Last Updated on September 11, 2026 by Wilson
Enes Ünal comes from a football-loving Turkish family in which the sport has influenced more than one generation. Born on May 10, 1997, in Bursa, Turkey, the striker grew up around professional football because his father, Mesut Ünal, was a professional player and later became a coach and academy official.
Enes has since created a sporting family of his own. He is married to former Belgian footballer Lisa Smellers, whom he met while playing in Belgium. The couple have two children: a daughter named Lila Ela and a son named Semih.
Football also runs through the next generation of the Ünal family. Enes has two younger brothers, Hasan and Burak, and he confirmed in 2026 that both have pursued football.
Who Is Enes Ünal’s Wife?
Enes Ünal’s wife is Lisa Smellers, a Belgian former footballer.
The couple met in Belgium after Manchester City sent Enes on loan to Genk during the early stages of his career. Lisa was also involved in football and played for women’s teams in Belgium, including Genk Ladies.
The shared connection to football helped bring the couple together. Their relationship became publicly known while Enes was continuing his career through European loan spells.
After several years together, Enes and Lisa married in December 2019. Turkish media reported that they held a relatively simple wedding ceremony, with Enes publicly sharing images from the occasion.
Who Is Lisa Smellers?
Lisa Smellers is Belgian and has her own background in competitive football.
She previously played for the women’s team of KRC Genk and was also associated with Tongeren DV. Her football background meant that she already understood many of the demands facing Enes as a professional athlete, including training schedules, transfers and frequent moves between countries.
Lisa has subsequently accompanied her husband during different stages of his career in Spain and England.
Although she occasionally appears publicly with Enes and their children, Lisa generally maintains a considerably more private profile than her husband.
How Did Enes Ünal and Lisa Smellers Meet?
Enes met Lisa during his time in Belgium with Genk.
Manchester City signed Enes from Bursaspor in 2015 and immediately sent him to Genk on loan. Lisa was playing football in Belgium at the time, and the pair met during this period.
Their relationship continued as Enes moved through clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain.
By 2019, Lisa was his fiancée, and the couple married in December of that year.
Does Enes Ünal Have Children?
Yes. Enes Ünal and Lisa Smellers have two children: a daughter and a son.
Their first child, Lila Ela, was born in November 2020. Enes publicly celebrated becoming a father, and Turkish football media announced the arrival of the couple’s daughter.
The family grew again in March 2025 when Lisa gave birth to a boy named Semih in England.
In a major 2026 interview, Enes personally confirmed that he was living in England with Lisa and their two children. At the time, he said his daughter was five and his son was one.
Who Is Enes Ünal’s Daughter Lila Ela?
Lila Ela Ünal is Enes and Lisa’s eldest child.
She was born in November 2020, during the period when Enes was playing in Spain with Getafe.
Lila has occasionally appeared in family-related football content. One particularly emotional moment came during Enes’ recovery from a serious knee injury while at Getafe.
In 2024, Getafe prepared a video featuring messages from people close to the striker. Lila appeared in the video and told her father that she was proud of him and was waiting to see him score goals again.
Enes later admitted that seeing his daughter’s message made him extremely emotional.
Who Is Enes Ünal’s Son Semih?
Enes and Lisa’s second child is a son named Semih.
Semih was born in England in March 2025, making Enes a father for the second time.
The couple publicly shared their happiness following his birth, with family photographs also showing Lila holding her newborn younger brother.
By early 2026, Enes described himself, Lisa and their two children as a “small family” experiencing the adventure of living and playing football in England.
How Important Are Enes Ünal’s Wife and Children?
Enes has made clear that his wife and children have become one of the most important sources of stability in his life.
His football career has involved major moves between Turkey, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and England, while serious injuries have also tested him mentally.
Lisa remained beside him during his rehabilitation from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered while at Getafe. In a 2024 club video, she told Enes how proud she was of his determination and said that she believed he had returned physically stronger.
His daughter Lila also appeared in the same tribute, giving the striker an especially emotional reminder of the family waiting for him away from the pitch.
