1. Early Life and Youth Career
Dani Olmo's early life and foundational years in football saw him develop through the youth systems of prominent Spanish clubs before an unexpected move to Croatia.
1.1. Birth and Background
Daniel Olmo Carvajal was born on 7 May 1998 in Terrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. His father, Miquel Olmo, was a professional footballer who played as a forward for lower-league teams.
1.2. Youth Club Experience
Olmo began his football journey at the youth academy of RCD Espanyol in 2006. The following year, at the age of nine, he moved to Barcelona's renowned youth academy, La Masia, where he spent seven years developing his skills.
In a surprising move, despite being expected to be promoted to FC Barcelona B, Olmo chose to leave Barcelona and joined Dinamo Zagreb on 31 July 2014, at just 16 years old. This decision was reportedly influenced by Dinamo Zagreb's coaching philosophy, which deeply impressed him, leading him to accept a significantly lower salary than offers from English clubs. He made his professional debut with Dinamo Zagreb II in the 2015-16 season before quickly progressing to the first team.
2. Club Career
Dani Olmo's professional club career began in Croatia, leading him through Germany's top flight before a significant return to his formative club in Spain.
2.1. Dinamo Zagreb
Olmo made his first-team debut for Dinamo Zagreb on 7 February 2015, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in a 2-1 home victory against Lokomotiva Zagreb. His first goal for the club came on 22 September 2015, in a dominant 7-1 away win over Oštrc Zlatar in the first round of the Croatian Football Cup. On 28 May 2017, he scored his first league goal in a 5-2 home win against Rijeka on the final day of the season. Four days later, he scored again in the cup final, a 3-1 loss to Rijeka, a season where Dinamo finished as cup runners-up.
On 22 August 2016, Olmo extended his commitment to Dinamo Zagreb by signing a new four-year contract. He continued to be a pivotal player, providing an assist and scoring a goal in Dinamo's 4-1 Europa League victory over Fenerbahçe on 20 September 2018. His outstanding performances led to him being named the best player of the Prva HNL for 2018 on 17 December. In the same month, he notably finished 11th in Tuttosport
Olmo made his UEFA Champions League debut on 18 September 2019 in a 4-0 home win against Atalanta. He scored his first Champions League goal on 22 October in a 2-2 away draw with Shakhtar Donetsk. His final Champions League goal for Dinamo came on 11 December in a 1-4 home defeat to Manchester City, a match where his goal was recognized as the most beautiful goal of the last Champions League matchday. Across his tenure, Olmo made a total of 124 appearances for Dinamo Zagreb, scoring 34 goals, and contributing to five league titles and three Croatian Cup victories.
2.2. RB Leipzig
On 25 January 2020, Dani Olmo transferred to Bundesliga club RB Leipzig for a reported fee of 22.00 M EUR, signing a four-year contract. He made his debut for the club a week later, on 1 February, as a 69th-minute substitute in a 2-2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Just three days later, on 4 February, he scored his first goal for Leipzig in a DFB-Pokal match against Eintracht Frankfurt, which ended in a 3-1 defeat, having come on at half-time. His first start for Leipzig was on 9 February 2020, in a goalless draw against Bayern Munich.
Olmo continued to make an impact, scoring both goals in a 2-0 victory over 1899 Hoffenheim on 12 June 2020. A significant moment came on 13 August, when he scored the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Estádio José Alvalade, helping Leipzig reach the Champions League semi-final for the first time in the club's history.
He played a key role in RB Leipzig's success in the DFB-Pokal, contributing to their triumph in the 2021-22 season. He scored in a 2-0 home win against Hansa Rostock in the last 16 on 19 January 2022. In the final on 21 May, he came on as a 69th-minute substitute and scored in the penalty shootout that secured a victory after a 1-1 draw with SC Freiburg. On 30 July, he scored a consolation goal in a 5-3 loss to Bayern Munich in the 2022 DFL-Supercup. His remarkable performance in the 2023 DFL-Supercup saw him score a hat-trick against Bayern Munich on 12 August 2023, with his three goals being the only ones scored in the match, securing the title for Leipzig.
2.3. Return to Barcelona
On 9 August 2024, Olmo made a highly anticipated return to his boyhood club, Barcelona, signing a six-year contract in a deal reportedly worth around 60.00 M EUR. Despite his transfer, Olmo initially missed matches against Valencia and Athletic Bilbao due to salary-cap issues that prevented his registration.
He eventually made his debut on 27 August 2024, coming off the bench to replace Ferran Torres against Rayo Vallecano and scoring the winning goal in the 82nd minute, securing a 2-1 away victory for Barcelona in what he described as a "dream debut." On 3 November, returning from injury, Olmo continued his impressive form by scoring his fourth and fifth goals in five games for Barcelona in a 3-1 win against Espanyol. On 26 November, he scored his first UEFA Champions League goal for Barcelona in a 3-0 victory over Brest.
