# Damian Szymański

Damian Dawid Szymański (born 16 June 1995) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Greek Super League club AEK Athens, which he captains, and the Poland national team.

## Club career
### Early club career

Szymański started his career with GKS Bełchatów.

### Akhmat Grozny

On 12 January 2019, Wisła Płock announced his transfer to the Russian Premier League club FC Akhmat Grozny. Three days later Akhmat confirmed that the club signed a 4.5-year contract with Szymański.

### AEK Athens

On 13 January 2020, Szymański travelled to Athens to pass his medicals and complete a move to AEK Athens. The Polish midfielder will join the Greek club on an initial six-month loan, and AEK will maintain the right to buy him for a fee of €1,500,000. One day later, the deal was made official and Szymański was presented by his new club.
On 30 June 2020, Szymański signed a four-year contract with AEK after his transfer from Akhmat Grozny was made permanent. The Greek club paid €1,300,000 for his services, while Akhmat will keep a resale rate of 15%. Five days later, Szymanski scored his first goal for the club, sealing an emphatic 4–1 away win against Aris Thessaloniki.
On 20 January 2021, he scored helping to a 2–0 home win against Apollon Smyrnis for the first leg of the Greek Cup round of 16. On 15 February 2021, he sealed a dramatic 4–2 away win against AEL, after a low cross from Levi García. The following week, Szymański scored a brace in a 2–2 home draw against Asteras Tripolis. On 5 December 2021, he was the only scorer in a vital 1–0 home win against rivals Panathinaikos.
At the start of the 2022–23 season, the appointment of Matías Almeyda as the club's new coach helped Damian to revive his career, eventually receiving a call-up for the 2022 World Cup. He also became the team's second captain, behind Sergio Araujo. The Argentine coach managed to harness his athleticism and passion, making him a significant member of the team, thus attracting interest from various clubs including Standard Liège.
On 20 April 2023, Szymański signed a new contract with AEK Athens, running until the summer of 2027.

## International career

Szymański debuted for the Polish senior squad on 7 September 2018 in a 2018–19 UEFA Nations League A game against Italy. He started for the return game against the same country on 14 October.
On 8 September 2021, Szymański scored his first goal, an equaliser in the injury time of the second half during a 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification draw against England.
Szymański was included in the 47-man preliminary squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He was included in the final squad.
Szymański was included in the 29-man preliminary squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. He was included in the final squad.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of 19 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Europe | Europe | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| GKS Bełchatów | 2013–14 | I liga | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| GKS Bełchatów | 2014–15 | Ekstraklasa | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 0 |
| GKS Bełchatów | 2015–16 | I liga | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 |
| GKS Bełchatów | Total | Total | 48 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 51 | 2 |
| Jagiellonia Białystok | 2016–17 | Ekstraklasa | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 1 |
| Jagiellonia Białystok | 2017–18 | Ekstraklasa | 1 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 |
| Jagiellonia Białystok | Total | Total | 16 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 1 |
| Wisła Płock | 2017–18 | Ekstraklasa | 29 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 29 | 4 |
| Wisła Płock | 2018–19 | Ekstraklasa | 20 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 4 |
| Wisła Płock | Total | Total | 49 | 6 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 52 | 8 |
| Akhmat Grozny | 2018–19 | Russian Premier League | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 |
| Akhmat Grozny | 2019–20 | Russian Premier League | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Akhmat Grozny | Total | Total | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| AEK Athens (loan) | 2019–20 | Superleague Greece | 16 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 21 | 1 |
| AEK Athens | 2020–21 | Superleague Greece | 21 | 3 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 4 |
| AEK Athens | 2021–22 | Superleague Greece | 32 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 |
| AEK Athens | 2022–23 | Superleague Greece | 30 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 34 | 2 |
| AEK Athens | 2023–24 | Superleague Greece | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — | — | 37 | 2 |
| AEK Athens | Total | Total | 125 | 10 | 19 | 1 | 12 | 0 | — | — | 156 | 11 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 251 | 19 | 26 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 291 | 22 |
* ↑ Includes Polish Cup, Russian Cup, Greek Football Cup
* ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League

### International

    As of 10 June 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Poland | 2018 | 4 | 0 |
| Poland | 2021 | 3 | 1 |
| Poland | 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| Poland | 2023 | 7 | 1 |
| Poland | 2024 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 18 | 2 |
    Scores and results list Poland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Szymański goal.
List of international goals scored by Damian Szymański :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 8 September 2021 | Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland | England | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 24 March 2023 | Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic | Czech Republic | 1–3 | 1–3 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |

## Honours

GKS Bełchatów
* I liga: 2013–14
AEK Athens
* Super League Greece: 2022–23
* Greek Cup: 2022–23