Noel Caliskan

Noel Caliskan (Çalışkan; born 29 August 2000) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Youth, college and amateur career
At the youth level, Caliskan played with the academy team of 1. FC Köln between 2012 and 2017, before spending two seasons with the youth team of Fortuna Düsseldorf between 2017 and 2019. In 2019, Caliskan moved to the United States to play college soccer at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. In four seasons with the Lions, Caliskan registered nine goals and 13 assists in 65 appearances. He also received numerous honors, including West Coast Conference Midfielder of the Year in back-to-back seasons in 2021 and 2022, WCC Offensive Player of the Year in 2021, WCC Player of the Year in 2020, WCC Freshman of the Year in 2019, and was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist following his junior season. Caliskan was named to the All-WCC First Team in his last three seasons with the Lions and was honored on the All-WCC Second Team his freshman year.

In the summer of 2020, Caliskan returned to Germany to compete with amateur side SpVG Frechen 20, who played in the Mittelrheinliga. During the summer of 2021, Caliskan remained in the United States and made four appearances for USL League Two side Flint City Bucks.

Professional career
On 21 December 2022, Caliskan was selected 15th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft by Portland Timbers. On 2 March 2023, Caliskan signed with Portland's MLS Next Pro side Portland Timbers 2. After netting three goals in four appearances for Timbers 2, Caliskan joined the club's first team roster on a short-term deal. He then subsequently signed a permanent deal with the Major League Soccer side on 28 April 2023. Caliskan was released by Portland following their 2023 season.

On 21 February 2024, Caliskan signed with Real Monarchs of the MLS Next Pro. He was immediately signed on a short-term deal to Real Salt Lake's roster for their fixture against Inter Miami CF on the same day, where he appeared as a 73rd-minute substitute.

Personal life
Noel's father was Mahmut Caliskan who was a Turkish professional footballer.