Damian Dawid Szymański

Damian Szymański was born in Kraśnik and came through the youth ranks at MUKS Kraśnik, Stal Kraśnik and GKS Bełchatów before making his senior debut for the latter club, with whom he won the I Liga title in the 2013–14 season. A move to Wisła Płock followed in 2017, where he made 49 league appearances and scored six goals, before a transfer to Akhmat Grozny in January 2019 for around €1.5 million.

He joined AEK Athens on loan in January 2020, a move made permanent that June for €1.3 million. AEK became the defining chapter of his career: he made 190 appearances and scored 11 goals in all competitions, and he served as the club's second captain under coach Matías Almeyda. The high point came in the 2022–23 season, when AEK won the double of Super League Greece and the Greek Cup.

Szymański made his debut for Poland on September 7, 2018, in a UEFA Nations League match against Italy, and went on to earn 18 caps and two goals for the national side. Among his goals, he equalised against England in a 2022 World Cup qualifier and scored in a 1–3 win over the Czech Republic during Euro 2024 qualifying. He was named in Poland's squads for both the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Euro 2024.