Ilan Benjamin Sauter

Ilan Benjamin Sauter is a Swiss defender born in New York on 6 February 2001. After moving to Switzerland at six, he began developing at FC Maur before joining FC Zürich’s academy in 2011. Sauter progressed through Zürich’s youth teams and Zürich II, making his senior debut in 2019. He then spent 2020–2022 with FC Wil, where regular football in the Swiss Challenge League helped him gain senior experience. After a spell with AC Bellinzona from 2023 to 2025, he returned to FC Zürich in July 2025. Primarily a centre-back, Sauter can also operate in defensive midfield and contributes through duels, interceptions and build-up play. He has represented Switzerland from under-16 to under-20 level and is currently with FC Zürich.