Nidal Čelik

Nidal Čelik
Čelik with Lens in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-07-17) 17 July 2006
Place of birth Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Lens
Number 4
Youth career
2017–2023 Sarajevo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Sarajevo 25 (0)
2025– Lens 8 (0)
International career‡
2021 Bosnia and Herzegovina U15 4 (0)
2022–2023 Bosnia and Herzegovina U17 12 (1)
2023–2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina U19 12 (0)
2023– Bosnia and Herzegovina U21 7 (0)
2026– Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 June 2026

Nidal Čelik (pronounced [nǐdal tʃělik]; born 17 July 2006) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Lens and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team.

Čelik started his professional career at Sarajevo, before joining Lens in 2025.

A former youth international for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Čelik made his senior international debut in 2025.

Club career

Sarajevo

Čelik came through the youth academy of his hometown club Sarajevo, which he joined in 2017. In July 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the team.[1] He made his professional debut in a Bosnian Cup game against Sloga Uskoplje on 27 September 2023 at the age of 17.[2] Two months later, he made his league debut against GOŠK Gabela.[3]

He signed a new three-year deal with the side in June 2024.[4]

In November, he was named squad captain.[5]

Lens

In February 2025, Čelik moved to French outfit Lens on a contract until June 2029.[6] On 14 February 2026, he made his official debut for the team against Paris FC.[7] He won his first trophy with the club on 22 May, by beating Lille in the Coupe de France final.[8]

International career

Čelik represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at all youth levels.[9]

In November 2024, he received his first senior call up, for 2024–25 UEFA Nations League A games against Germany and the Netherlands,[10] but had to wait until 29 May 2026 to make his debut in a friendly game against North Macedonia.[11]

In June 2026, Čelik was named in Bosnia and Herzegovina's squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but had to withdraw due to an injury.[12]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 May 2026[13]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sarajevo 2023–24 Bosnian Premier League 10010–110
2024–25 Bosnian Premier League 150004[b]0190
Total 2501040300
Lens 2025–26 Ligue 1 8010–90
2026–27 Ligue 1 00000000
Total 80100090
Career total 3302040390

International

As of match played 6 June 2026[14]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
202620
Total20

Honours

Lens[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Petnaestogodišnjak potpisao profesionalni ugovor sa Sarajevom". faktor.ba (in Bosnian). 8 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  2. ↑ "Sarajevo rutinski pobijedilo Slogu u Gornjem Vakufu i plasiralo se među 16 ekipa u Kupu BiH". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 27 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "Sarajevo s tri gola počastilo GOŠK: Bordo tim preskočio Zrinjski na tabeli". sportsport.ba (in Bosnian). 9 December 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Nidal Čelik produžio ugovor do 2027. godine". scsport.ba (in Bosnian). 29 June 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Sarajevo ima novog kapitena, objavljen snimak reakcije igrača kada im je Zekić saopćio odluku". avaz.ba (in Bosnian). 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  6. ↑ "Nidal Čelik ostvario najveći transfer u historiji bh. lige i prešao u Lens za 2,5 miliona eura". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 3 February 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  7. ↑ "Nidal Čelik fenomenalnim potezom iznenadio i komentatora Arene Sport: Kakva hladnokrvnost". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 14 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  8. ↑ "Nidal Čelik će u sjajnom raspoloženju stići na okupljanje: Lens srušio Nicu i osvojio Kup Francuske". n1info.ba (in Bosnian). 22 May 2026. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
  9. ↑ "Kapiten Sarajeva je najmlađi Zmaj: Dijeliti svlačionicu sa ovim igračima je ostvarenje sna". reprezentacija.ba (in Bosnian). 14 November 2024. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
  10. ↑ "Selektor Barbarez uputio nove pozive u reprezentaciju BiH, zamijenit će povrijeđene Kolašinca i Radeljića". n1info.ba (in Bosnian). 9 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  11. ↑ "Sergej Barbarez podijelio minutažu reprezentativcima, remi na Koševu". oslobodjenje.ba (in Bosnian). 29 May 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  12. ↑ "Nidal Čelik propušta Svjetsko prvenstvo, umjesto njega "uskočio" Arjan Malić". klix.ba (in Bosnian). 11 June 2026. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Nidal Čelik". soccerway.com. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Nidal Čelik". eu-football.info. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
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