Dani Olmo Biography: Net Worth, Age, Career, Records, Family, Achievements!
Dani Olmo is one of the brightest young talents in Spanish football today. At just 25 years old, he has already achieved great success playing for major clubs like Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig and representing the Spanish national team.
Olmo first caught the attention of scouts across Europe during his breakthrough years in the Dinamo Zagreb youth academy. His technical abilities, passing range, dribbling skills, and eye for goal shone through at a young age.
After leading Spain to the UEFA U21 Championship title in 2019, Olmo secured a high-profile transfer to German club RB Leipzig where he has continued to evolve into one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in Europe.
In this article, we take a deep dive into Dani Olmo’s background, career achievements, playing style, records, relationships, and net worth. Whether you’re a football scout looking for the next Spanish superstar or simply a fan wanting to learn more about this prodigious talent, this is the definitive profile of Dani Olmo’s journey so far.
Background and Early Life
Daniel Olmo Carvajal was born on May 7, 1998 in Terrassa, Catalonia, Spain. From an early age, Olmo displayed a strong passion and talent for football. He joined the youth academy of famous Spanish club Espanyol at the age of just 7 years old in 2005.
Olmo spent the next 7 years developing his skills at Espanyol, playing as an attacking midfielder and winger. He stood out for his technical abilities and eye for goal, scoring prolifically at the youth levels.
However, at the age of 16, Olmo decided to leave Espanyol to pursue a new challenge. In 2014, he made the bold decision to join the academy of Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb. This move abroad to a smaller league allowed Olmo to get more first-team opportunities at a young age.
Early Club Career
Olmo immediately impressed upon joining Dinamo Zagreb’s youth setup. After just one year in the academy, he was already playing for their reserve team, NK Lokomotiva, in Croatia’s second division. Olmo scored 10 goals in his first professional season in Croatia’s 2.HNL in 2015-16.
The following season, Olmo earned promotion to Dinamo Zagreb’s first team squad. On September 14, 2016, he made his first-team debut at the age of 18 in a Cup match against Fossalovka. Olmo would make 24 appearances across all competitions in his debut season, scoring 5 goals and winning the Croatian First Football League title.
Over the next two seasons, Olmo developed into one of Dinamo Zagreb’s most important players. In 2018-19, he had a true breakout year – in 31 league appearances, Olmo scored 8 goals and provided 9 assists as Zagreb won another league title. His creative dribbling and passing in the final third made him one of the standout performers in the Croatian league.
Olmo’s success at Dinamo Zagreb caught the attention of many major clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. After winning a remarkable six trophies in just four seasons in Croatia, Olmo earned a high-profile transfer to German club RB Leipzig in January 2020. The young Spanish star moved for a reported fee of around €20 million.
Style of Play
As an attacking midfielder or winger, Dani Olmo is an extremely well-rounded and creative player. He has the technical abilities to beat defenders off the dribble with clever feints and rapid changes of pace and direction. Olmo can play short, intricate passing combinations with teammates or switch the angle of attack with his excellent long-range passing using both feet.
Olmo also poses a threat running behind defenses, either latching onto through balls or attacking crosses to finish off moves with his composure in front of goal. He likes to roam between the lines to find pockets of space where he can turn and drive at defenses when in possession. Out of possession, Olmo is also a tireless worker who helps his team in the pressing phases.
In many ways, Olmo plays with the creative freedom typical of classic Spanish attacking midfielders. However, his time spent in Croatia provided him with more directness and end product to his game at a young age. This allows him to both link play like a traditional La Masia graduate and also make decisive contributions in the final third.
Olmo’s game has few clear weaknesses – perhaps only his aerial ability. But for a player so early in his career, he has a remarkably well-developed and balanced skillset that allows him to adapt and thrive in different systems.
Career Achievements and Records
Despite his young age, Dani Olmo has already accomplished a great deal in his club and international career. Some highlights include:
- UEFA Euro U21 Championship – Olmo was player of the tournament and top goalscorer while leading Spain to the U21 Euros title in 2019. He scored 3 goals in the competition.
- 6 trophies at Dinamo Zagreb – Olmo won 1 Croatian First League title, 3 Croatian Cups, and 2 Croatian Super Cups during his time at Dinamo Zagreb from 2015-2020.
- UEFA Champions League – Olmo has made 23 UEFA Champions League appearances with Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig, scoring 4 goals. He made his competition debut in 2016.
- Spanish national team debut – Olmo earned his first senior cap for Spain in November 2019 against Malta in Euro 2020 qualifying.
- 2022 FIFA World Cup – Olmo was selected for Spain’s World Cup squad in Qatar at the age of 24. He made 4 appearances and helped Spain reach the Round of 16.
- Bundesliga record – In 2019-20, Olmo set a new Bundesliga record for most consecutive games scoring on debut for two different clubs (1 for RB Leipzig, 1 later for Leipzig).
While he has many years ahead, Olmo has already proven himself as one of the top talents developed by Spain’s academy system in recent years through his precocious accomplishments.
