{{Short description|Romanian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Enes Sali | image = | full_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2006|02|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | height = 1.68 m<ref name="SW"/> | position = Attacking midfielder, winger | currentclub = Al-Riyadh<br/>(on loan from FC Dallas) | clubnumber = 98 | youthyears1 = 2012–2017 | youthclubs1 = Woodbridge Strikers | youthyears2 = 2017–2018 | youthclubs2 = Barcelona | youthyears3 = 2018–2021 | youthclubs3 = Gheorghe Hagi Academy | years1 = 2021–2024 | clubs1 = Farul Constanța | caps1 = 50 | goals1 = 4 | years2 = 2024– | clubs2 = FC Dallas | caps2 = 0<!--league only, no playoffs....soccerway includes playoffs--> | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2024 | clubs3 = → North Texas SC (loan) | caps3 = 25<!--league only, no playoffs. soccerway includes playoffs--> | goals3 = 8 | years4 = 2025 | clubs4 = → Al-Riyadh (loan) | caps4 = 8 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2025 | clubs5 = → North Texas SC (loan) | caps5 = 1 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2026– | clubs6 = → Al-Riyadh (loan) | caps6 = 13 | goals6 = 0 | club-update = 4 May 2026 | nationalyears1 = 2021 | nationalteam1 = Romania U16 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 1 | nationalyears2 = 2021–2023 | nationalteam2 = Romania U17 | nationalcaps2 = 14 | nationalgoals2 = 4 | nationalyears3 = 2022–2023 | nationalteam3 = Romania U19 | nationalcaps3 = 10 <!--remember to update date below when making changes --> | nationalgoals3 = 2 | nationalyears4 = 2021 | nationalteam4 = Romania | nationalcaps4 = 1 <!--remember to update date below when making changes --> | nationalgoals4 = 0 | nationalteam-update = 21 November 2023 }} '''Enes Sali''' (born 23 February 2006) is a professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Riyadh, on loan from Major League Soccer club FC Dallas. Born in Canada, he represents Romania at international level.
==Early life== Born in Toronto, Ontario, Sali played youth football for Woodbridge Strikers until the age of 11. In 2017, he was scouted by Barcelona during an international tournament and moved to the Catalans for two seasons, before they encountered issues with FIFA and had to release him. Former Romanian international Gheorghe Hagi then persuaded Sali's father to move back to Romania with his son, in order for the youngster to join Viitorul Constanța's academy.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.ro/fotbal/a-dat-un-gol-fabulos-si-l-a-vrajit-pe-hagi-cine-e-enes-sali-pustiul-care-a-marcat-ca-maradona_sto8313894/story.shtml|title=A dat un gol fabulos și l-a vrăjit pe Hagi! Cine e Enes Sali, puștiul care a marcat ca Maradona|trans-title=He scored a fabulous goal and enchanted Hagi! Who is Enes Sali, the kid who scored like Maradona|publisher=Eurosport România|language=ro|date=11 May 2021|accessdate=11 August 2021}}</ref>
==Club career== Sali registered his senior debut for the now-renamed Farul Constanța on 9 August 2021, aged 15, in a 1–0 Liga I victory over Sepsi OSK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport.ro/liga-1/foto-un-fotbalist-de-doar-15-ani-a-debutat-pentru-farul-a-fost-si-in-la-masia.html|title=Un fotbalist de doar 15 ani a debutat pentru Farul! A fost și în La Masia|trans-title=A 15-year-old football player made his debut for Farul! He was also in La Masia|publisher=Sport.ro|language=ro|date=9 August 2021|accessdate=11 August 2021}}</ref> On 13 September that year, he became the youngest player to score in the Liga I at 15 years, six months and 21 days, after netting the last goal in a 5–0 defeat of Academica Clinceni.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/enes-sali-record-farul-academica-clinceni-641708.html|title=Enes Sali, direct în istoria fotbalului românesc! Record bătut în Liga 1 după 44 de ani|trans-title=Enes Sali, straight into the history of Romanian football! Record broken in Liga 1 after 44 years|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=13 September 2021|accessdate=13 September 2021}}</ref> On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper ''The Guardian'' as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/ng-interactive/2023/oct/11/next-generation-2023-60-of-the-best-young-talents-in-world-football|title=Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football|first1=Marcus|last1=Christenson|first2=Steven|last2=Bloor|first3=Garry|last3=Blight|date=11 October 2023|access-date=11 October 2023|website=theguardian.com}}</ref>
