Per Mertesacker is a German former professional footballer who played as a central defender. He was born on September 29, 1984, in Hanover, West Germany.

He began his professional career with Hannover 96 before moving to Werder Bremen in 2006. In 2011, he joined Arsenal, where he made over 200 appearances and won the FA Cup in the 2013–14, 2014–15, and 2016–17 seasons.

At international level, Mertesacker represented Germany, earning over 100 caps. He was part of the squad that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup and retired from international football after the tournament.