ayhan his place in the starting line-up for now. He was left unused in each of the club’s last two league matches, a reminder that promising performances do not guarantee a permanent role.
Still, a spell outside the starting eleven need not define his season. For a young defender, competition can provide a useful measure of what must improve. Strong training performances, greater authority in aerial duels and consistent decision-making could help Ayhan convince Muslic that he deserves another opportunity.
His selection for Turkey’s under-21 side is another sign that his progress has been noticed. Ayhan is expected to feature in European Championship qualifying, giving him the chance to test himself against international opposition and gain experience beyond club football. Continued involvement at that level could become an important step towards senior international recognition.
That ambition remains a long-term prospect, not an immediate certainty. Ayhan still has significant work to do before he can be considered a regular option for Turkey’s senior team. Yet his first season at Schalke showed that he can adapt to professional football, contribute to a demanding defensive system and play a role in a successful campaign.
The central question is therefore not simply whether Mertcan Ayhan is already a finished product, but how far he can progress with the right development. His composure in possession, athletic qualities and proactive instincts provide a promising base. If he improves his aerial game and becomes more consistent in choosing when to challenge, he could grow into a centre-back capable of competing at a strong international level.
For Schalke, his story also reflects the value of developing talent from within. Ayhan has spent most of his footballing journey at the club, and his rise offers a route from the youth ranks to the senior side. The next stage will depend on how he responds to competition and whether he can turn early promise into sustained performances.
The path from academy prospect to established Bundesliga-level defender is rarely straightforward. Mertcan has already taken meaningful steps, but his place in the team is not yet secure and the weaknesses in his game are clear. His potential is considerable; fulfilling it will require patience, consistent work and the ability to learn from setbacks as well as success.