Lewis Holtby

Lewis Harry Holtby (born 18 September 1990) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for 2. Bundesliga side Holstein Kiel.

Holtby began his professional career with Alemannia Aachen before signing for Schalke 04 two years later. He was subsequently loaned to VfL Bochum and Mainz 05 before returning to Gelsenkirchen where he lifted the DFL-Supercup in 2011. He then spent two seasons in England with Premier League sides Tottenham and Fulham between 2013 and 2014 before returning to Germany to sign for Hamburger SV. There, he spent five seasons, including the 2017–18 Bundesliga campaign in which the club was relegated for the first time in history, and made over 100 appearances before spending two seasons with EFL Championship side Blackburn Rovers between 2019 and 2021.

Holtby also represented Germany at various youth levels from 2008 to 2013 and captained the nation at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. He made his senior debut against Sweden in 2010 and has since won 3 caps for the national side.

Club Career

Early career

Lewis Harry Holtby was born on 18 September 1990 in Erkelenz, West Germany. He began playing football at the age of four with amateur side Sparta Gerderath, a club with whom his father had also previously played, before signing for Borussia Monchengladbach when he was 11-years old. He spent three seasons in Gladbach's academy before the club let him go in 2004, deeming him to be too small and slow to make it as a professional footballer. Following his release, Holtby elected to sign for Alemannia Aachen in the second tier of German football at the age of 14.

Aachen

After three years in Aachen's academy, Holtby signed a professional contract with the club during the 2007–08 season.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Льюис Холтби (russian)