Benno Schmitz

Benno Schmitz (born 17 November 1994) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defender and defensive midfielder for Regionalliga Bayern club Bayern Munich II. He is a former German youth international.

Club career Schmitz started playing football at local Munich club SV Waldperlach. In 2001, he joined the youth ranks of Bayern Munich where he eventually was promoted to their reserve team in 2012, having failed to establish himself at the first team, he left the club and signed for Austrian champion Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2014.

On 23 August 2014, he made his league debut in a 5–0 home win against Rheindorf Altach by coming on as a substitute for Christian Schwegler after 83 minutes. In 2018, after a quiet stint with Leipzig, Schmitz was transferred to newly relegated side 1. FC Köln for a fee of €1.5 million. In March 2022, having established himself in the club's starting line-up during the 2021–22 season, Schmitz extended his contract at Köln until June 2024.

On 25 July 2024, he joined Swiss Super League side Grasshopper on a free transfer. He joins the Swiss record champions on a three-year deal until 2027. On 23 June 2025, it was confirmed that Schmitz would return to his native Germany and join Bayern Munich II with immediate effect, the same team with whom he made his professional debut. This moves comes due to familial reasons. He made 30 appearances for Grasshopper and supplied seven assists.

Career statistics