Who is Yann Sommer?

Sommer is a Switzerland international
Sommer is a Switzerland international / Richard Sellers/GettyImages
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Yann Sommer has impressed audiences in the Bundesliga for just shy of a decade with his athletic and dramatic displays for Borussia Monchengladbach.

Also a Switzerland international, the goalkeeper has gained a reputation for pulling off physics-defying saves in Germany both in Germany and in UEFA competitions.

He is also a player in demand. 90min understands Manchester United are keen to sign Sommer once his contract with Monchengladbach expires next year. There is some uncertainty over the futures of David de Gea and Dean Henderson, and Sommer could provide some assurance between the sticks in any role.

Here's what you need to know about the entertaining goalie.


Yann Sommer age & height

Yann Sommer was born on 17 December 1988 in Vaud, Switzerland. He would play for the youth teams of FC Herrliberg and Concordia Basel as a child.

With all the growing done, Sommer measures out at 6'0. For comparison, Liverpool's Alisson comes in at 6'4 and Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois is 6'7.


The clubs Yann Sommer has played for

Sommer came through the ranks of Swiss giants Basel, joining them in 2003 after previous stints with Herrliberg and Concordia. He signed his first professional contract two years later as a 17-year-old and was later loaned to Vaduz to gain experience in senior football.

He became the Liechtensteiner club's starting goalie and played 33 games as they were promoted to the Swiss Super League. His loan was extended and he made his first appearances in the Swiss Super League before being recalled by Basel in January 2009.

Sommer made his Basel Super League debut a month later before being sent out on loan again the following summer, playing 33 games for Grasshoppers in the 2009/10 season.

He eventually became Basel's starting goalkeeper in 2011/12, making his debut in the Champions League and enjoying a good run to the semi finals of the 2012/13 Europa League.

Sommer moved to Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014 and has since played well over 250 Bundesliga matches, recording over 60 clean sheets and playing more European football with the Foals.


Yann Sommer with Switzerland

Sommer played for Switzerland's Under-16, Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 sides before making his senior bow in 2012. He has since played at three World Cups (2014, 2018 and 2022) and two European Championships (2016 and 2020) and is Switzerland's most capped goalkeeper.


Yann Sommer best statistics

Sommer is well known for his eye-catching displays in the Bundesliga. During the early stages of the 2022/23 season, the goalie set a new Bundesliga record for saves in a match, denying Bayern Munich 19 times to earn Monchengladbach a point.

He kept 65 clean sheets in 170 appearances for Basel, winning four league titles and a Swiss Cup before leaving for Germany in 2014. Over time, the Switzerland international has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe and was named in the 2019/20 Team of the Season for the Bundesliga. He made more saves (126) and had the highest save rate of any goalkeeper that campaign.

He has also developed a reputation as a penalty stopper. He has saved 24 spot kicks in his career to date, with likes of Jorginho, Sergio Ramos and Patrik Schick all being denied by the Switzerland international. He famously denied Kylian Mbappe during his nation's Euro 2020 shootout victory over France in the last 16.

Sommer made eight saves in extra time alone during Switzerland's next game against Spain, but this time his side couldn't squeeze their way through on penalties.


Trophies Yann Sommer has won

Sommer has a relatively modest trophy cabinet. He hasn't won a team trophy since leaving Basel for Monchengladbach in 2014, but he has won a few individual awards.

He was named Credit Suisse Player of the Year in 2016, 2018 and 2021 and was named in the 2019/20 Bundesliga Team of the Season. Sommer was also included in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament, a group which also contained David de Gea, Kyle Walker, Christian Eriksen, Thiago and Juan Mata.

Vaduz

  • Swiss Challenge League: 2007/08
  • Liechtenstein Football Cup: 2007/08

Basel

  • Swiss Super League: 2010/11, 2011/12, 2012/13, 2013/14
  • Swiss Cup: 2011/12