View source for Nils Petersen

{{Short description|German footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nils Petersen
| image = 20180602 FIFA Friendly Match Austria vs. Germany Nils Petersen 850 0686.jpg
| upright = 
| caption = Petersen with [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in 2018
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|12|6|df=y}}<ref name="DFL"/>
| birth_place = [[Wernigerode]], [[East Germany]]
| height = 1.88 m<ref name="DFL">{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/player/nils-petersen |title=Nils Petersen {{!}} Playerprofile {{!}} Bundesliga |website=bundesliga.com |publisher=DFL |accessdate=6 March 2022}}</ref>
| position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1993–1994
| youthclubs1 = FC Einheit Wernigerode
| youthyears2 = 1994–2000
| youthclubs2 = 1. FC Wernigerode
| youthyears3 = 2000–2001
| youthclubs3 = FC Einheit Wernigerode
| youthyears4 = 2001–2004
| youthclubs4 = [[VfB Germania Halberstadt]]
| youthyears5 = 2005–2006
| youthclubs5 = [[FC Carl Zeiss Jena|Carl Zeiss Jena]]
| years1 = 2006–2008
| clubs1 = [[FC Carl Zeiss Jena II|Carl Zeiss Jena II]]
| caps1 = 17
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2007–2009
| clubs2 = [[FC Carl Zeiss Jena|Carl Zeiss Jena]]
| caps2 = 41
| goals2 = 4
| years3 = 2009
| clubs3 = [[FC Energie Cottbus II|Energie Cottbus II]]
| caps3 = 13
| goals3 = 5
| years4 = 2009–2011
| clubs4 = [[FC Energie Cottbus|Energie Cottbus]]
| caps4 = 56
| goals4 = 35
| years5 = 2011–2013
| clubs5 = [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
| caps5 = 9
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 2011–2012
| clubs6 = [[FC Bayern Munich II|Bayern Munich II]]
| caps6 = 3
| goals6 = 2
| years7 = 2012–2013
| clubs7 = → [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] (loan)
| caps7 = 34
| goals7 = 11
| years8 = 2013–2015
| clubs8 = [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]]
| caps8 = 35
| goals8 = 7
| years9 = 2015
| clubs9 = → [[SC Freiburg]] (loan)
| caps9 = 12
| goals9 = 9
| years10 = 2015–2023
| clubs10 = [[SC Freiburg]]
| caps10 = 236
| goals10 = 81
| years11 = 2021
| clubs11 = [[SC Freiburg II]]
| caps11 = 1
| goals11 = 0
| totalcaps = 457
| totalgoals = 162
| nationalyears1 = 2007
| nationalteam1 = [[Germany national youth football team|Germany U19]]
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2007–2008
| nationalteam2 = [[Germany national youth football team|Germany U20]]
| nationalcaps2 = 3
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2009
| nationalteam3 = [[Germany national under-21 football team|Germany U21]]
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2016
| nationalteam4 = [[Germany Olympic football team|Germany Olympic]]
| nationalcaps4 = 6
| nationalgoals4 = 6
| nationalyears5 = 2018
| nationalteam5 = [[Germany national football team|Germany]]
| nationalcaps5 = 2
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 
| nationalteam-update = 
| medaltemplates = {{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Rio de Janeiro]]|[[Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
}}
'''Nils Petersen''' ({{IPA|de|ˈniːls ˈpeːtɐzn̩, ˈnɪls -}};<ref>{{cite book|last1=Krech|first1=Eva-Maria|last2=Stock|first2=Eberhard|last3=Hirschfeld|first3=Ursula|last4=Anders|first4=Lutz Christian|title=Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch|trans-title=German Pronunciation Dictionary|language=de|year=2009|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|location=Berlin|isbn=978-3-11-018202-6|pages=778, 817}}</ref> born 6 December 1988) is a German former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[forward (association football)|forward]]. He appeared in the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] and remains the first and only German footballer who has scored five goals in a single game with the national team.<ref>{{cite web|title=10:0! Fünferpacker Petersen & Co. fertigen Fidschi ab|periodical=Kicker.de|url=https://www.kicker.de/deutschland-gegen-fidschi-2016-fussball-olympia-3298227/analyse|access-date=20 August 2016|date=10 August 2016}}</ref>

At club level, Petersen played in the [[Bundesliga]] for [[FC Energie Cottbus|Energie Cottbus]], [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] and [[SC Freiburg]].

