Emma Pijnenburg

Emma Pijnenburg
Pijnenburg playing for Wellington Phoenix in 2026.
Personal information
Full name Emma Sheela Pijnenburg[1]
Date of birth (2004-09-13) 13 September 2004[1]
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Hera United
Youth career
–2023 Western Springs AFC
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Feyenoord[2] 30 (1)
2025–2026 Wellington Phoenix[3] 17 (2)
2026– Hera United 0 (0)
International career‡
2022–2024 New Zealand U-20[4] 3 (0)
2025– New Zealand[5] 11 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 May 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 23 May 2026

Emma Sheela Pijnenburg (born 13 September 2004) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or full-back for Eredivisie club Hera United and the New Zealand national team.

Youth career

Pijnenburg played for local Auckland club Western Springs, starting from the age of six.[6] As well as playing for Western Springs, in her youth Pijnenburg was also selected for the Auckland Football Federation women's team,[6] and the Football Ferns training squad.[6]

Club career

Feyenoord

In the European winter break of 2023, Pijnenburg was signed by Dutch club Feyenoord.[7] The midfielder was signed on a two year contract, and made her debut for the club on 17 February 2024.[8]

Wellington Phoenix

On 29 December 2025, it was announced that Pijnenburg would be joining the Wellington Phoenix with immediate effect. She was signed on a contract that would see her stay with the club for the remainder of the 2025–26 A-League Women season. As she does for the Football Ferns, Pijnenburg wears the number 32 shirt.[9] Pijnenburg was immediately added into the wider squad ahead of the Phoenix's next match against Western Sydney Wanderers on 30 December 2025.[10] In that match, Pijnenburg made her debut for new club, coming on as a substitute for CJ Bott in the 53rd minute. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for the Phoenix.[11]

On 1 February 2026, Pijnenburg scored her first goal for the Phoenix. She scored the third goal in a 5–1 victory over Newcastle Jets.[12]

In June 2026, Pijnenburg departed the club at the conclusion of her contract to return to the Netherlands where she signed with Hera United.[13]

International career

Pijnenburg was selected for the New Zealand U-20 side in 2024 as part of the side that would play at the 2024 FIFA Women's U-20 Women's World Cup held in Colombia.[4]

On 3 February 2025, Pijnenburg was selected in the Football Ferns squad for the first time in her career ahead of a two match series against Costa Rica.[5] Pijnenburg made her debut in the second match of the series played on the 25th of February, coming on as a substitite for Grace Neville in the 80th minute. Pijnenburg wears the number 32 shirt for the Football Ferns.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "Emma Pijnenburg Player Profile". Soccerdonna. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "Midfielder Emma Pijnenburg signs first pro contract with top Dutch club". Friends of Football. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "Nix sign young Football Ferns midfielder". Wellington Phoenix. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Squad named for September's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2024 in Colombia". NZ Football. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Three debutants named in first Football Ferns squad of 2025". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Emma Pijnenburg selected for NZ U20 World Cup". Western Springs AFC. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Midfielder Emma Pinenburg signs first pro contract with top Dutch club". Friends of Football. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Emma Pijnenburg makes move to Wellington Phoenix FC". Feyenoord. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Wellington Phoenix sign White Ferns midfielder". amp.rnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  10. ↑ "Squads named for women's A-League match between Wanderers and Phoenix". Friends of Football. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  11. ↑ "Western Sydney Wanderers FC vs Wellington Phoenix". Fotmob. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "Newcastle Jets vs Wellington Phoenix". FotMob. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Nix confirm women's departures". Wellington Phoenix. 24 June 2026.
  14. ↑ "Costa Rica vs New Zealand". Sofascore. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
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