Merih Demiral is one of the most physically dominant centre-backs in world football today.
This article covers his estimated net worth, his lucrative contract with Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, full career earnings, and everything that has built his financial profile.
Merih Demiral’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Merih Demiral |
| Date of Birth | March 5, 1998 |
| Age | 28 |
| Place of Birth | Karamürsel, Turkey |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Height / Weight | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) / 86 kg |
| Position | Centre-Back |
| Current Club | Al-Ahli (Saudi Pro League) |
| Turned Professional | 2016 |
| Net Worth | $8 million (estimated) |
| Annual Salary | €12,000,000 (2025–26) |
| Wife | Heidi Lushtaku |
| @merihdemiral |
Early Life and Career
Merih Demiral was born on March 5, 1998, in Karamürsel, a small coastal town in the Kocaeli province of Turkey. He grew up in a household with mixed heritage — his father is of Laz descent and his mother has Bosnian roots, with the family originating from Artvin.
Demiral lost his mother at a young age, a tragedy that shaped much of his resilience and drive. Football became his anchor.
He started his youth football journey at local club Karamürsel Idmanyurduspor at the age of just 11, before earning a spot in the prestigious Fenerbahçe academy in Istanbul in 2011.
He trained at Fenerbahçe for five years, rising from the U13 level all the way to the U21 side. Despite the prestige of being a Fenerbahçe academy product, Demiral recognized early that first-team opportunities at the Istanbul giants were limited.
In 2016, he made a bold and unconventional decision — he left one of Turkey’s biggest clubs to sign a professional contract with Portuguese third-division side Alcanenense.
It was a genuine gamble: uprooting his life as a teenager to move abroad with no guarantee of progression.
That gamble, however, proved to be the turning point of his career. The discipline and independence he developed during that period laid the groundwork for everything that followed.
Professional Career
After his debut season with Alcanenense, Demiral was loaned to Sporting CP B in January 2017, where he made his professional debut in the Segunda Liga on February 5, 2017.
He impressed enough to earn a permanent deal at Sporting B before being loaned back to Turkey, this time to Alanyaspor in August 2018. He then joined Alanyaspor permanently for €3.5 million in January 2019.
His performances in Turkey caught the attention of Italian clubs. He joined Sassuolo on loan with an obligation to buy in January 2019, and within months, Juventus came calling.
On July 5, 2019, Juventus officially announced his transfer from Sassuolo for €18 million, making him the first Turkish player in the club’s history.
He became a reliable figure in the Juventus backline and won the Serie A title in the 2019–20 season alongside the Coppa Italia.
After a loan spell at Atalanta for the 2021–22 season, during which he made 42 appearances and earned widespread praise, Atalanta exercised their €20 million purchase option in June 2022.
He spent one full season there before Al-Ahli came in with a major offer.
In August 2023, Transfermarkt confirmed Demiral’s transfer to Al-Ahli for a reported €17–18 million fee, kicking off a new chapter in the Saudi Pro League.
At Al-Ahli, Demiral quickly established himself as a leader. He played a key role in winning the AFC Champions League Elite title and the Saudi Super Cup.
On the international stage, he has earned over 60 caps for Turkey, with his finest moment coming at UEFA Euro 2024, where he became the first defender since 1996 to score twice in a European Championship knockout match — a historic brace against Austria in the Round of 16.
Wife
Merih Demiral is married to Heidi Lushtaku, an Albanian model. The couple welcomed their first son, Kais Omer, on April 20, 2022.
They became parents for the second time in 2024, welcoming another son. Demiral keeps his family life mostly private, but has shared glimpses of his family on social media.
Merih Demiral’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Merih Demiral’s has an estimated net worth of $8 million.
He built this wealth primarily through professional football contracts in Italy’s Serie A, the Saudi Pro League, and endorsement income.
His move to Saudi Arabia in 2023 — followed by a contract extension in late 2025 — dramatically accelerated his earnings, with annual salaries more than tripling compared to his Juventus days.
Contract
Al-Ahli officially confirmed in December 2025 that Demiral has signed a contract extension running until June 2029.
His original deal, signed in August 2023, was set to expire in June 2026. The club prioritized his extension amid reported interest from several European clubs, as Demiral had become one of the most dependable players in their squad.
According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, the new deal comes with a salary higher than his previous annual figure of €12.5 million.
The extension was framed as a reward for his consistent performances and leadership on the pitch, particularly after helping the club claim continental honors.
Salary
Capology records Demiral’s gross fixed salary for the 2025–26 season at €12 million per year, or €230,769 per week, excluding performance bonuses. In his first two seasons at Al-Ahli (2023–24 and 2024–25), he earned €10 million per year.
The 2025–26 salary represents a significant bump, placing him among the highest-paid defenders in the Saudi Pro League.
He currently ranks as Al-Ahli’s third-highest earner behind Riyad Mahrez (€30M/year) and Ivan Toney (€23.5M/year), according to salary data from SalaryLeaks.
For context, his combined Saudi Pro League earnings across three seasons already exceed €32 million in base salary alone — more than he earned during his entire time in Italy.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Sporting CP B | €80,000 |
| 2018–19 | Sassuolo | €500,000 |
| 2019–20 | Juventus | €3,300,000 |
| 2020–21 | Juventus | €3,300,000 |
| 2021–22 | Atalanta (loan) | €3,700,000 |
| 2022–23 | Atalanta | €3,700,000 |
| 2023–24 | Al-Ahli | €10,000,000 |
| 2024–25 | Al-Ahli | €10,000,000 |
| 2025–26 | Al-Ahli | €12,000,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcanenense | 2016–17 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sporting CP B | 2017–19 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| Alanyaspor | 2018–19 | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Sassuolo | 2018–19 | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Juventus | 2019–22 | 40 | 2 | 1 |
| Atalanta (loan) | 2021–22 | 42 | 2 | 3 |
| Atalanta | 2022–23 | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Al-Ahli | 2023–present | 60+ | 5 | 2 |
| Turkey (senior) | 2018–present | 61+ | 6 | — |
FAQs
What is Merih Demiral’s net worth?
Merih Demiral’s net worth is estimated at $8 million. He built this through professional contracts at Juventus, Atalanta, and Al-Ahli, where he currently earns €12 million per year.
How much does Merih Demiral earn at Al-Ahli?
He earns a gross fixed salary of €12 million per year (€230,769 per week) in the 2025–26 season, according to Capology’s verified salary data for Al-Ahli players. He can also earn additional performance bonuses.
When does Merih Demiral’s contract expire?
His contract with Al-Ahli runs until June 30, 2029. Al-Ahli officially announced the extension in December 2025, securing him at the club beyond his original 2026 expiry date.
Is Merih Demiral married?
Yes, Demiral is married to Heidi Lushtaku, an Albanian model. They have two sons together — their first, Kais Omer, was born in April 2022, and their second son arrived in 2024.
What is Merih Demiral’s most notable international achievement?
At UEFA Euro 2024, Demiral scored twice against Austria in the Round of 16, leading Turkey to a historic victory. Goal.com’s career profile for Demiral highlights this as a landmark moment, as he became the first defender to score twice in a European Championship knockout game since 1996.