Sali signed a multi-year contract with American Major League Soccer club FC Dallas on 4 December 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=FC Dallas Signs Romanian International Enes Sali |url=https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-signs-romanian-international-enes-sali |website=FCDallas.com |publisher=FC Dallas |access-date=4 December 2023}}</ref> He began the season with their second team, North Texas SC, in MLS Next Pro, scoring his first goal in his third appearance on 14 April.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/northtexassc/news/north-texas-sc-downs-tacoma-defiance-2-1-to-earn-first-win-of-the-season|title=North Texas SC Downs Tacoma Defiance 2-1 to Earn First Win of the Season|date=14 April 2024|work=FC Dallas}}</ref> He made his FC Dallas debut on 1 August 2024, in a 2024 Leagues Cup match against Mexican side Juárez.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bigdsoccer.com/p/fc-dallas-vs-juarez-leagues-cup-recap-scores|title=FC Dallas crashes out of 2024 Leagues Cup with 2-0 loss to FC Juarez|first=Drew|last=Epperley|work=Big D Soccer|date=1 August 2024}}</ref> In January 2025, he was loaned to Al-Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League through July 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcdallas.com/news/fc-dallas-loans-midfielder-enes-sali-to-al-riyadh-sc|title=FC Dallas Loans Midfielder Enes Sali to Al-Riyadh SC|date=January 31, 2025|work=FC Dallas}}</ref> On 24 January 2026, he re-joined Al-Riyadh on loan.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://x.com/AlRiyadhFC/status/2015100798011597091|title=الجنـاح المبـدع لاعبًـا لـ #الرياض 💪🏻🤩 أهـلاً بالنجـم الرومـاني "إنيـس سالي" 🇷🇴❤️}}</ref>
==International career== Born in Canada to Romanian-Turkish parents, Sali was eligible to represent both Canada, Turkey and Romania at international level.
On 3 November 2021, aged 15, Sali was selected by the Romania national team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and Liechtenstein.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.frf.ro/nationale/masculin/echipa-nationala/26-de-jucatori-convocati-de-mirel-radoi-pentru-partidele-cu-islanda-si-liechtenstein-din-finalul-preliminariilor-cm-2022/|title=26 de jucători convocați de Mirel Rădoi pentru partidele cu Islanda și Liechtenstein din finalul preliminariilor CM 2022|trans-title=26 players called up by Mirel Rădoi for the final WC 2022 qualifying matches against Iceland and Liechtenstein|publisher=Romanian Football Federation|language=ro|date=3 November 2021|accessdate=3 November 2021}}</ref> Romanian newspaper ''Gazeta Sporturilor'' later reported that Canada had also approached him for a possible call up.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/nationala/enes-sali-canada-646515.html|title=EXCLUSIV Naționala care stă la pândă pentru Enes Sali » Tatăl jucătorului, contactat de antrenor: "Eu asta sper"|trans-title=EXCLUSIVE The national team lurking for Enes Sali » The player's father, contacted by the coach: "This is what I hope"|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=9 November 2021|accessdate=9 November 2021}}</ref> Sali made his senior debut on 14 November by coming on as an 82nd minute substitute for Andrei Ivan in the latter match, and became the youngest European player to appear in a competitive game at 15 years and 264 days (Lucas Knecht holds the record for any player in any match type).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/ro-liga-i/2021/11/who-is-enes-sali-15-year-old-record-breaking-romania-international|work=Football Transfers|title=Who is Enes Sali? The 15-year-old record-breaking Romania international|first=Tom|last=Grant|date=14 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://netherlandsnewslive.com/enes-sali-15-the-youngest-international-ever-nope-hes-not-even-in-the-top-30-foreign-football/283309/|title=Enes Sali (15) the youngest international ever? Nope, he's not even in the top 30|first=Saoirse|last=Lawrence|date=14 November 2021|work=Netherlands News Live|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114223923/https://netherlandsnewslive.com/enes-sali-15-the-youngest-international-ever-nope-hes-not-even-in-the-top-30-foreign-football/283309/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Personal life== Sali's parents met in Constanța, Romania, and are both of Turkish descent. After getting married, they relocated to Canada where his mother's family had been living for several decades. In 2019, Sali's father moved back to Romania with his son.