András Schäfer

András Schäfer (born 13 April 1999) is a Hungarian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Bundesliga club Union Berlin and the Hungary national team.

MTK Budapest
Schäfer made his Hungarian League debut for MTK, appearing as a substitute away against Gyirmót FC Győr on 1 April 2017.

Genoa and Dunajská Streda
In January 2019, Schäfer signed for Serie A club Genoa on a three-and-a-half-year contract for a fee of around €1 million. Having failed to appear for Genoa's first team since signing for them, he joined Serie B side Chievo Verona on loan in August 2019. He was recalled by Genoa in January 2020 after failing to play for Chievo.

On 17 January 2020, he joined Dunajská Streda, playing in the Fortuna Liga on loan until the end of the 2019–20 season, with an option to purchase. On 9 September 2020, it was announced that he had signed for the club permanently on a four-year contract.

Union Berlin
On 21 January 2022, Schäfer joined Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. On 7 May 2022, Schäfer scored his first goal in the Bundesliga on the 33rd game week of the 2021–22 Bundesliga season in a 4–1 away victory against SC Freiburg at the Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg im Breisgau. In the 2021–22 Bundesliga season he earned 8 caps and scored 1 goal.

After the match against SC Freiburg, he suffered an injury. On 19 May 2023, the diagnosis was revealed that he had broken his leg. On 2 June 2023, his foot was successfully operated on in Budapest. He also mentioned that he was going through the hardest time in his career due to this injury. He returned from injury as a substitute in a 1–1 draw against FC Augsburg on 25 November 2023. He started against 1. FC Köln in a 2–0 home victory on 20 December 2023. He was substituted only in the 85th minute. On 24 February 2024, he scored the second goal in a 2-2 draw against 1. FC Heidenheim on the 23rd game week of the 2023–24 Bundesliga season. He was also selected into the best team of the 23rd game week of the Bundesliga, according to WhoScored. On 8 March 2024, he was sent off in a match against VfB Stuttgart. On 5 May 2024, he gave an assist to Chris Bedia in a 3-4 defeat against VfL Bochum. In an interview with Union Berlin, he said that he and the whole team were relieved after avoiding relegation on the last matchday of the 2023–24 Bundesliga season.

International career
Schäfer made his debut with the Hungary national team in a 1–0 UEFA Nations League win over Turkey on 3 September 2020.

On 1 June 2021, he was included in the final 26-man squad to represent Hungary at the rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020 tournament. On 4 June 2021, in a warm-up match for the tournament, he scored his first international goal to give the Magyars a 1–0 win over Cyprus. He started all three of Hungary's Group F matches, scoring the team's second goal against Germany in a 2–2 draw.

On 14 May 2024, Schäfer was named in Hungary's squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He played all three matches as Hungary finished third in Group A.

International
Scores and results list Hungary's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Schäfer goal.

Personal life
Schäfer belongs on his father’s side to the German minority of Hungary with ancestors believed to be from Bavaria, and while he was not able to speak fluent German when he first moved to Union Berlin, he has been improving, and has recently been able to converse in German without needing a translator.

His father's, Péter Schafer, tattoos include the badges of his son's former football clubs.

In an interview published on Nemzeti Sport, Mátyás Esterházy, his and Dominik Szoboszlai's manager, said that the most important moment in 2023 was Schafer's return from his injury in November.

Honours
Individual
 * Slovak Super Liga Goal of the Month: July/August 2021


 * Slovak Super Liga U-21 Team of the Season: 2020-21