Mateusz Kowalczyk (born 16 April 2004) is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ekstraklasa club GKS Katowice.

Club career

ŁKS Łódź

Born in Warsaw and raised in nearby Marki, Kowalczyk began his football journey at the age of six with Ząbkovia Ząbki.[2] Displaying remarkable maturity at a young age, he took his first steps in senior football at the age of 14 with Ząbkovia.[2] His talent quickly attracted the interest of several Polish clubs.[3] Ultimately, in 2021, he chose to sign with ŁKS Łódź. The club's second team competed in the fourth tier, providing Kowalczyk with an opportunity to develop against senior opposition at a higher level.[3] He made his second-team debut on 7 August 2021, starting in a 4–3 victory against Ursus Warsaw.[4]

Kowalczyk made his professional debut for the ŁKS first team on 26 February 2022, coming on as a substitute for Jakub Tosik in the 65th minute during a 1–1 away draw against GKS Jastrzębie in the second-tier I liga.[5] On 8 April 2021, he scored his first professional goal, securing a late winner in the 95th minute of a 3–2 home win over Sandecja Nowy Sącz.[6]

During the 2022–23 season, Kowalczyk played a significant role in ŁKS' promotion to the top-tier Ekstraklasa, scoring six goals in 26 appearances for the Knights of Spring—including a decisive goal that secured the league title on 26 May 2023, against Arka Gdynia.[7][8]

Brøndby

On 2 August 2023, Kowalczyk signed a four-year contract with Danish Superliga club Brøndby, with the club paying a reported fee of €1.2 million to secure his services.[9][10] He made his debut for the club on 27 September, replacing Nicolai Vallys in the 68th minute of a 3–0 victory in the Danish Cup over HIK.[11] Four days later, he made his Superliga debut, again coming on as a late substitute for Vallys in a victory against Hvidovre.[12]

GKS Katowice

On 17 July 2024, Kowalczyk returned to Poland to join newly promoted Ekstraklasa club GKS Katowice on a season-long loan, with an option to make the move permanent.[13] On 2 June 2025, Kowalczyk joined GKS permanently on a three-year contract, for a fee reported to be €1 million.[14]

International career

Kowalczyk has represented Poland at under-18 level.[15] In August 2022, he was called up to by Poland U-19's coach Marcin Brosz for training camp in Reda ahead of the 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Estonia and Italy.[16] He scored on his debut for the under-19s, contributing to Poland's 2–0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 21 September 2022.[17] On 28 August 2023, Kowalczyk received his first call-up for the Poland U-20, and he subsequently gained his first cap for the team on 8 September during a 4–0 home win over Portugal in the Under 20 Elite League.[18][19]

Kowalczyk was called up to the senior Poland national team for the first time for the Nations League games against Scotland and Croatia in September 2024.[20]

Style of play

Kowalczyk, a hard-working central midfielder, displayed remarkable maturity on the pitch early on, making his senior football debut at the young age of 14.[3] He describes himself as a player capable of controlling the game's pace, comfortable both in attacking and defensive roles. Despite his average height (1.81 m), he possesses excellent heading abilities.[21] Often referred to as a 'piranha' in midfield, he excels in dispossessing opponents and is adept at playing a Gegenpressing style.[22]

Career statistics

As of match played 23 May 2026[7]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Ząbkovia Ząbki 2018–19[23] IV liga Masovia 10——10
2019–20[24] IV liga Masovia 81——81
2020–21[25][26] IV liga Masovia 2312—2[b]02512
Total 3213—203413
ŁKS Łódź II 2021–22 III liga, group I 151——151
ŁKS Łódź 2021–22 I liga 121——121
2022–23 I liga 26610—276
Total 38710—397
Brøndby 2023–24 Danish Superliga 10200030
GKS Katowice (loan) 2024–25 Ekstraklasa 31310—323
GKS Katowice 2025–26 Ekstraklasa 28130—311
Total 59440—634
Career total 14525702015425
  1. ↑ Includes Polish Cup, Danish Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in IV liga Masovia promotion play-offs

Honours

Ząbkovia Ząbki

ŁKS Łódź

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Sylwetka Mateusz Kowalczyk" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. Retrieved 15 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 Łodko, Bartosz (9 April 2023). "Pierwszy trener: Mateusz Kowalczyk". Weszlo! Junior (in Polish). Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Walczyk, Jerzy (4 October 2022). "Czołowy piłkarz ŁKS-u na sprzedaż. Ile jest wart Mateusz Kowalczyk?". Gazeta Wyborcza (in Polish). Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Zwycięstwo na inaugurację. ŁKS II – Ursus Warszawa 4:3". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 7 August 2021. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  5. ↑ "Jastrzębie vs. ŁKS Łódź 1–1: Summary". Soccerway. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "ŁKS Łódź vs. Sandecja Nowy Sącz 3–2: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  7. 1 2 Mateusz Kowalczyk at Soccerway
  8. 1 2 "Kibice i pilkarze ŁKS Łódź świętują awans do Ekstraklasy! [ZDJĘCIA]". Łódź.pl (in Polish). 3 June 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "Brøndby IF henter Mateusz Kowalczyk". Brøndby IF (Press release) (in Danish). 2 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 October 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Wøhlk, Alexander (2 August 2023). "Brøndby opruster: Henter Mateusz Kowalczyk". Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 August 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Sikker sejr i Oddset Pokalen". Brøndby IF (in Danish). 27 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  12. ↑ "Hvidovre vs. Brøndby 0–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  13. ↑ "Mateusz Kowalczyk piłkarzem GKS-u Katowice" (in Polish). GKS Katowice. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
  14. ↑ Laudański, Radosław (2 June 2025). "Kluczowy transfer Ekstraklasowicza. Mateusz Kowalczyk został wykupiony przez GKS Katowice". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  15. ↑ "Mateusz Kowalczyk z kolejnym powołaniem na konsultacje kadry U-18". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "Mateusz Kowalczyk powołany do reprezentacji Polski U-19". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). 18 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  17. ↑ Ptak, Jakub (21 September 2022). "Ważne zwycięstwo Polaków. Udany start eliminacji". TVP Sport (in Polish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "U-20: Powołania na mecze z Portugalią i Niemcami - Reprezentacja młodzieżowa U-20". PZPN (in Polish). 28 August 2023. Archived from the original on 28 August 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  19. ↑ "Świetny start Polaków w turnieju Elite League. Portugalia rozbita - Reprezentacja młodzieżowa U-20". PZPN (in Polish). 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Powołania do reprezentacji Polski na wrześniowe mecze Ligi Narodów" (in Polish). Polish Football Association. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  21. ↑ Piotrowski, Remek (30 June 2021). "Mateusz Kowalczyk: Zawsze ze starszymi". ŁKS Łódź (in Polish). Archived from the original on 25 September 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  22. ↑ Theilade, Toke (27 July 2023). "Eksperter om Kowalczyk: Talentfuld, arbejdsom og ambitiøs spiller". Vilfortpark.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  24. ↑ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  25. ↑ "Zawodnik: Mateusz Kowalczyk". laczynaspilka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  26. ↑ "Sezon 2020/21". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  27. ↑ "IV liga 2020/2021, grupa: mazowiecka (Warszawa)". 90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  28. ↑ "Młodzieżowiec Sierpnia PKO Banku Polskiego: Mateusz Kowalczyk (GKS Katowice)" (in Polish). Ekstraklasa. 9 September 2024. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mateusz_Kowalczyk_(footballer)