==Youth==
Petersen spent his early youth developing at hometown club FC Einheit in [[Wernigerode]] and afterward continued his development at [[VfB Germania Halberstadt|VfB Germania]] in [[Halberstadt]]. Later he attended the Sport School Jena, playing in their youth team, eventually leaving during the summer of 2007.

==Club career==
===Carl Zeiss Jena===
In February 2005, [[FC Carl Zeiss Jena|Carl Zeiss Jena]] signed Petersen to a youth contract, before promoting him to the First Team in January 2007. Before promotion to the first team, Petersen had already gained experience playing with the [[German reserve football teams|reserves]] playing in the [[Oberliga (football)|Oberliga]].<ref name="wf"/> Petersen made his professional debut on 4 February 2007 (20th matchday), in a 1–0 loss in an away match against [[1. FC Köln]].<ref name="2006–07 season"/> He entered the match in the 89th minute as a [[substitute (association football)|substitute]] for [[Mohammed El Berkani]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Lomaias unglückliches Debüt|url=https://www.kicker.de/koeln-gegen-jena-2007-bundesliga-763682/analyse|access-date=20 March 2015|publisher=kicker|date=4 February 2007|language=de}}</ref>

In future matches, he would serve as a "super-sub" coming off the bench to score decisive goals against [[Alemannia Aachen]], [[FC Erzgebirge Aue|Erzgebirge Aue]], [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]], and [[FC Augsburg]].<ref name="2007–08 season"/> Jena suffered relegation in the spring of 2008 so in the beginning of the 2008-09 season he appeared in the [[3. Liga]] for the Thuringian club.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/players/dui-npetersendata.html | title = Nils Petersen - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 3 August 2023 | accessdate = 9 August 2023 | publisher = [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF.com]]}}</ref>

===Energie Cottbus===
On 6 January 2009, Petersen switched to [[FC Energie Cottbus|Energie Cottbus]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Energie holt Petersen|url=https://www.kicker.de/energie-holt-petersen-502533/artikel|access-date=20 March 2015|publisher=kicker|date=6 January 2009|language=de}}</ref> In his first season with the club, he made an appearance in the [[Bundesliga]] and the relegation playoff.<ref name="wf"/> He premiered for Cottbus on the final match-day of the season in a 3–0 home victory over [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]], on 23 May 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cottbus überrennt Bayer|url=https://www.kicker.de/cottbus-gegen-leverkusen-2009-bundesliga-863715/analyse|access-date=20 March 2015|publisher=kicker|date=23 May 2009|language=de}}</ref> Cottbus, finishing 16th in their Bundesliga campaign, would go on to lose in the relegation/promotion playoff against 2nd division [[1. FC Nürnberg]], resulting in Cottbus' [[promotion and relegation|relegation]] to [[2. Bundesliga]]. During the first half of the 2009–10 season, Petersen rarely saw playing time for Cottbus. After the [[Domestic association football season#Europe|winter break]], his playing time increased as he was able to score nine goals in 14 appearances, securing his place in the starting line-up.

During the [[2010–11 2. Bundesliga|2010–11 campaign]], Petersen would become the 2. Bundesliga top goalscorer, notching 25 goals in 33 appearances, helping Cottbus to a mid-table finish. In February 2011, despite interest from various Bundesliga clubs, he decided to extend his existing contract by two years until June 2014.

