diff --git a/client/src/app/friends/page.tsx b/client/src/app/friends/page.tsx
index 90c6ce6..e8a2216 100644
--- a/client/src/app/friends/page.tsx
+++ b/client/src/app/friends/page.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 import { useRouter } from "next/navigation";
 import Link from "next/link";
 import { API_URL } from "@/config";
+import { useNotifications } from "@/context/NotificationContext";
 import { useSession } from "@/context/session";
 
 interface Friend {
@@ -29,10 +30,13 @@ interface FriendRequest {
 export default function FriendsPage() {
   const { user } = useSession();
   const router = useRouter();
+  const { sendGameInvite } = useNotifications();
   const [friends, setFriends] = useState<Friend[]>([]);
   const [requests, setRequests] = useState<{ incoming: FriendRequest[]; outgoing: FriendRequest[] }>({ incoming: [], outgoing: [] });
   const [addUsername, setAddUsername] = useState("");
   const [addMsg, setAddMsg] = useState("");
+  const [inviteCodes, setInviteCodes] = useState<Record<number, string>>({});
+  const [inviteSent, setInviteSent] = useState<Record<number, boolean>>({});
 
   useEffect(() => {
     if (user === null) router.push("/");
@@ -146,14 +150,37 @@ export default function FriendsPage() {
         <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold">Meine Freunde ({friends.length})</h2>
         {friends.length === 0 && <p className="opacity-60">Noch keine Freunde. Füge jemanden hinzu!</p>}
         {friends.map((f) => (
-          <div key={f.id} className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
-            <Link href={`/user/${f.friend_name}`} className="font-medium link link-hover">
-              {f.friend_name}
-            </Link>
-            <span className="text-sm opacity-60">{f.wins}W / {f.losses}L / {f.draws}D</span>
-            <button className="btn btn-xs btn-outline btn-error" onClick={() => removeFriend(f.friend_id, f.friend_name)}>
-              Entfernen
-            </button>
+          <div key={f.id} className="flex flex-col gap-1 py-1 border-b border-base-300 last:border-0">
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+              <Link href={`/user/${f.friend_name}`} className="font-medium link link-hover">
+                {f.friend_name}
+              </Link>
+              <span className="text-sm opacity-60">{f.wins}W / {f.losses}L / {f.draws}D</span>
+              <button className="btn btn-xs btn-outline btn-error" onClick={() => removeFriend(f.friend_id, f.friend_name)}>
+                Entfernen
+              </button>
+            </div>
+            <div className="flex items-center gap-2">
+              <input
+                type="text"
+                placeholder="Spielcode eingeben…"
+                className="input input-bordered input-xs flex-1"
+                value={inviteCodes[f.friend_id] ?? ""}
+                onChange={(e) => setInviteCodes((prev) => ({ ...prev, [f.friend_id]: e.target.value }))}
+              />
+              <button
+                className="btn btn-xs btn-secondary"
+                disabled={!inviteCodes[f.friend_id]?.trim()}
+                onClick={() => {
+                  sendGameInvite(f.friend_id, inviteCodes[f.friend_id].trim());
+                  setInviteSent((prev) => ({ ...prev, [f.friend_id]: true }));
+                  setInviteCodes((prev) => ({ ...prev, [f.friend_id]: "" }));
+                  setTimeout(() => setInviteSent((prev) => ({ ...prev, [f.friend_id]: false })), 3000);
+                }}
+              >
+                {inviteSent[f.friend_id] ? "✓ Gesendet" : "Einladen"}
+              </button>
+            </div>
           </div>
         ))}
       </div>
diff --git a/client/src/components/Header.tsx b/client/src/components/Header.tsx
index 494c6ce..c9423db 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Header.tsx
+++ b/client/src/components/Header.tsx
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import { IconUser, IconShield } from "@tabler/icons-react";
 import Link from "next/link";
+import NotificationPanel from "./NotificationPanel";
 import ThemeToggle from "./ThemeToggle";
 import { useSession } from "@/context/session";
 