Towards the end of 2024, Barcelona faced further administrative challenges regarding Olmo and teammate Pau Víctor's registration for 2025 due to ongoing salary-cap issues, which briefly threatened to make Olmo a free agent. However, on 8 January 2025, the Consejo Superior de Deportes (Superior Sports Council) approved the registration of both players, allowing them to participate in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey, and the eventual Supercopa de España final.
3. International Career
Dani Olmo has been a consistent presence in the Spanish national teams across various age groups, culminating in significant contributions to the senior squad.
3.1. Youth National Teams
Olmo was a member of the Spanish squad at the 2015 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Bulgaria. He scored in the penalty shoot-out during their quarter-final elimination by Germany. However, his attempt was saved by Will Huffer in a subsequent play-off match against England for a spot in the U-17 World Cup, which Spain lost.
Towards the end of 2017, there were discussions about Olmo potentially switching his international allegiance to Croatia, with Dinamo Zagreb director Tomislav Svetina stating the club was actively pursuing Croatian citizenship for him. However, Olmo opted to remain with Spain, making his debut for the Spain U21 side in October 2018.
He was an integral part of Spain's squad that won the 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Italy and San Marino. He played four matches, providing one assist and scoring three goals, including a crucial one in the final, which earned him the Man of the Match award. This victory also secured qualification for the Olympic Games.
On 29 June 2021, Olmo was included in Luis de la Fuente's 22-man squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics (held in 2021 due to the pandemic). On Spain's path to an Olympic silver medal, Olmo contributed an assist in the 1-1 draw with Argentina and a goal and an assist in the 5-2 victory over Ivory Coast. He started in the final, where Spain lost 2-1 to Brazil.
3.2. Senior National Team
Olmo received his first call-up to the senior national team in November 2019 for Euro 2020 qualifiers against Malta and Romania, even though Spain had already secured qualification. He debuted on 15 November as a 66th-minute substitute for Álvaro Morata and scored three minutes later in a resounding 7-0 home victory over Malta. Alongside fellow debutant Pau Torres, who also scored, they made history as the first pair of Spaniards to score on their senior international debuts in 30 years.
On 24 May 2021, Olmo was named in Luis Enrique's 24-man squad for UEFA Euro 2020. In the round of 16 fixture against Croatia, he provided crucial assists to Morata and Mikel Oyarzabal in extra time, setting the score at 4-3 and 5-3 respectively. On 2 July, in the quarter-final against Switzerland, which went to a penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw, Olmo successfully converted his penalty as Spain won 3-1. In the semi-final against Italy on 6 July, he assisted Morata's equalizer, leading to another 1-1 draw. However, Olmo missed his penalty in the subsequent shootout, and Italy prevailed 4-2.
On 11 November 2022, Olmo was selected in Luis Enrique's 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In Spain's opening group stage match against Costa Rica, Olmo scored the first goal and assisted the seventh in a dominant 7-0 victory, marking Spain's largest-ever win at a World Cup. He also featured in the 1-1 draw against Germany and the 2-1 defeat to Japan. He started in Spain's round of 16 match against Morocco, which Spain ultimately lost 3-0 on penalties after a goalless draw following extra time.
On 7 June 2024, Olmo was selected for the 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024. He scored his first goal in the tournament in a 4-1 victory over Georgia in the round of 16. In the quarter-final match against Germany, he was awarded player of the match, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 2-1 extra-time victory. Olmo scored his third goal of the tournament in a 2-1 semi-final victory over France, contributing significantly to Spain reaching the final. In the final against England, he played a crucial role in Spain's 2-1 triumph, making a vital goal-line clearance in the 90th minute. With three goals in the tournament, he finished as a joint-top scorer, earning the Golden Boot, and was also included in the UEFA Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament.
4. Style of Play
Dani Olmo is recognized for his dynamic and versatile playing style, primarily operating as an attacking midfielder or winger. He can effectively play in central positions, including as a number 10 or inside half, showcasing his ability to operate in the half-spaces between opposition lines. His tactical intelligence also allows him to excel as a wide midfielder or even as a false nine in the attacking line.
During his time at RB Leipzig, he frequently occupied the "10" position within a 4-2-2-2 formation, demonstrating his capacity to roam across the attacking third and create scoring opportunities through his movement and passing. His versatility, technical attributes, and tactical awareness make him a valuable asset capable of influencing play from multiple positions on the field.
