Michal Karbownik is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a defender for 2. Bundesliga club Hertha BSC and the Poland national team. He is one of the most promising young talents in European football, having won several awards and accolades for his performances. Karbownik’s net worth is estimated at £3,061,240 in 2024. He is sponsored by Adidas and has a contract with Hertha BSC until 2026. Karbownik’s family details are not publicly known, but he was born in Radom, Poland, on 13 March 2001.
Early Career
Karbownik started his football career at Zorza Kowala, a local club in his hometown, at the age of 10. He then joined Młodzik 18 Radom, another local club, in 2012. In 2015, he moved to Legia Warsaw, one of the biggest clubs in Poland, and joined their academy. He was soon promoted to Legia’s reserve team in 2016, where he played for three seasons.
Club Career
Legia Warsaw
Karbownik played his first game for Legia’s first team on August 25, 2019, in a 3–2 win away at ŁKS Łódź. He set up Dominik Nagy’s goal. In his next game, a 3–1 win over Raków Częstochowa, he played well and set up another goal for Jarosław Niezgoda. As soon as he joined Legia, Karbownik quickly became an important player and started every game. He played different roles, like left back, right back, and defensive midfielder, which showed how flexible and adaptable he was.
Karbownik was a vital part of Legia’s 2019–20 Ekstraklasa triumph, where they won their 14th league title. He played 31 games in the league, recording four assists and helping Legia keep 13 clean sheets. He also played in the Polish Cup, where Legia reached the semi-finals, and the UEFA Europa League, where Legia were eliminated in the third qualifying round.
Karbownik’s performances for Legia earned him recognition and praise from various sources. In January 2020, he was named by UEFA as one of the 50 Best Young Players to look out for in 2020. In February 2020, he was named the ‘Discovery of the Year’ by Polish football magazine “Piłka Nożna”. He also won the Ekstraklasa ‘Best Youngster of the Season’ award for the 2019–20 season and was on the 40-man shortlist for the Golden Boy award, which is given to the best under-21 player in Europe.
Brighton & Hove Albion
On 6 October 2020, Karbownik signed for English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for a transfer fee of £3 million. He signed a four-year deal with the club but was immediately loaned back to Legia Warsaw until the end of the 2020–21 season. He played five more games for Legia before returning to Brighton in January 2021.
Karbownik made his debut for Brighton on 10 February 2021, in a 1–0 defeat to Leicester City in the FA Cup fifth round. He came on as a substitute for Dan Burn in the 79th minute and played as a left wing-back. He did not make any appearances in the Premier League for Brighton, as he was behind Solly March and Burn in the pecking order.
Hertha BSC
On 8 August 2023, Karbownik joined German 2. Bundesliga club Hertha BSC on a permanent transfer from Brighton. He signed a three-year contract with the club, with an option for a further year. He was given the number 6 shirt and became the first Polish player to play for Hertha since Bartosz Karwan in 2004.
Karbownik made his debut for Hertha on 13 August 2023, in a 2–1 win over Hannover 96 in the 2. Bundesliga. He started as a left-back and played the full 90 minutes, helping Hertha keep a clean sheet in the second half. He scored his first goal for Hertha on 28 August 2023, in a 3–2 win over Holstein Kiel, with a powerful shot from outside the box. He has played five games for Hertha so far, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
International Career
Karbownik has represented Poland at various youth levels, from under-15 to under-21. He made his debut for the Poland senior team on 7 October 2020, in a 5–1 friendly win over Finland. He came on as a substitute for Bartosz Bereszyński in the 46th minute and played as a right-back. He made his competitive debut for Poland on 14 October 2020, in a 3–0 defeat to Italy in the UEFA Nations League. He started as a left-back and played the full 90 minutes.
Karbownik has made four appearances for the Poland senior team so far, all in 2020. He was not selected for the UEFA Euro 2020 squad, as he was recovering from an injury. He was also not called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September 2023, as he was settling in at his new club Hertha BSC.
Personal Life
Karbownik’s net worth is estimated at £3,061,240 in 2024. This is based on his earnings from his previous and current clubs, as well as his national team appearances. Karbownik is sponsored by Adidas, the athletic apparel company, and wears their boots and clothing. He also has a contract with Hertha BSC until 2026, which could increase his net worth in the future.
Karbownik’s family details are not publicly known, but he was born in Radom, Poland, on 13 March 2001. He is 22 years old as of 2023. He has not revealed any information about his parents, siblings, or relationship status. He is focused on his football career and prefers to keep his personal life private.
Karbownik is a versatile and adaptable player, who can play in various positions, such as left-back, right-back, and defensive midfielder. He is known for his pace, stamina, crossing, passing, and shooting abilities. He is also a team player, who works hard and helps his teammates. He is one of the most promising young talents in European football and has a bright future ahead of him.
