Denis Dmitriyevich Cheryshev (Russian: Денис Дмитриевич Черышев, IPA: [dʲɪˈnʲis ˈdmʲitrʲɪjɪvʲɪtɕ ˈtɕerɨʂɨf]; born 26 December 1990) is a Russian former professional footballer who played as a left winger.
A youth product of Real Madrid, he made his debut for the reserves in 2009 and with the first team in 2012. He then had loan spells at Sevilla, Villarreal and Valencia before joining Villarreal permanently in 2016, and returned to Valencia on loan two years later. In June 2019, he signed permanently for the latter.
Having earned 45 caps and scored 23 goals in its youth categories, Cheryshev made his debut for Russia in 2012. He was a participant at the 2018 World Cup, scoring four goals as his team reached the quarter-finals, finishing among the tournament's top scorers, and also represented the country at Euro 2020.
Born in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, Soviet Union, Cheryshev started his career at Sporting de Gijón, where his father Dmitri was playing at the time. He soon followed him to his next club, Burgos, entering locals Burgos Promesas at the age of nine.
During his spell, Cheryshev was selected to play for the youth levels of the Castile and León regional team.
Cheryshev joined Real Madrid in 2002, and completed his formative years in their academy. Still a junior, he appeared in nine Segunda División games with Real Madrid Castilla during the 2008–09 season; it was also during this time he formed a long-lasting friendship with future Spanish national team player Nacho.
Over the next two years, Cheryshev played 61 matches and scored 11 goals for the reserve side. He was an important attacking unit as the latter campaign ended in promotion to Segunda División after a five-year absence.
Cheryshev made his debut in division two on 17 August 2012, playing the full 90 minutes of the 2–1 away loss against Villarreal. On 27 November, he played his official game with the first team, in a 3–0 home win (7–1 on aggregate) over Alcoyano in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey, becoming the first Russian player to feature for the club.
In September 2013, Cheryshev was loaned to fellow top-tier Sevilla for the remainder of the campaign with the possibility of a permanent deal. As a result of persistent injury concerns, he made only four league appearances and the Andalusians opted not to exercise the option, with the player joining Villarreal on loan for 2014–15 instead.
Cheryshev scored on his debut for Villarreal on 24 August 2014, netting the second goal in a 2–0 win at Levante. Having recovered from the injuries which plighted his time at his previous team, he thrived at El Madrigal and netted seven times from 40 appearances in all competitions.
Returned to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Cheryshev made his debut in the top flight for Real Madrid on 19 September 2015, playing 13 minutes in the 1–0 defeat of Granada. He scored his first competitive goal for them on 2 December, featuring 45 minutes in a 3–1 away victory over Cádiz in the Spanish Cup's round of 32. However, his appearance in the match drew controversy as he was ineligible for selection after having collected three yellow cards in the previous edition of the tournament, and resulted in Real Madrid being expelled from the tournament; president Florentino Pérez claimed that the Royal Spanish Football Federation had not informed the club that the player was suspended and challenged the action taken against the team, though he was unsuccessful.
On 1 February 2016, Cheryshev was loaned to Valencia until June. He made his debut two days later, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 7–0 away loss against Barcelona in the semi-finals of the domestic cup. He scored his only goal on 13 February, when he headed home in a 2–1 win over Espanyol at the Mestalla Stadium.
Cheryshev was part of the Real Madrid 2015–16 UEFA Champions League-winning squad, becoming the fourth Russian player to achieve this following Igor Dobrovolsky, Vladimir But and Dmitry Alenichev.
On 15 June 2016, Cheryshev returned to Villarreal on a permanent deal where he signed a contract until 2021. On 14 August 2018, he returned to Valencia on loan, scoring twice during the season to help to a fourth-place finish.
Cheryshev joined Valencia permanently on 29 June 2019, for a fee of €6 million. He scored his first Champions League goal on 23 October, opening an eventual 1–1 draw at Lille in the group stage.
Three years later, following a spell marred by injury problems, Cheryshev left after his contract expired.
On 31 August 2022, Cheryshev signed a two-year deal with Venezia with the option for an additional season. He scored twice in his third Serie B appearance, a 4–1 away win against Cagliari on 1 October.
On 22 September 2024, Cheryshev joined Super League Greece 2 club Panionios. In February 2026, the 35-year-old agreed to a contract at Krasava ENY Ypsonas in the Cypriot First Division.