5. Personal Life
Dani Olmo comes from a footballing family. His father, Miquel Olmo, was a retired professional footballer who played as a forward in lower-league teams in Spain. Dani also has an older brother, Carlos, who is a defender and has spent several years playing in Croatia for Dinamo Zagreb's reserve team and Lokomotiva Zagreb. Beyond his football career, Dani Olmo is noted for his linguistic abilities, being fluent in Spanish, Catalan, English, German, and Croatian.
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Dinamo Zagreb II | 2015-16 | Druga HNL | 15 | 1 | - | - | - | 15 | 1 | |||
| 2016-17 | Druga HNL | 10 | 2 | - | - | - | 10 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 25 | 3 | - | - | - | 25 | 3 | |||||
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2014-15 | Prva HNL | 5 | 0 | - | - | - | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2015-16 | Prva HNL | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 1 | |||
| 2016-17 | Prva HNL | 14 | 1 | 4 | 3 | - | - | 18 | 4 | |||
| 2017-18 | Prva HNL | 26 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | 33 | 9 | ||
| 2018-19 | Prva HNL | 25 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 3 | - | 44 | 12 | ||
| 2019-20 | Prva HNL | 9 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 5 | - | 22 | 8 | ||
| Total | 80 | 20 | 15 | 6 | 29 | 8 | - | 124 | 34 | |||
| RB Leipzig | 2019-20 | Bundesliga | 12 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | 15 | 5 | |
| 2020-21 | Bundesliga | 32 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 1 | - | 46 | 7 | ||
| 2021-22 | Bundesliga | 19 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | - | 31 | 4 | ||
| 2022-23 | Bundesliga | 23 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 31 | 5 | |
| 2023-24 | Bundesliga | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 8 | |
| Total | 107 | 17 | 15 | 5 | 24 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 148 | 29 | ||
| Barcelona | 2024-25 | La Liga | 15 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 7 |
| Career total | 226 | 44 | 33 | 11 | 57 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 320 | 73 | ||
6.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2022 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 9 | 4 | |
| Total | 41 | 11 | |
:Scores and results list Spain's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 November 2019 | Estadio Ramón de Carranza, Cádiz, Spain | 1 | Malta | 5-0 | 7-0 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying |
| 2 | 28 March 2021 | Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia | 10 | Georgia | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 31 March 2021 | Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain | 11 | Kosovo | 1-0 | 3-1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 26 March 2022 | RCDE Stadium, Cornellà de Llobregat, Spain | 19 | Albania | 2-1 | 2-1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 23 November 2022 | Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 26 | Costa Rica | 1-0 | 7-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup |
| 6 | 25 March 2023 | La Rosaleda, Málaga, Spain | 30 | Norway | 1-0 | 3-0 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 7 | 8 September 2023 | Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia | 32 | Georgia | 3-0 | 7-1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 8 | 26 March 2024 | Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain | 33 | Brazil | 2-0 | 3-3 | Friendly |
| 9 | 30 June 2024 | RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Germany | 36 | Georgia | 4-1 | 4-1 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 10 | 5 July 2024 | MHPArena, Stuttgart, Germany | 37 | Germany | 1-0 | 2-1 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
| 11 | 9 July 2024 | Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany | 38 | France | 2-1 | 2-1 | UEFA Euro 2024 |
7. Honours
Dani Olmo has accumulated numerous club and international honours throughout his career, alongside several individual accolades.
7.1. Club Honours
- Prva HNL:
- Winner: 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20
- Runner-up: 2016-17
- Croatian Cup:
- Winner: 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18
- Runner-up: 2016-17, 2018-19
- Croatian Super Cup:
- Winner: 2019
- DFB-Pokal:
- Winner: 2021-22, 2022-23
- Runner-up: 2020-21
- DFL-Supercup:
- Winner: 2023
- Supercopa de España:
- Winner: 2025
7.2. International Honours
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship:
- Winner: 2019
- Summer Olympics
- Silver Medal: 2020
- UEFA European Championship:
- Winner: 2024
- UEFA Nations League:
- Winner: 2022-23
- UEFA European Championship:
- Semi-final: 2020
7.3. Individual Honours
- UEFA European Under-21 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2019
- UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI: 2019
- Prva HNL Player of the Year: 2018
- Trophy Footballer - Best Prva HNL player: 2019
- Trophy Footballer - Best Prva HNL U-21 player: 2019
- Trophy Footballer - Prva HNL Team of the Year: 2019
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb Player of the Year: 2019
- SIMPOSAR International Sports Symposium - Discovery of the Year: 2019
- UEFA European Championship top scorer: 2024 (shared)
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 2024
8. Trivia
In 2014, when Dani Olmo left the FC Barcelona youth academy, he received multiple offers from English clubs. However, he was reportedly so impressed by the coaching philosophy at NK Dinamo Zagreb after visiting their facilities that he chose to sign with them for a salary 25% lower than the English offers.