# Jakub Jankto

Jakub Jankto (pronounced; born 19 January 1996) is a Czech professional footballer who plays for Serie A club Cagliari, and the Czech Republic national team. A versatile player, Jankto can play as a full-back, left midfielder or left winger.
Jankto came out as gay in a social media post in 2023, making him the first active male international footballer to come out as gay.

## Club career

Jankto signed for Udinese from Slavia Prague in 2014 for a reported fee of €700,000. Without making his league debut for the team, he went on loan to Serie B side Ascoli in 2015, debuting on 15 September in a Serie B 1–0 home win against Virtus Entella.
On 6 July 2018, Sampdoria announced that Jankto had joined the club on an initial loan deal with an obligation to make the transfer permanent for €15 million. On 12 August 2018, Jankto scored on his debut for Sampdoria in a 1–0 Coppa Italia win against Viterbese. Sampdoria later made the transfer permanent.
On 20 August 2021, Jankto signed a two-year contract with La Liga club Getafe CF. On 10 August of the following year, he returned to his home country after joining Sparta Prague on a one-year loan deal.
On 15 July 2023, Jankto signed a two-year contract with option with Serie A club Cagliari. Jankto made his debut with Cagliari on August 21, 2023 in a 0-0 draw against Torino FC. On March 3, 2024, Jankto scored his first goal for Cagliari in a 1-0 win against Empoli FC.

## International career

In March 2017, Jankto received his first call-up by coach Karel Jarolím to the Czech senior squad for two matches against Lithuania (friendly) and San Marino (2018 FIFA World Cup qualification). The same year on 22 March, he debuted against the former opponent with his first goal that ended in a 3-0 victory.

## Personal life

Jankto was in a relationship with model Markéta Ottomanská and had a son. They separated in 2021.
On 13 February 2023, Jankto publicly came out as gay in a social media statement, becoming the first active senior international men's footballer to do so. Jankto's move received support from football clubs, footballers and other athletes.
On 18 April 2023, Jankto was stopped by police near the Sparta Prague Strahov training center. He submitted to a breath test behind the wheel of his vehicle, but refused to take a drug test and a medical examination. He also drove without a driver's licence, which had been taken away by the authorities earlier in 2023. In response, club management initiated a meeting with Jankto, and it was decided that he will not participate in training sessions with the First Team.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 3 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Ascoli (loan) | 2015–16 | Serie B | 34 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 5 |
| Udinese | 2016–17 | Serie A | 29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 5 |
| Udinese | 2017–18 | Serie A | 36 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 39 | 6 |
| Udinese | Total | Total | 65 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 69 | 11 |
| Sampdoria (loan) | 2018–19 | Serie A | 25 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 28 | 1 |
| Sampdoria | 2019–20 | Serie A | 30 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| Sampdoria | 2020–21 | Serie A | 35 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 37 | 6 |
| Sampdoria | 2021–22 | Serie A | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sampdoria | Total | Total | 90 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 97 | 9 |
| Getafe | 2021–22 | La Liga | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Sparta Prague (loan) | 2022–23 | Czech First League | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Cagliari | 2023–24 | Serie A | 15 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 233 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 249 | 27 |
* ↑ Includes Coppa Italia, Copa del Rey, Czech Cup

### International

    As of match played 5 June 2022
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Czech Republic | 2017 | 10 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 2018 | 7 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 2019 | 9 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| Czech Republic | 2021 | 11 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 45 | 4 |
    Scores and results list Czech Republic's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Jankto goal.
List of international goals scored by Jakub Jankto :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1 | 22 March 2017 | Městský stadion, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic | Lithuania | 2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 15 November 2018 | Stadion Energa Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland | Poland | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 3 | 10 June 2019 | Andrův stadion, Olomouc, Czech Republic | Montenegro | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification |
| 4 | 24 March 2021 | Arena Lublin, Lublin, Poland | Estonia | 6–1 | 6–2 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |

## Honours
### Club

Sparta Prague
* Czech First League: 2022–23