[3][4] A journeyman, Derdiyok has played for ten different clubs in Europe, as well as a one year stint in Uzbekistan's capital with Pakhtakor Tashkent.

[9][10] Basel's head coach Christian Gross noticed Derdiyok's goal scoring instinct and persuaded him to join the club for their 2006–07 season.

[12] He scored his first league goal for his new club on 14 April in the home game in the St. Jakob-Park as Basel played a 3–3 draw with St.

[13] At the end of the 2006–07 Super League season Basel were runners-up, one point behind championship winners Zürich.

[16] In his first league match of the season, an away game at the Espenmoos Derdiyok scored a brace as Basel won 3–0 against St.

[20] In the Swiss Cup via FC Léchelles, SC Binningen, Grasshopper Club, Stade Nyonnais and in the semi-final Thun, Basel advanced to the final, and winning this 4–1 against AC Bellinzona they won the competition.

[23] Basel joined the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League in the second qualifying round and with an aggregate score of 5–3 they eliminated IFK Göteborg.

[24][25] Here Basel were matched with Barcelona, Sporting CP and Shakhtar Donetsk, but ended the group in last position winning just one point after a 1–1 draw in Camp Nou.

[26] At the end of the 2008–09 Super League season Basel were third in the table, seven points behind new champions Zürich and one adrift of runners-up Young Boys.

After a goalless 90 minutes and extra time, YB decided the penalty shoot-out 3–2 and advanced to the final to become runners-up, as Sion became cup winners.

[29] On 28 May 2009, Bayer Leverkusen secured Derdiyok's signature, committing him to a four-year contract until 30 June 2013, after attracting major European clubs attention, including Galatasaray and some Serie A clubs, he finally joined his Swiss teammate Tranquillo Barnetta.

[32] On 23 November 2011, he scored a headed equalizing goal against Chelsea in the group stage of the Champions League.

Three days later, playing away in a draw 3–3 with the Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga, Derdiyok scored his first hat-trick with Leverkusen.

[40] He made his league debut in the opening game of the season, setting up a goal in a 2–1 loss against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

[42] However, his poor performance at Hoffenheim was criticised that Markus Babbel regretted signing him and Tim Wiese.

Derdiyok would also be demoted to the reserve side because his higher wages were affecting the club's finance and he was no longer included in the first team under manager Markus Gisdol.

Manager Sami Hyypiä quoted on Derdiyok about his recent attitude: "Eren must focus even more, then he is a very good player.

[58] Derdiyok signed a three-year contract with Turkish club Galatasaray on 5 August 2016 for an initial fee of €4 million.

[59] On 10 July 2019, Derdiyok completed a free transfer with Göztepe on a two-year deal with an option to extend by an additional season.

[62] On 3 January 2024, Derdiyok announced his retirement from professional football,[63] after managing only four games in the six months at Schaffhausen.

Derdiyok made his international debut for Switzerland on 6 February 2008, as a second-half substitute against England at Wembley Stadium in London.

He was named as part of the Switzerland squad to play at UEFA Euro 2008 and was the youngest player at the tournament at 19 years old.

On 26 May 2012, Derdiyok scored his first ever international hat-trick as Switzerland beat Germany to win 5–3 in a friendly at St. Jakob-Park in Basel.

[65] As a result of his performance in his club career, Derdiyok was not included in the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup by manager Ottmar Hitzfeld.