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export default function Header() {
             Admin
           </Link>
         )}
+        {user?.id && typeof user.id === "number" && <NotificationPanel />}
         <ThemeToggle />
         <label tabIndex={0} htmlFor="auth-modal" className="btn btn-ghost btn-circle avatar">
           <div className="w-10 rounded-full">
diff --git a/client/src/components/NotificationPanel.tsx b/client/src/components/NotificationPanel.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..86c48d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/components/NotificationPanel.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+"use client";
+
+import type { AppNotification } from "@michess/types";
+import Link from "next/link";
+
+import { useNotifications } from "@/context/NotificationContext";
+
+function NotificationItem({ n, onDismiss }: { n: AppNotification; onDismiss: () => void }) {
+  let text = "";
+  if (n.type === "friendRequest") text = `${n.fromName} hat dir eine Freundschaftsanfrage gesendet.`;
+  if (n.type === "friendAccepted") text = `${n.fromName} hat deine Freundschaftsanfrage angenommen.`;
+  if (n.type === "gameInvite") text = `${n.fromName} lädt dich zu einem Spiel ein.`;
+
+  return (
+    <div className={`flex items-start gap-2 p-2 rounded-lg ${!n.read ? "bg-base-300" : ""}`}>
+      <div className="flex-1 min-w-0">
+        <p className="text-sm leading-snug">{text}</p>
+      </div>
+      {n.type === "gameInvite" && n.gameCode && (
+        <Link href={`/${n.gameCode}`} className="btn btn-xs btn-primary shrink-0" onClick={onDismiss}>
+          Beitreten
+        </Link>
+      )}
+      {n.type === "friendRequest" && (
+        <Link href="/friends" className="btn btn-xs btn-outline shrink-0" onClick={onDismiss}>
+          Ansehen
+        </Link>
+      )}
+      <button className="btn btn-xs btn-ghost shrink-0" onClick={onDismiss} aria-label="Schließen">
+        ✕
+      </button>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
+
+export default function NotificationPanel() {
+  const { notifications, unreadCount, markAllRead, dismiss } = useNotifications();
+
+  return (
+    <div className="dropdown dropdown-end">
+      <button
+        tabIndex={0}
+        className="btn btn-ghost btn-circle relative"
+        onClick={markAllRead}
+        aria-label="Benachrichtigungen"
+      >
+        <svg
+          xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"
+          className="h-5 w-5"
+          viewBox="0 0 24 24"
+          fill="none"
+          stroke="currentColor"
+          strokeWidth={2}
+          strokeLinecap="round"
+          strokeLinejoin="round"
+        >
+          <path d="M18 8A6 6 0 0 0 6 8c0 7-3 9-3 9h18s-3-2-3-9" />
+          <path d="M13.73 21a2 2 0 0 1-3.46 0" />
+        </svg>
+        {unreadCount > 0 && (
+          <span className="badge badge-xs badge-primary absolute top-1 right-1">
+            {unreadCount > 9 ? "9+" : unreadCount}
+          </span>
+        )}
+      </button>
+      <div
+        tabIndex={0}
+        className="dropdown-content shadow bg-base-200 rounded-box w-80 max-h-96 overflow-y-auto z-50 p-2 flex flex-col gap-1 mt-1"
+      >
+        <p className="text-xs font-semibold opacity-60 px-1 pb-1">Benachrichtigungen</p>
+        {notifications.length === 0 && (
+          <p className="text-sm opacity-50 px-2 py-3 text-center">Keine Benachrichtigungen</p>
+        )}
+        {notifications.map((n) => (
+          <NotificationItem key={n.id} n={n} onDismiss={() => dismiss(n.id)} />
+        ))}
+      </div>
+    </div>
+  );
+}
diff --git a/client/src/context/ContextProvider.tsx b/client/src/context/ContextProvider.tsx
index 8b32a63..fed69ac 100644
--- a/client/src/context/ContextProvider.tsx
+++ b/client/src/context/ContextProvider.tsx
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import type { ReactNode } from "react";
 import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
 
 import { fetchSession } from "@/lib/auth";
+import NotificationProvider from "./NotificationContext";
 import { SessionContext } from "./session";
 
 export default function ContextProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
@@ -19,5 +20,9 @@ export default function ContextProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     getSession();
   }, []);
 