===Bayern Munich===
On 19 May 2011, [[FC Bayern Munich]] reported the signing of Petersen to a three-year contract until 30 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=Petersen ist der erste Neue|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/sport-kompakt-maradona-gutes-geld-1.1099310|access-date=20 March 2015|publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung|date=19 May 2011|language=de}}</ref> Nils Petersen scored his first [[Hat-trick#Association football|hat-trick]] (three goals) in the first ever game he played for FC Bayern Munich against a Trentino Selection. On 10 September 2011, having been on for just 17 minutes, Petersen came close twice, and finally scored his first Bundesliga goal against Freiburg.

===Werder Bremen===
[[File:Nils petersen werder.JPG|thumb|upright=0.5|left|Petersen playing for [[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] in 2012]]
On 29 June 2012, [[SV Werder Bremen]] agreed to a one-year [[loan (sports)|loan]] deal with Bayern Munich for Petersen.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.footballcracy.com/featured/nils-petersen-play-werder-loan-next-season/ | title = Nils Petersen to play for Werder on loan next season | publisher = Footballcracy | date = 30 June 2012 | access-date = 30 June 2012 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120702085112/http://www.footballcracy.com/featured/nils-petersen-play-werder-loan-next-season/ | archive-date = 2 July 2012 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> After a successful season on loan at Werder, it was announced on 23 May 2013 that he had penned a four-year contract with the club for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/8729542/Nils-Petersen-seals-permanent-transfer-to-Werder-Bremen-from-Bayern-Munich | title = Nils Petersen seals permanent transfer to Werden Bremen from Bayern Munich | publisher = Sky Sports News | date = 23 May 2013 | access-date = 23 May 2013}}</ref>

===SC Freiburg===
[[File:Nils Petersen 2017.jpg|thumb|right|Petersen playing for [[SC Freiburg|Freiburg]], 2017]]
After having only earned seven caps and most of them as a substitute during the first half of the [[2014–15 Bundesliga|2014–15 season]], Petersen was loaned to [[SC Freiburg]] for the second leg of the campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.werder.de/de/profis/news/52968.php|title=Nils Petersen wechselt zum SC Freiburg|trans-title=Nils Petersen moves to SC Freiburg|date=22 December 2014|access-date=14 January 2015|language=de|publisher=SV Werder Bremen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201141446/http://www.werder.de/de/profis/news/52968.php|archive-date=1 February 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 31 January 2015, in his league debut versus [[Eintracht Frankfurt]], he scored a hat-trick, despite just coming on as a substitute for the second half, ultimately helping his team turning a 0–1 deficit into a 4–1 victory.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hattrick! Petersen feiert Traum-Debüt|url=https://www.kicker.de/freiburg-gegen-frankfurt-2015-bundesliga-2407386/analyse|access-date=20 March 2015|publisher=kicker|date=31 January 2015|language=de}}</ref> He subsequently made appearances on matchdays 19 and 20.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen|url=https://www.kicker.de/nils-petersen/spieler/bundesliga/2014-15/sc-freiburg|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=20 March 2015|language=de}}</ref> [[Christian Streich]], Freiburg's head coach, stated that Petersen was "an option for the squad."<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hofmann|first1=Benni|title=Petersen "ist definitiv eine Option für den Kader"|url=https://www.kicker.de/petersen-ist-definitiv-eine-option-fuer-den-kader-623404/artikel|access-date=20 March 2015|publisher=kicker|date=19 March 2015|language=de}}</ref> He finished the [[2014–15 SC Freiburg season|2014–15 season]] by scoring nine goals in 12 matches for Freiburg.<ref name="wf"/>

