Davie Selke’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Davie Selke (born 20 January 1995) is a German footballer who plays as a striker for RB Leipzig. He currently holds the record for being the most expensive 2. Liga signing of all time.

Club career

Werder Bremen

Bundesliga breakthrough

Having spent the majority of his youth years at Hoffenheim, Selke signed for Werder Bremen in 2013 for €50,000. While spending most of the 2013–2014 season playing for the reserves in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Nord, he made his first-team debut for the club on 3 November 2013, coming on as a second half substitute for Clemens Fritz in a 3–2 Bundesliga victory over Hannover. The following month, Selke exchanged blows with Fritz during a training session, with the pair having to be separated by teammates. He ended the season having scored 9 goals in 24 appearances for the reserves and remaining goalless in three first-team appearances for Die Grün-Weißen.

At the start of the 2014–15 campaign, Selke signed a new four-year deal with Bremen, tying him to the club until 2018. He scored his first goal on 20 September 2014, netting in a 4–2 Bundesliga loss against FC Augsburg. A late flurry of four goals and four assists in nine games from Selke helped Bremen to a tenth-placed finish in the league, thus securing their status in the Bundesliga for another season.

Departure

Despite having signed a contract extension with Bremen just six months prior, Selke announced on 1 April 2015 that he would be joining 2. Liga side RB Leipzig at the end of the season. The €8m fee Leipzig paid for Selke made him the most expensive 2.Liga signing in the history of the competition. With Selke having been courted throughout the season by a host of European clubs, included in which were Real Madrid, Selke’s decision to drop a division was seen as one of financial motive, especially given that Leipzig are owned by energy drink company Red Bull whom many feel are threatening the organic structure of German football. Following the announcement of his departure, Selke was consistently jeered by parts of the Werder Bremen fans during the remaining matches of the season. When asked about his impending move and the jeers, Selke responded by saying:

RB Leipzig

Debut season and promotion to the Bundesliga

Selke made his debut for RB Leipzig on 25 July 2015 against FSV Frankfurt and scored his first goal for the club the following week, netting in a 2–2 draw with Greuther Fürth. On 21 November, Selke netted the only goal in a 1–0 win over Arminia Bielefeld which saw Leipzig climb to the summit of 2.Liga. On 8 May, Die roten Bullen secured promotion with a match to spare after beating Karlsruher 2–0. It was the first time in the club’s short history that they had been promoted to the Bundesliga. During the post match celebrations, Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick pulled his hamstring after being chased by Selke with a glass of beer.

International career

Though born in Schorndorf, Germany, Selke is eligible to represent both Ethiopia, the birthplace of his father, and the Czech Republic, the birthplace of his mother. He and fellow German youth international teammate Gedion Zelalem had in the past been approached by the Ethiopian Football Association to represent the African nation but both players elected to remain within the German camp.

In 2014, he helped Germany win the UEFA European Under-19 Championship. Selke netted six goals throughout the tournament which earned him the Golden Boot award. His goalscoring tally equaled the tournament record, jointly held by Borko Veselinović and Álvaro Morata. Selke was also named as the tournament’s Golden Player.

On 16 July 2016, Selke was named in Horst Hrubesch’s 18-man squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He scored his first goal at the tournament on 7 August, netting Germany’s second in a 3–3 draw with South Korea. Germany ultimately went on to win the Silver Medal, losing to Brazil in the final.

Style of play

Former Germany striker Klaus Fischer described Selke as being a “young Miroslav Klose”, comparing his stature and strength in the air with that of Germany’s all-time record goalscorer. Selke himself, however, cites former Bayern Munich striker Mario Gómez as being his idol.

Career statistics

Club performance

As of 17 December 2016

Honours

International

Germany U19

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: 2014

Germany

• Summer Olympic Games: Silver Medal, 2016

Individual

• UEFA European Under-19 Championship: Golden Boot 2014, Golden Player 2014.