Who Are Enes Ünal’s Parents?
Enes Ünal’s father is Mesut Ünal, a former professional footballer. His mother’s name has not been widely published by reliable mainstream sources.
Enes nevertheless speaks very warmly about both parents.
In 2026, he described his mother as a homemaker and the person who holds the family together. He said she has always been an important source of stability for everyone around her.
His father had a more direct influence on his football career because Enes effectively grew up inside professional training facilities while Mesut was still playing.
Who Is Enes Ünal’s Father, Mesut Ünal?
Mesut Ünal is a former Turkish professional footballer who played primarily as a central defender.
He is particularly associated with Bursaspor and Sakaryaspor and also represented Turkey at youth international level.
Mesut later moved into coaching and football development after ending his playing career. By 2026, Enes described his father as working as an academy coordinator at Bursaspor.
Mesut’s professional background meant that Enes was exposed to football from his earliest childhood.
Enes Ünal Grew Up at His Father’s Football Club
Enes has said that many of his earliest memories come from his father’s time with Sakaryaspor.
When Enes was around five or six years old, Mesut was playing for and captaining Sakaryaspor. His son regularly accompanied him to training sessions and spent considerable time around the players.
Enes remembered being treated almost like the team’s mascot. He would enter the pitch at halftime or after matches and spend time kicking a ball around the training ground.
One of the players he remembers especially well is former Turkey international Tuncay Şanlı, who was Mesut’s teammate and would play football with the young Enes after training.
How Mesut Ünal Influenced Enes’ Career
Enes has directly credited his father with helping create his love of football.
Mesut understood the professional game and could therefore advise his son about more than technique. He taught Enes about lifestyle, discipline and the importance of behaving like a professional away from the pitch.
In a Turkish Football Federation interview when Enes was only 16, the striker said one of the major advantages of having a former footballer as a father was that Mesut had already experienced many of the situations his son was facing.
Mesut warned Enes that talent alone would not guarantee a successful career and emphasized that young players could waste their ability if they did not live appropriately for football.
Who Is Enes Ünal’s Mother?
The name of Enes Ünal’s mother has not been consistently disclosed in reliable mainstream football coverage.
However, Enes himself provided an important description of her in 2026.
He said his mother is a homemaker and described her as the person who unites the family and keeps everyone strong.
Her role in Enes’ development was also documented much earlier. In a 2013 interview with the Turkish Football Federation, Enes said his mother had supported him throughout his development even while occasionally reminding him that his education remained important.
Getafe also included his mother in its emotional 2024 video marking Enes’ return from injury, demonstrating that she remained closely involved in her son’s life after he became an established international footballer.
Does Enes Ünal Have Siblings?
Yes. Enes Ünal has two younger brothers named Hasan and Burak.
Enes personally confirmed their names in 2026 and explained that both of his younger brothers also play football.
He described the Ünals as a traditional football and sporting family, with all three brothers following the pathway introduced by their father.
This means Mesut’s football influence extended to all three of his sons rather than only Enes.
Who Is Hasan Basri Ünal?
Hasan Basri Ünal is Enes Ünal’s younger brother and a footballer.
Hasan was born on September 2, 2002, in Sakarya, during the period when their father Mesut was playing there.
Like his older brother, Hasan spent significant time in Bursaspor’s academy. He also had a youth spell with Galatasaray and represented Turkey at U14 level.
Hasan primarily plays as a winger or attacking midfielder and signed his first professional Bursaspor contract in January 2021.
His subsequent career included several clubs in Turkey, continuing the football tradition established by his father and older brother.
Who Is Enes Ünal’s Brother Burak?
Enes’ other younger brother is named Burak.
Burak has received much less media attention than Enes and Hasan, and reliable sources provide few details about his full name, age or current club.
However, Enes directly confirmed in his 2026 interview that Burak is his younger brother and that he also plays football.
Until more authoritative information about Burak’s career becomes publicly available, it is best not to attach unsupported club histories or biographical details to him.
