Originally from Slovakia, David Strelec, born on 4th April 2001 (now aged 24), is best known today as a forward for Championship side Middlesbrough. Standing at a formidable 6 feet (1.85 metres) tall, and weighing a solid 11st 6lb (73 kg), Strelec is a tough figure within the sport. Throughout his career, he has also earned his stripes playing for the Slovakia national team. His current market value lingers around the £6.8m according to Transfermarkt.
In July of 2007, Strelec began his football journey as a trainee at Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia's First Football League. He went on to make 13 first team appearances and scored two goals during his debut in the 2018 - 2019 season. His next season saw a similar level of dynamism, with Strelec making 12 appearances and scoring four goals. The upswing continued into the 2020 - 2021 season where he contributed with nine goals in 25 matches. The following year saw a dip in appearances to four games, signifying a change on the horizon for the young striker.
In a bittersweet farewell, August 2021 saw Strelec transfer from Slovan Bratislava to Spezia, a Serie B team in Italy, for a substantially hefty fee of roughly £2m. His stint with the Italian side saw ten first team appearances and a single goal to his name in the 2021 - 2022 season. The following season was a bit dry with only seven appearances and no goals to show in Serie B. This led to a loan spell to Reggina in Serie C, where he netted three goals in 15 matches during the 2022 - 2023 season.
In an interesting turn of events, Strelec found himself returning to Slovan Bratislava on loan in August 2023. Following this, in July 2024, he transferred from Spezia back to Slovan Bratislava, this time for a sum of around £580k. His performances remained steady, if not noteworthy.
By September of 2025, Strelec had changed colours again, moving away from his home ground to play for Middlesbrough in the Championship in England. Thirteen first team appearances and two goals mark his progress in the 2025 - 2026 season. His international career has included participation in World Cup Qualifiers and Euro 2024 for Slovakia, with several starts and appearances to his name.