-  return <SessionContext.Provider value={{ user, setUser }}>{children}</SessionContext.Provider>;
+  return (
+    <SessionContext.Provider value={{ user, setUser }}>
+      <NotificationProvider>{children}</NotificationProvider>
+    </SessionContext.Provider>
+  );
 }
diff --git a/client/src/context/NotificationContext.tsx b/client/src/context/NotificationContext.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56fe36d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/src/context/NotificationContext.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+"use client";
+
+import type { AppNotification } from "@michess/types";
+import type { ReactNode } from "react";
+import { createContext, useContext, useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { io, type Socket } from "socket.io-client";
+
+import { API_URL } from "@/config";
+import { useSession } from "@/context/session";
+
+interface NotificationContextValue {
+    notifications: AppNotification[];
+    unreadCount: number;
+    markAllRead: () => void;
+    dismiss: (id: string) => void;
+    sendGameInvite: (toId: number, gameCode: string) => void;
+}
+
+export const NotificationContext = createContext<NotificationContextValue | null>(null);
+
+export const useNotifications = () => {
+    const ctx = useContext(NotificationContext);
+    if (!ctx) throw new Error("useNotifications must be used within NotificationProvider");
+    return ctx;
+};
+
+const notifSocket: Socket = io(API_URL, { withCredentials: true, autoConnect: false });
+
+export default function NotificationProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
+    const { user } = useSession();
+    const [notifications, setNotifications] = useState<AppNotification[]>([]);
+
+    const unreadCount = notifications.filter((n) => !n.read).length;
+
+    useEffect(() => {
+        if (!user?.id || typeof user.id === "string") {
+            if (notifSocket.connected) notifSocket.disconnect();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        notifSocket.connect();
+
+        notifSocket.on("friendRequestReceived", ({ fromId, fromName }: { fromId: number; fromName: string }) => {
+            setNotifications((prev) => [
+                { id: crypto.randomUUID(), type: "friendRequest", fromId, fromName, createdAt: Date.now(), read: false },
+                ...prev
+            ]);
+        });
+
+        notifSocket.on("friendRequestAccepted", ({ fromId, fromName }: { fromId: number; fromName: string }) => {
+            setNotifications((prev) => [
+                { id: crypto.randomUUID(), type: "friendAccepted", fromId, fromName, createdAt: Date.now(), read: false },
+                ...prev
+            ]);
+        });
+
+        notifSocket.on("gameInviteReceived", ({ fromId, fromName, gameCode }: { fromId: number; fromName: string; gameCode: string }) => {
+            setNotifications((prev) => [
+                { id: crypto.randomUUID(), type: "gameInvite", fromId, fromName, gameCode, createdAt: Date.now(), read: false },
+                ...prev
+            ]);
+        });
+
+        return () => {
+            notifSocket.off("friendRequestReceived");
+            notifSocket.off("friendRequestAccepted");
+            notifSocket.off("gameInviteReceived");
+            notifSocket.disconnect();
+        };
+    }, [user?.id]);
+
+    const markAllRead = () => setNotifications((prev) => prev.map((n) => ({ ...n, read: true })));
+
+    const dismiss = (id: string) => setNotifications((prev) => prev.filter((n) => n.id !== id));
+
+    const sendGameInvite = (toId: number, gameCode: string) => {
+        if (notifSocket.connected) {
+            notifSocket.emit("sendGameInvite", { toId, gameCode });
+        }
+    };
+
+    return (
+        <NotificationContext.Provider value={{ notifications, unreadCount, markAllRead, dismiss, sendGameInvite }}>
+            {children}
+        </NotificationContext.Provider>
+    );
+}
diff --git a/server/src/controllers/auth.controller.ts b/server/src/controllers/auth.controller.ts
index 863087b..ba2b737 100644
--- a/server/src/controllers/auth.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/controllers/auth.controller.ts
@@ -222,7 +222,8 @@ export const loginUser = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
             email: users[0].email,
             wins: users[0].wins,
             losses: users[0].losses,
-            draws: users[0].draws
+            draws: users[0].draws,
+            role: users[0].role
         };
         req.session.save(() => {
             res.status(200).json(req.session.user);
diff --git a/server/src/controllers/friends.controller.ts b/server/src/controllers/friends.controller.ts
index 68c9149..3bf091f 100644
--- a/server/src/controllers/friends.controller.ts
+++ b/server/src/controllers/friends.controller.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import type { Request, Response } from "express";
 import { db } from "../db/index.js";
 import UserModel from "../db/models/user.model.js";
+import { io } from "../server.js";
+import { onlineUsers } from "../socket/state.js";
 