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gsp.ro/fotbal/liga-1/asemanarea-enes-sali-emma-raducanu-641745.html|title=Ce-i unește pe Enes Sali și Emma Răducanu, senzațiile momentului în fotbalul românesc și tenis|trans-title=What unites Enes Sali and Emma Răducanu, the current sensations of Romanian football and tennis|newspaper=Gazeta Sporturilor|language=ro|date=14 September 2021|accessdate=14 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digisport.ro/fotbal/liga-1/cum-a-trait-tatal-lui-enes-sali-golul-istoric-al-pustiului-de-la-farul-eram-putin-suparat-pentru-ca-nu-a-dat-pasa-1270769|title =Cum a trăit tatăl lui Enes Sali golul istoric al puștiului de la Farul: "Eram puțin supărat pentru că nu a dat pasă"|trans-title=How Enes Sali's father lived the historic goal of the Farul youngster: "I was a little upset because he didn't pass"|publisher=Digi Sport|language=ro|date=15 September 2021|accessdate=3 November 2021}}</ref>
==Career statistics==
===Club=== {{updated|match played 4 May 2026}}<ref name="SW">{{Soccerway|enes-sali/758013|accessdate=11 August 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Playoffs !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Cupa României}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Farul Constanța |2021–22 |Liga I |20||1||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||1 |- |2022–23 |Liga I |19||2||colspan="2"|—||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||22||2 |- |2023–24 |Liga I |11||1||colspan="2"|—||3||0||1{{Efn|name=UCL|Appearance in UEFA Champions League}}||0||1{{Efn|name=RSC|Appearance in Supercupa României}}||0||16||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !50!!4!!0!!0!!6!!0!!1!!0!!1!!0!!58!!4 |- |rowspan=3|FC Dallas |2024 |Major League Soccer |0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{Efn|name=LCU|Appearance in Leagues Cup}}||0||1||0 |- |2025 |Major League Soccer |0||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!1!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!1!!0!!2!!0 |- |North Texas SC (loan) |2024 |MLS Next Pro |25||8||4{{Efn|Appearances in MLS Next Pro Playoffs|name=MNP}}||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||9 |- |Al-Riyadh (loan) |2024–25 |Saudi Pro League |8||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||1 |- |North Texas SC (loan) |2025 |MLS Next Pro |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |Al-Riyadh (loan) |2025–26 |Saudi Pro League |13||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !97!!13!!5!!0!!6!!0!!1!!0!!2!!1!!111!!14 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|match played 14 November 2021}}<ref name="EU">{{cite web|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31773|title=Enes Sali|publisher=European Football|accessdate=15 November 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="1"|Romania |2021||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!1!!0 |}
==Honours== '''Farul Constanța'''<ref name="SW"/> *Liga I: 2022–23 *Supercupa României runner-up: 2023
'''North Texas SC''' *MLS Next Pro Championship: 2024 *MLS Next Pro Regular Season Title: 2024
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{sports links}} * {{LPF.ro|sali-enes/1627|archive=20210811102422}} * [https://www.farulconstanta.com/echipa/farul-constanta/jucatori/enes-sali Farul Constanța official profile] {{lang in|ro}}
{{Al-Riyadh SC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sali, Enes}} Category:2006 births Category:Living people Category:Soccer players from Toronto Category:Romanian men's footballers Category:Romanian Muslims Category:Romania men's international footballers Category:Romania men's youth international footballers Category:Romanian people of Turkish descent Category:Canadian people of Romanian descent Category:Canadian people of Turkish descent Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Men's association football wingers Category:FCV Farul Constanța players Category:FC Dallas players Category:North Texas SC players Category:Al-Riyadh SC players Category:Liga I players Category:Major League Soccer players Category:MLS Next Pro players Category:Saudi Pro League players Category:Romanian expatriate men's footballers Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States Category:Romanian expatriate sportspeople in Saudi Arabia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Saudi Arabia Category:21st-century Romanian sportsmen