Playing for the Spanish National Team
Ever since his early teens, Dani Olmo has been a regular feature in Spain’s youth national teams. He represented his country across the different age levels from the U16s to the U21s.
Olmo was especially integral in Spain winning the UEFA U21 Euro Championships in 2019, their fifth U21 Euros title. He scored 3 goals in the tournament and won the Golden Player Award as the best player.
Thanks to his strong performances in Croatia and the U21 Euros triumph, senior national team manager Robert Moreno called Olmo up to the Spanish national team in November 2019. He earned his first cap on November 15, 2019 as a substitute in a 7-0 win against Malta in Euro 2020 qualifying.
Since his debut, Olmo has been a regular member of La Roja’s squad under Luis Enrique. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was his first World Cup representing Spain. Olmo made 4 appearances in Spain’s run to the Round of 16, often coming off the bench as an attacking spark.
At just 25 years old, the future is bright for Dani Olmo to establish himself as a national team star for Spain heading into Euro 2024 and beyond. His technical abilities and versatility make him an ideal long-term replacement for legends like Andres Iniesta and David Silva in Spain’s attacking midfield.
Transfer to RB Leipzig
After standout seasons at Dinamo Zagreb, Dani Olmo attracted interest from many major clubs around Europe. However, Bundesliga club RB Leipzig ultimately won the race to sign the up-and-coming Spanish midfielder.
In January 2020, Leipzig secured Olmo’s transfer for a reported fee of around €20 million on a long-term contract. Leipzig has developed a reputation for identifying and signing some of the world’s top young talent to build their squad. Olmo was seen as the next potential star.
Olmo excelled immediately upon joining Leipzig and becoming a central figure in Julian Nagelsmann’s plans. In his first half-season with the club, he scored 3 goals in just 11 Bundesliga matches as Leipzig finished third.
Over the next two seasons under Jesse Marsch and Domenico Tedesco, Olmo continued to shine as one of Leipzig’s most dangerous attackers. His dribbling, creativity, and eye for goal added a new dimension to Leipzig’s offense.
While Leipzig has struggled with inconsistency in recent seasons, Olmo remains one of their undisputed stars. At just 25 years old, he still has room to take his game to an even higher level. Leipzig will hope Olmo can continue to spearhead their pursuit of the Bundesliga title and make a deep run in the Champions League in upcoming years.
Net Worth and Endorsements
According to reported estimates, Dani Olmo currently has a net worth of approximately €12 million as of 2024. Football is clearly his primary source of earnings and wealth at this stage of his career.
Conclusion
In summary, Dani Olmo is undoubtedly one of the most promising young talents leading a new generation of Spanish football. His technical brilliance, creative attacking play, and winning mentality have already seen him accomplish great things at both club and international level before his 25th birthday.
After emerging as a teenage sensation at Dinamo Zagreb and leading Spain to U21 Euros glory, Olmo is now starring at Champions League club RB Leipzig. His complete skillset and playing maturity should only continue to improve with experience.
If Olmo can stay healthy and focused, his ceiling appears sky-high for both Leipzig and the Spanish national team heading into Euro 2024 and beyond. Remember the name, because Dani Olmo’s journey to superstardom is only just beginning.
FAQs about Dani Olmo
What national team does Dani Olmo play for?
Dani Olmo represents the Spanish national team at senior level. He has been a regular member of the squad since making his debut in 2019 after starring for Spain’s youth teams.
What position does he play?
Olmo primarily plays as an attacking midfielder or winger. He is very versatile and can play anywhere across the front line behind the striker.
What is Dani Olmo’s current transfer value?
Olmo’s market value is estimated to be around €60-70 million currently based on his ability and age.
What trophies has Olmo won in his club career?
Olmo won 1 Croatian league title, 3 Croatian Cups, and 2 Croatian Super Cups with Dinamo Zagreb. He has not yet won any trophies with RB Leipzig.
How many Champions League games has Olmo played in?
Olmo has made 23 UEFA Champions League appearances so far between Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig. He scored 4 goals in those games.
What was Dani Olmo’s breakthrough performance?
Olmo really announced himself on the big stage while leading Spain U21s to victory at the 2019 UEFA Euro U21 Championship. He won Player of the Tournament honors.
Is Olmo likely to leave RB Leipzig soon?
Olmo seems happy at Leipzig currently and is under contract until 2024. However, interest from bigger clubs like Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United could arise if he continues his rapid development.
What are Olmo’s main strengths as a player?
Olmo’s best attributes are his dribbling skills, creative passing, long-range shooting, and versatility across the front line. He also possesses excellent technical ability and two-footedness.
What records does Olmo hold so far?
Olmo holds the Bundesliga record for most consecutive games scored on debut for two different clubs (1 for Leipzig, 1 for Leipzig after transfer).
How much is Olmo’s estimated net worth?
Reports estimate Dani Olmo’s current net worth at around €12 million. However, this should rise rapidly based on his potential as one of football’s top emerging talents.