 export const sendRequest = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     try {
@@ -49,6 +51,15 @@ export const sendRequest = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
             [fromId, toId]
         );
 
+        // Notify recipient if online
+        const fromUser = req.session.user!;
+        if (onlineUsers.has(toId)) {
+            io.to(`user:${toId}`).emit("friendRequestReceived", {
+                fromId: fromUser.id,
+                fromName: fromUser.name
+            });
+        }
+
         res.status(201).json({ id: result.rows[0].id, toName: targets[0].name });
     } catch (err) {
         console.log(err);
@@ -124,6 +135,13 @@ export const respondToRequest = async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
                 `INSERT INTO "friendship"(user_id_1, user_id_2) VALUES($1, $2) ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING`,
                 [a, b]
             );
+            // Notify original sender that request was accepted
+            if (onlineUsers.has(from_id)) {
+                io.to(`user:${from_id}`).emit("friendRequestAccepted", {
+                    fromId: userId,
+                    fromName: req.session.user!.name
+                });
+            }
         }
 
         res.status(200).json({ message: action === "accept" ? "Friend added!" : "Request rejected." });
diff --git a/server/src/socket/index.ts b/server/src/socket/index.ts
index 5434a7a..69b8af7 100644
--- a/server/src/socket/index.ts
+++ b/server/src/socket/index.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
     leaveLobby,
     sendMove
 } from "./game.socket.js";
+import { onlineUsers } from "./state.js";
 
 const socketConnect = (socket: Socket) => {
     const req = socket.request;
@@ -25,7 +26,28 @@ const socketConnect = (socket: Socket) => {
         });
     });
 
-    socket.on("disconnect", leaveLobby);
+    // Track online users and join personal notification room
+    const userId = req.session.user?.id;
+    if (userId && typeof userId === "number") {
+        onlineUsers.set(userId, socket.id);
+        socket.join(`user:${userId}`);
+    }
+
+    socket.on("disconnect", () => {
+        if (userId && typeof userId === "number") onlineUsers.delete(userId);
+        leaveLobby.call(socket);
+    });
+
+    // Forward game invites to target user's personal room
+    socket.on("sendGameInvite", ({ toId, gameCode }: { toId: number; gameCode: string }) => {
+        const fromUser = req.session.user;
+        if (!fromUser?.id || typeof fromUser.id === "string") return;
+        io.to(`user:${toId}`).emit("gameInviteReceived", {
+            fromId: fromUser.id,
+            fromName: fromUser.name,
+            gameCode
+        });
+    });
 
     socket.on("joinLobby", joinLobby);
     socket.on("leaveLobby", leaveLobby);
diff --git a/server/src/socket/state.ts b/server/src/socket/state.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb377f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/socket/state.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+// Shared socket state — imported by socket/index.ts and controllers to avoid circular deps
+export const onlineUsers = new Map<number, string>();
diff --git a/types/index.d.ts b/types/index.d.ts
index 2bc771d..c6dd537 100644
--- a/types/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/index.d.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,18 @@ export interface TournamentPlayer {
     gamesPlayed?: number;
 }
 
+export type NotificationType = "friendRequest" | "friendAccepted" | "gameInvite";
+
+export interface AppNotification {
+    id: string;
+    type: NotificationType;
+    fromId: number;
+    fromName: string;
+    gameCode?: string;
+    createdAt: number;
+    read: boolean;
+}
+
 export interface TournamentRound {
     id?: number;
     tournamentId?: number;