Jan Bednarek Siblings: Getting to Know Filip Bednarek

Jan Kacper Bednarek is a Polish professional footballer who plays as a centre-back. He was born on 12 April 1996 in Słupca, Poland, and stands at 1.89 metres tall. Jan currently plays for Primeira Liga club FC Porto, where he joined the club in the summer of 2025. Growing up in a sports-oriented family in the Kleczew area, Jan's father Daniel directed the local sports and recreation centre, while his mother Beata worked as a physical education teacher. This environment helped Jan develop his skills from an early age.

Jan is one of two siblings; his older brother Filip Bednarek is a professional goalkeeper. Filip was born on 26 September 1992 in Słupca, making him nearly four years older than Jan. Like Jan, Filip pursued his sports career in Kleczew, beginning at the local club Sokół Kleczew before moving on to higher levels. The brothers maintained a close relationship throughout their careers, supporting each other as they climbed the ranks in football.

Jan's professional journey began at Sokół Kleczew, where he honed his skills. He then moved to MSP Szamotuły and later joined the Lech Poznań academy. Making his senior Ekstraklasa debut for Lech Poznań at the age of 17 in September 2013, Jan quickly established himself in the first team during the 2016–17 season. In July 2017, he transferred to English Premier League club Southampton, where he spent eight successful seasons, making over 250 appearances across all competitions.

During his time at Southampton, Jan became a regular starter in the Premier League, experienced relegation and promotion, and participated in a play-off run to the Championship. In mid-2025, Jan joined FC Porto on a four-year contract, signing for a fee of approximately €7.5 million and taking the number 5 shirt. Since then, he has become a key player in the Porto defence.

Internationally, Jan has earned over 70 caps for the Polish national team since making his debut in 2017. He has participated in three FIFA World Cups (2018, 2022) and two UEFA European Championships (2020, 2024). One of his most memorable moments came when he scored the winning goal in Poland's 1–0 victory over Japan at the 2018 World Cup.

In addition to his club success, Jan received individual recognition for Southampton, including the play-off success, and later at Porto, he has been awarded Primeira Liga Defender of the Month several times in the 2025–26 season and helped the club secure the Portuguese league title, along with the Portuguese Super Cup in 2026.