Vitaly Janelt was born on 10 May 1998 in Hamburg, Germany. He spent time in Hamburger SV's academy before moving to RB Leipzig's youth setup, where he developed as a left-footed central midfielder with a strong tactical education. A loan to Bochum became permanent and proved decisive: in the 2. Bundesliga he matured into a reliable midfielder who could win duels, circulate possession and cover large spaces without needing to be the star of the team.
Brentford signed Janelt from Bochum in October 2020, late in the transfer window of a Championship season disrupted by the pandemic. He adapted quickly to English football and became a major part of the side that won promotion through the 2021 play-offs. His midfield partnership with Christian Norgaard and Mathias Jensen gave Brentford balance, and his Wembley performance against Swansea helped the club return to the top tier for the first time since 1935.
In the Premier League, Janelt has been one of Brentford's most dependable midfielders. He scored a famous brace in the 4-1 win away to Chelsea in April 2022, a result that announced Brentford's fearlessness as a top-flight side. Since then he has been used as a holding midfielder, number eight and left-sided central option depending on injuries and match plans. He remains a trusted Thomas Frank midfielder because he gives structure even when others provide more obvious flair.
For Germany, Janelt has represented the country at youth levels including Under-21. He was part of the generation around the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship cycle, though he has not yet become a senior international. Germany's central-midfield competition has been deep across his career, and his understated club role has not always translated into public national-team momentum.
Janelt is a left-footed central midfielder, around 1.84 m, whose game is based on tactical discipline, duel work and secure passing. He can screen the defence, press forward or join attacks with late runs when given freedom. Stylistically he resembles a more understated Granit Xhaka: left-footed, positionally serious, comfortable in physical midfield games and capable of arriving with an unexpected goal. Brentford's midfield often looks more stable when he is present.