On 28 June 2015, Petersen joined newly relegated Freiburg on a permanent deal, for an undisclosed fee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Petersen wechselt nach Freiburg|url=http://www.sport1.de/fussball/bundesliga/2015/06/nils-petersen-wechselt-vom-sv-werder-bremen-zum-sc-freiburg|access-date=27 July 2015|publisher=sport1|date=28 June 2015|language=de}}</ref> On 27 July 2015, he marked his season debut by scoring a hat-trick in a 6–3 victory over 1. FC Nürnberg.<ref>{{Cite web|title=SC Freiburg – 1. FC Nürnberg 6:3 (2. Bundesliga 2015/2016, 1. Round)|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/report/2-bundesliga-2015-2016-sc-freiburg-1-fc-nuernberg/|publisher=HEIM:SPIEL Medien GmbH & Co. KG|website=worldfootball.net| date = 27 July 2015 | access-date= 11 August 2015}}</ref> On 9 August 2015, he continued his good form by scoring his second hat-trick in three games, in a 5–0 win at [[Oberliga Hamburg|fifth-tier]] side [[HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst]] in the first round of the [[2015–16 DFB-Pokal|DFB-Pokal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Fourfold Petersen shoots SCF further|url=https://www.kicker.de/barmbek-uhlenh-gegen-freiburg-2015-dfb-pokal-2841066/spielbericht|publisher=[[Kicker (sports magazine)|kicker]]|access-date=11 August 2015|date=9 August 2015}}</ref> He finished the [[2015–16 Bundesliga|2015–16 season]] by scoring 25 goals in 34 matches.<ref name="2015–16 season">{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen|url=https://www.kicker.de/nils-petersen/spieler/bundesliga/2022-23/sc-freiburg|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=22 August 2016|language=de}}</ref>

Petersen made his 100th top flight appearance on 29 October 2016 by coming on in the second half of the 3–1 away win against his former side Werder Bremen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/blmd9n-sv-werder-bremen-1-3-sc-freiburg-match-report-418738.jsp|title=Phenomenal Philipp inspires Freiburg to first away win|publisher=Bundesliga.com|date=29 October 2016|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> He scored his first Bundesliga hat-trick later on 10 December 2017, including two penalties in the injury time, in the 4–3 win at [[1. FC Köln]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42301858|title=Cologne 3–4 Freiburg|publisher=BBC Sport|date=10 December 2017|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref>

In the [[2017–18 Bundesliga|2017–18 season]], Petersen was the top scoring German in the Bundesliga with 15 goals, finishing second to only [[Robert Lewandowski]] of Bayern Munich. On 19 January 2019, he scored his 38th league goal for Freiburg, breaking the club's all-time Bundesliga goalscoring record previously held by [[Papiss Cissé]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/eintracht-frankfurt-freiburg-live-line-ups-stats-luka-jovic-rebic-haller-2936-1552|title=Luka Jovic, Ante Rebic and Sebastian Haller on target as Eintracht Frankfurt beat Freiburg|publisher=Bundesliga|date=19 January 2019|access-date=20 January 2019}}</ref>

On 29 March 2023, Petersen announced his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2022–23 Bundesliga season at the age of 34.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.kicker.de/petersen-beendet-karriere-im-sommer-944373/artikel | title = Petersen beendet Karriere im Sommer | language = de | website = [[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] | date = 29 March 2023 | access-date = 30 March 2023}}</ref> After coming on as a substitute, he scored in his final home game for the club in a 2–0 win over [[VfL Wolfsburg|Wolfsburg]] on 19 May 2023.

==International career==
[[File:Portugal x Alemanha - Futebol masculino - Olimpíadas Rio 2016 (28340151934).jpg|thumb|Petersen (right) celebrating a goal]]

