Diego Demme (born 21 November 1991) is a German professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Napoli and the Germany national team.
Club career
Arminia Bielefeld
Born in Herford, Germany, Demme began playing football at a young age and played for various youth teams, such as, SpVg Hiddenhausen, SV Sundern, SV Enger-Westerenger and JSG Kirchlengern Stift Quernheim before joining Arminia Bielefeld, where he started off his professional career. He then signed a contract in 2008.
Having progressed through the academy and Arminia Bielefeld II, Demme was called up to the first team in early–December for the first time and made his debut for the first team, starting the whole game, in a 4–1 loss against Greuther Fürth on 4 December 2010. After making his debut for the club, his performance was praised by the local German media, Neue Westfälische. Following this, Demme had a handful of first team football until February when he found himself behind the pecking order from competitions in the midfield position. Despite spending time on the bench, in numbers of games towards the end of the 2010–11 season, Demme went on to make 10 appearances in all competitions. At the end of the 2010–11 season, he signed a one–year contract extension with the club.
However, at the start of the 2011–12 season, Demme was plagued by injuries. It wasn't until on 8 August 2011 when he made his first appearance of the season, making his first start, in a 1–0 loss against VfR Aalen. As the season goes by, Demme continued to plagued by injuries and struggled in the first team, being placed on the substitute bench. After he stayed in the club for three years, he moved to SC Paderborn 07. By the time of his departure, he made 23 appearances in all competitions.
SC Paderborn
It was announced on 9 January 2012 that Demme moved to 2. Bundesliga side SC Paderborn, signing a two–year contract that keep him until 2014 and was given a number 4 shirt. The transfer reportedly cost for €25,000. The club previously keen on signing Demme last-May before signing a contract.
Demme made his SC Paderborn 07 debut, coming on as a second–half substitute, in a 3–2 win over 1. FC Union Berlin on 3 February 2012. Later in the 2011–12 season, Demme established himself in the first team, playing in either left–back or right–back position. At the end of the season, he went on to make a total of 12 appearances in all competitions.
In the 2012–13 season, Demme started out his season at the club, playing in the midfield position. Although he suffered an injury during a 2–1 loss against Eintracht Braunschweig on 24 August 2012, Demme was then sent–off early in the second–half for a foul on Jan Hochscheidt, in a 1–0 win over Erzgebirge Aue on 16 September 2012. For his sending off against Erzgebirge Aue, he served a three match ban. After his return from suspension against FSV Frankfurt on 5 October 2012, Demme's return was short–lived when he suffered ankle injury in early–November that kept him out for two weeks. After his return from ankle injury against VfR Aalen on 17 November 2012, Demme then play in the right–back position in early–December following an injury of Jens Wemmer. But in early–March, he returned to playing in the defensive midfield position for the rest of the season. With his good performance at the club, they were keen on extending his contract, as it's set to end at the end of the 2013–14 season. At the end of the 2012–13 season, Demme went on to make a total of 30 appearances in all competitions.
In the 2013–14 season, Demme, once again, started out in the midfield position despite competing with Manuel Zeitz. He started every match since the start of the season until he was suspended in late–September following his bad behaviour against 1. FC Saarbrücken in the second round of DFB Pokal. But he returned to the first team from suspension on 4 October 2013, coming on as a second–half substitute, in a 2–1 win over FC St. Pauli; a game that saw him sustained ankle injury, causing him to miss one game. After his return from injury, Demme later regained his first place in the midfield position, making the total of 19 appearances for the side. Following his departure in January, the club were later promoted to the Bundesliga later in the 2013–14 season.
RB Leipzig
It was announced on 7 January 2014 that Demme signed for 3. Liga side RB Leipzig, signing a contract, keeping him until 2018. The transfer move cost €350,000 to sign Demme.