Naci Ünüvar

Ünüvar was born in Zaandam, North Holland, and is of Turkish descent. He began playing football locally with OFC Oostzaan before joining the Ajax Youth Academy in 2011 at age eight. Widely regarded as one of the most promising talents of his age cohort at Ajax, he progressed through the youth ranks ahead of his age bracket. In April 2018, aged 14, he was named Player of the Tournament at the annual ABN AMRO Future Cup after leading the Ajax Under-17 team to the trophy. At the conclusion of the 2018–19 season, he received the Abdelhak Nouri Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding talent in the Ajax academy.

Ajax

Ünüvar made his senior professional debut for reserve team Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 13 December 2019 during a 3–2 away defeat to SC Cambuur. On 22 January 2020, Ünüvar made his competitive first-team debut for Ajax in a 2019–20 KNVB Cup fixture against SV Spakenburg, entering as a late substitute and converting a penalty in a 7–0 victory. At 16 years and 223 days, he became the youngest player to score on his official debut for Ajax. Despite his early goalscoring debut, Ünüvar experienced a period of slow development in subsequent months, later reflecting that coping with rapid media attention and adapting to senior physical standards posed significant challenges. In subsequent seasons, he expressed frustration over limited first-team opportunities under successive managers, despite maintaining consistent production for Jong Ajax. Across four seasons with Jong Ajax, he made 73 Eerste Divisie appearances, recording 24 goals and 18 assists, highlighted by a 16-goal campaign during the 2021–22 season.

Loans to Trabzonspor, Twente, and Espanyol

On 30 August 2022, Ünüvar was loaned to Süper Lig club Trabzonspor for the 2022–23 campaign. He registered three goals in 12 appearances across all competitions. For the 2023–24 season, Ünüvar returned to the Netherlands on loan with FC Twente. He featured primarily as an impact substitute, showing flashes of creative play and contributing four goals in 25 matches across all competitions as Twente…

Ünüvar represented the Netherlands at youth international level from under-15 to under-19. He was part of the squad that won the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship, scoring a goal in the 4–2 victory over Italy in the final. In 2023, Ünüvar elected to switch his international allegiance to Turkey. He made his debut for the Turkey U21 team on 27 March 2023.

Operating primarily as a left winger or an attacking midfielder, Ünüvar is noted for his technical execution, ball control, and 1v1 dribbling. Raised within the positional training methods of Ajax's youth academy, he frequently cuts inside from the left flank onto his stronger right foot to create shooting opportunities or make decisive passes into the penalty area.