Petersen was a member of the [[Germany national youth football team|Germany U19]], scoring a goal against Russia during the [[2007 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship|UEFA U-19 European Championship]] and the [[Germany national youth football team|Germany U20]], before being called up on 6 August 2009 for the [[Germany national under-21 football team|German U21]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fcenergie.de/news/news.php?ID=5086 | title = Petersen für Deutschland | language = de | date = 5 August 2009 | access-date = 9 August 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110929172045/http://www.fcenergie.de/news/news.php?ID=5086 | archive-date = 29 September 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Petersen was part of [[Germany Olympic football team|Germany Olympic Squad]] for [[Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Rio's Olympic]] along with [[Lars Bender|Lars]] and [[Sven Bender]] as one of three allowed players over the age of 23. On 4 August 2016, he came on as a substitute in the 84th minute for [[Davie Selke]] in a 2–2 draw.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gnabry und Ginter retten deutscher Elf ein Remis|url=https://www.kicker.de/mexiko-gegen-deutschland-2016-fussball-olympia-3298224/analyse|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=kicker|language=de}}</ref> Three days later, in the 83rd minute, he was again substituted on for Selke.<ref>{{cite news|title=In letzter Sekunde: Gnabry rettet Deutschland|url=https://www.kicker.de/deutschland-gegen-suedkorea-2016-fussball-olympia-3298226/analyse|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=kicker|language=de}}</ref> On 10 August 2016, he started and scored five goals in a 10–0 win against Fiji.<ref>{{cite news|title=10:0! Fünferpacker Petersen & Co. fertigen Fidschi ab|url=https://www.kicker.de/deutschland-gegen-fidschi-2016-fussball-olympia-3298227/analyse|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=kicker|language=de}}</ref> On 13 August 2016, against Portugal, he again replaced Selke,<ref name="2016 olympic qf">{{cite news|title=Halbfinale! Starkes Deutschland besiegt Portugal|url=https://www.kicker.de/portugal-gegen-deutschland-2016-fussball-olympia-3298236/analyse|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=kicker|language=de}}</ref> in the 78th minute.<ref name="2016 olympic qf"/> On 17 August 2016, in the semi-final against Nigeria, Petersen came on for [[Max Meyer (footballer)|Max Meyer]] in the 84th minute<ref name="2016 olympic sf">{{cite news|title=Finale! DFB-Elf spielt in Rio um Olympia-Gold|url=https://www.kicker.de/nigeria-gegen-deutschland-2016-fussball-olympia-3298240/analyse|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=kicker|language=de}}</ref> and scored his sixth goal of the tournament five minutes later.<ref name="2016 olympic sf"/> On 20 August 2016, Petersen entered the pitch as a 76th-minute substitute for Selke in the [[Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament#Gold medal match|Gold medal match]].<ref name="2016 gold medal match">{{cite news|title=Gold für Brasilien: Maracana explodiert dank Neymar!|url=https://www.kicker.de/brasilien-gegen-deutschland-2016-fussball-olympia-3298242/analyse|access-date=20 August 2016|publisher=kicker}}</ref> He was the only player who failed to score in the shootout in the gold medal match, and Germany won the silver medal.<ref name="2016 gold medal match"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/y=2016/m=8/news=neymar-s-golden-penalty-sees-brazil-to-victory-2823069.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821102147/http://www.fifa.com/mensolympic/news/y=2016/m=8/news=neymar-s-golden-penalty-sees-brazil-to-victory-2823069.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2016|title=Neymar's golden penalty sees Brazil to victory|date=20 August 2016|work=fifa.com}}</ref>

