Liam van Gelderen (born 23 March 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Groningen.

Club career

Ajax

Van Gelderen started his football journey in the youth teams of SVA Assendelft, Fortuna Wormerveer, and AZ. In 2015, he joined the Ajax Youth Academy, signing a contract until 2020 in February 2018.

Liam van Gelderen

He made his debut for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie on 25 March 2019, in a 3–3 draw against Jong Utrecht. In June 2020, he extended his contract for an additional three seasons, until mid-2023.

Liam van Gelderen

Van Gelderen was first named to the bench for the senior Ajax team on 27 February 2022, in a league loss to Go Ahead Eagles. He made his Eredivisie debut for Ajax on 23 April 2022 in a game against NEC as a 45th-minute substitute for the injured Perr Schuurs.

Liam van Gelderen

Groningen

On 17 June 2022, Van Gelderen signed a four-year contract with Groningen. He made his debut for the club on 14 August, replacing Neraysho Kasanwirjo in the 92nd minute of a resounding 6–1 league loss to his former club, Ajax. On 25 February 2023, he scored his first goal for the Trots van het Noorden, contributing to a 3–0 home victory against Excelsior. At the end of the season, Groningen suffered relegation to the second-tier Eerste Divisie for the first time in 23 years, with Van Gelderen having scored once in 18 total appearances.

International career

Born in the Netherlands, Van Gelderen is of Surinamese descent. He is a youth international for the Netherlands.

Career statistics

Honours

Ajax

Eredivisie: 2021–22

Netherlands U17

UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2018

Individual

UEFA European Under-17 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2018

References

2001 births

Living people

Dutch men's footballers

Netherlands men's youth international footballers

Dutch sportspeople of Surinamese descent

Men's association football fullbacks

AZ Alkmaar players

AFC Ajax players

Jong Ajax players

FC Groningen players

Eerste Divisie players

Eredivisie players