The Ünal Family Is Built Around Football
Enes describes his household as a classic football family.
His father played professionally, Enes became a Turkey international and Premier League striker, while his younger brothers Hasan and Burak also pursued football.
The sport was therefore present virtually every day while the three brothers were growing up.
Enes has said he essentially grew up inside football facilities, watching his father train and play before eventually joining Bursaspor’s academy himself.
Enes Ünal’s Uncles Also Supported His Career
The wider Ünal family also played a supportive role during Enes’ development.
In his 2013 Turkish Football Federation interview, Enes specifically mentioned his uncles as people who consistently supported him.
He said they would telephone before matches to give him encouragement and motivation.
Although their names have not been widely publicized, their involvement demonstrates that Enes’ support network extended beyond his parents and brothers.
Enes Ünal’s Family and His Move Abroad
Enes was still very young when his career began taking him away from Turkey.
Manchester City signed him from Bursaspor in 2015 before sending him on loan to Genk in Belgium. He subsequently played in the Netherlands with NAC Breda and Twente before moving permanently into Spanish football.
The move abroad ultimately had an enormous impact on his personal life as well because Belgium was where he met Lisa.
His football career therefore not only continued the sporting tradition established by Mesut but also led Enes to the person with whom he would eventually create his own family.
Enes Ünal’s Family Life in Spain
Spain became home to Enes and Lisa for several years.
After spells with Villarreal, Levante and Valladolid, Enes joined Getafe in 2020 and developed into one of La Liga’s most productive strikers.
Lila Ela was born during this period, while the family later went through one of its toughest football experiences together when Enes suffered a serious knee injury in 2023.
His wife, daughter and parents all sent him messages during his rehabilitation, and Enes credited the support around him as an important factor in his return to football.
Enes Ünal’s Family Life in England
Enes later returned to English football with AFC Bournemouth.
Bournemouth initially signed him from Getafe on loan in February 2024 before completing a permanent transfer several months later.
The family subsequently settled in England, where their son Semih was born in 2025.
In 2026, Enes said he was enjoying the experience of living in England alongside Lisa and their two young children, describing the four of them as his small family on an adventure together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Enes Ünal’s Family
Who is Enes Ünal’s wife?
Enes Ünal’s wife is Lisa Smellers, a Belgian former footballer. They met while Enes was playing for Genk and married in December 2019.
Was Lisa Smellers a footballer?
Yes. Lisa played football in Belgium and was associated with teams including Genk Ladies and Tongeren DV.
Does Enes Ünal have children?
Yes. Enes and Lisa have two children: daughter Lila Ela and son Semih.
Who is Enes Ünal’s daughter?
His daughter is Lila Ela Ünal, who was born in November 2020.
Who is Enes Ünal’s son?
His son is named Semih. He was born in England in March 2025.
Who is Enes Ünal’s father?
His father is Mesut Ünal, a former professional footballer who played for clubs including Bursaspor and Sakaryaspor before moving into coaching and academy football.
Who is Enes Ünal’s mother?
Her name has not been widely disclosed by authoritative sources. Enes has described her as a homemaker and the person who keeps the family united.
Does Enes Ünal have brothers?
Yes. Enes has two younger brothers, Hasan and Burak. Both have pursued football.
Who is Hasan Basri Ünal?
Hasan Basri Ünal is Enes’ younger brother. He developed at clubs including Bursaspor and Galatasaray and has played senior football in Turkey.
Was Enes Ünal’s father also a footballer?
Yes. Mesut Ünal was a professional centre-back and played for Bursaspor, Sakaryaspor and other Turkish clubs. His career had a major influence on Enes’ decision to become a footballer.
Which club does Enes Ünal play for now?
As of now, Enes Ünal plays for AFC Bournemouth in England. He joined permanently from Getafe in 2024 and is under contract through 2028.
Wilson Gaspar is a football analyst covering the UEFA Champions League, focusing on match previews, tactical reviews, and the performance of Europe’s top clubs throughout the competition.