On 15 May 2018, he was named in Germany's provisional [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] squad.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Penfold|first1=Chuck|title=Germany's Joachim Löw unveils preliminary World Cup squad, signs new deal|url=http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-joachim-löw-unveils-preliminary-world-cup-squad-signs-new-deal/a-43791804|access-date=15 May 2018|work=Deutsche Welle|date=15 May 2018}}</ref> Petersen was then handed his first cap in a friendly versus [[Austria national football team|Austria]] on 2 June in preparation for the World Cup,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dw.com/en/manuel-neuer-passes-fitness-test-but-germany-slump-to-defeat-in-austria/a-44054902 | title = Manuel Neuer passes fitness test but Germany slump to defeat in Austria | website = dw.com | date = 2 June 2018 | access-date = 2 June 2018}}</ref> but was left off of Löw's [[2018 FIFA World Cup squads#Germany|final squad]] for the tournament.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dfb.de/news/detail/finaler-wm-kader-loew-streicht-leno-tah-sane-und-petersen-187816/ |title=Finaler WM-Kader: Löw streicht Leno, Tah, Sané und Petersen |trans-title=Final World Cup squad: Löw removed Leno, Tah, Sané and Petersen |website=DFB.de |publisher=[[German Football Association]] |date=4 June 2018 |access-date=4 June 2018 |language=de}}</ref> His second and final international cap was won in September 2018 after the World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/dui-npetersen-intl.html | title = Nils Petersen - International Appearances | first = Matthias | last = Arnhold | date = 3 August 2023 | accessdate = 9 August 2023 | publisher = [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|RSSSF.com]]}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[DFB-Pokal]]
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[FC Carl Zeiss Jena|Carl Zeiss Jena]]
|[[2006–07 2. Bundesliga|2006–07]]<ref name="2006–07 season">{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen|url=https://www.kicker.de/nils-petersen/spieler/bundesliga/2022-23/sc-freiburg|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=20 March 2015|language=de}}</ref><ref name="wf">{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen » Club matches|url=http://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/nils-petersen/2/|website=WorldFootball.net|access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"|[[2. Bundesliga]]
|3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||0
|-
|[[2007–08 2. Bundesliga|2007–08]]<ref name="wf"/><ref name="2007–08 season">{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen|url=https://www.kicker.de/nils-petersen/spieler/bundesliga/2022-23/sc-freiburg|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=20 March 2015|language=de}}</ref>
|20||4||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||5
|-
|[[2008–09 3. Liga|2008–09]]<ref name="wf"/>
|[[3. Liga]]
|18||0||2||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||20||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!41!!4!!6!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!47!!6
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[FC Carl Zeiss Jena II|Carl Zeiss Jena II]]
|2006–07<ref name="wf"/>
|rowspan="2"|[[NOFV-Oberliga Süd]]
|5||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||1
|-
|2007–08<ref name="wf"/>
|12||5||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||5
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!17!!6!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!17!!6
|-
|[[FC Energie Cottbus II|Energie Cottbus II]]
|[[2008–09 Regionalliga|2008–09]]<ref name="wf"/>
|[[Regionalliga Nord]]
|13||5||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||13||5
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[FC Energie Cottbus|Energie Cottbus]]
|[[2008–09 Bundesliga|2008–09]]<ref name="wf"/>
|[[Bundesliga]]
|1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||1{{efn|Appearance in [[Promotion to the Bundesliga|Bundesliga relegation play-offs]]}}||0||2||0
|-
|[[2009–10 2. Bundesliga|2009–10]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2009-10/43169/vereinsspieler_nils-petersen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927131507/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2009-10/43169/vereinsspieler_nils-petersen.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2011|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=20 March 2015|language=de}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"|2. Bundesliga
|22||10||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||23||10
|-
|[[2010–11 2. Bundesliga|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen|url=http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2010-11/43169/vereinsspieler_nils-petersen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927132203/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2010-11/43169/vereinsspieler_nils-petersen.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2011|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=20 March 2015|language=de}}</ref>
|33||25||5||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||38||28
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!56!!35!!6!!3!!0!!0!!1!!0!!63!!38
|-
|[[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]]
|[[2011–12 FC Bayern Munich season|2011–12]]<ref name="wf"/>
|Bundesliga
|9||2||2||2||4{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]]}}||0||colspan="2"|—||15||4
|-
|[[FC Bayern Munich II|Bayern Munich II]]
|[[2011–12 Regionalliga|2011–12]]<ref name="wf"/>
|[[Regionalliga Süd (1994–2012)|Regionalliga Süd]]
|3||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||2
|-
|[[SV Werder Bremen|Werder Bremen]] (loan)
|[[2012–13 SV Werder Bremen season|2012–13]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Nils Petersen|url=https://www.kicker.de/nils-petersen/spieler/bundesliga/2022-23/sc-freiburg|website=[[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]]|publisher=kicker|access-date=20 March 2015|language=de}}</ref>
|Bundesliga
|34||11||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||35||11
|-
|rowspan="3"|Werder Bremen
|[[2013–14 SV Werder Bremen season|2013–14]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2013-14/43169/vereinsspieler_nils-petersen.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140328205802/http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/bundesliga/vereine/2013-14/43169/vereinsspieler_nils-petersen.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = 28 March 2014 | title = Petersen, Nils | language = de | publisher = [[Kicker (magazine)|Kicker]] | access-date = 15 August 2013}}</ref>
|rowspan="2"|Bundesliga
|28||7||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||29||7
|-
|[[2014–15 SV Werder Bremen season|2014–15]]<ref name="wf"/>
|7||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!69!!18!!3!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!72!!18
|-
|[[SC Freiburg]] (loan)
|[[2014–15 SC Freiburg season|2014–15]]<ref name="wf"/>
|Bundesliga
|12||9||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||12||9
|-
|rowspan="9"|SC Freiburg
|[[2015–16 2. Bundesliga|2015–16]]<ref name="2015–16 season"/>
|2. Bundesliga
|32||21||2||4||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||25
|-
|[[2016–17 SC Freiburg season|2016–17]]<ref name="wf"/>
|rowspan="7"|Bundesliga
|33||10||1||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||11
|-
|[[2017–18 SC Freiburg season|2017–18]]<ref name="wf"/>
|32||15||3||3||2{{efn|name=UEL|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League]]}}||1||colspan="2"|—||37||19
|-
|[[2018–19 SC Freiburg season|2018–19]]<ref name="wf"/>
|24||10||2||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||12
|-
|[[2019–20 SC Freiburg season|2019–20]]<ref name="wf"/>
|34||11||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||11
|-
|[[2020–21 SC Freiburg season|2020–21]]<ref name="wf"/>
|32||8||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||8
|-
|[[2021–22 SC Freiburg season|2021–22]]<ref name="wf"/>
|22||5||4||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||26||7
|-
|[[2022–23 SC Freiburg season|2022–23]]<ref name="wf"/>
|27||1||4||1||7{{efn|name=UEL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||38||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!248!!90!!20!!13!!9!!2!!0!!0!!277!!105
|-
|[[SC Freiburg II]]
|[[2021–22 3. Liga|2021–22]]<ref name="wf"/>
|3. Liga
|1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!457!!162!!37!!20!!13!!2!!1!!0!!512!!180
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/nils-petersen/16310/ |title=N. Petersen |website=Soccerway |publisher=[[Perform Group]] |access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Germany national football team|Germany]]
|2018||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!2!!0
|}

==Honours==
'''Germany'''
*[[Summer Olympic Games]] silver medalist: [[Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2016]]
'''Individual'''
*[[Olympic Games]] top scorer: [[Football at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2016]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{fussballdaten}}
* {{Soccerway}}
* {{UEFA player}}

{{Germany men's football squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{2. Bundesliga top scorers}}
{{Summer Olympics football tournament top scorers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Petersen, Nils}}
[[Category:1988 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Wernigerode]]
[[Category:Footballers from Saxony-Anhalt]]
[[Category:German men's footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Germany men's youth international footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:3. Liga players]]
[[Category:Regionalliga players]]
[[Category:NOFV-Oberliga players]]
[[Category:VfB Germania Halberstadt players]]
[[Category:FC Carl Zeiss Jena players]]
[[Category:FC Energie Cottbus players]]
[[Category:FC Energie Cottbus II players]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich footballers]]
[[Category:FC Bayern Munich II players]]
[[Category:SV Werder Bremen players]]
[[Category:SC Freiburg players]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers for Germany]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Germany]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in football]]
[[Category:21st-century German sportsmen]]