Jordi Vanlerberghe

Jordi Vanlerberghe
Vanlerberghe in 2025 with Brøndby
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-06-27) 27 June 1996
Place of birth Duffel, Belgium
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 Brøndby
Number 30
Youth career
2001–2004 KFC Duffel
2004–2012 Mechelen
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2017 Mechelen 47 (3)
2017–2020 Club Brugge 7 (0)
2018–2019 → Oostende (loan) 31 (4)
2019–2020 → Mechelen (loan) 17 (3)
2020–2024 Mechelen 122 (9)
2024– Brøndby 53 (4)
International career
2011–2012 Belgium U16 5 (2)
2012–2013 Belgium U17 8 (0)
2013–2014 Belgium U18 3 (2)
2014 Belgium U19 5 (0)
2017–2019 Belgium U21 8 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:01, 25 August 2026 (UTC)

Jordi Vanlerberghe (born 27 June 1996) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Danish Superliga club Brøndby.[1]

Club career

Early career and Mechelen

Born in Duffel to a family with a footballing background, Vanlerberghe began playing at local club KFC Duffel before joining the KV Mechelen youth academy at the age of six.[2][3]

He made his Belgian Pro League debut on 27 October 2012 against Lierse at the age of 16, replacing Nicklas Pedersen as an 88th-minute substitute.[4] He scored his first senior goal on 25 January 2014 in a Belgian Cup tie against Mons.[5] Over five seasons in Mechelen's first-team squad he accumulated 50 senior appearances across the league, championship play-offs and cup before agreeing to a move in the summer of 2017.[3]

Club Brugge

In June 2017, Vanlerberghe signed a four-year contract with Club Brugge.[6] He struggled to displace established midfielders under head coach Ivan Leko during a season in which the club won the Belgian league title; Vanlerberghe later described his first year at Brugge as a difficult period in which he felt he had stopped developing as a player.[7]

Loan to Oostende

In July 2018, Vanlerberghe was loaned to Oostende, where he was reunited with Gert Verheyen, who had managed him in the Belgium under-21 team. He said on arrival that his priority was to "become a footballer again" after the limited involvement at Brugge.[8]

Loan to Mechelen

On 10 August 2019, with Mechelen newly promoted in name—the club had been administratively involved in the Operatie Propere Handen match-fixing investigation, the eventual outcome of which left their status uncertain[9]—Vanlerberghe rejoined his first club on a season-long loan with an option to purchase.[10]

Return to Mechelen

After a brief return to Brugge in the summer of 2020, Vanlerberghe rejoined Mechelen permanently on 29 June 2020; Belgian media reported that he had been judged surplus to requirements at Brugge.[11] In a long-form interview with Gazet van Antwerpen in September 2020 he discussed his transition into a more defensive role, having previously been deployed mainly as a central midfielder.[12]

Across his second spell Vanlerberghe became a regular in the Mechelen side, operating as either a defensive midfielder or centre-back. He was part of the team that reached the 2023 Belgian Cup final on 30 April 2023, which Mechelen lost 2–0 to Antwerp,[13] and again featured in the resulting 2023 Belgian Super Cup in July, which Antwerp won on penalties.[14] In all, he made 183 senior appearances for Mechelen across the two spells.[2]

Brøndby

On 29 January 2024, Vanlerberghe signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Danish Superliga club Brøndby.[15] The move from Mechelen, reported to have cost €600,000, was his first transfer abroad after a career spent entirely in Belgium.[16] Assigned the number 30 shirt, Vanlerberghe described the ambitions of himself and the club as "a perfect match".[17] Football director Carsten V. Jensen welcomed him as "a footballer in his prime" with a strong desire to compete, noting his ability to play out from the back.[15]

He made his debut when he came on at half-time in a Superliga win over Viborg in March 2024 and was quickly established in Jesper Sørensen's starting defence.[18] He scored his first goal for the club with a strike from distance in the 4–1 home victory over Silkeborg in the final round of the regular season, sending Brøndby into the championship round one point off the lead.[19] In the championship round he was named in Tipsbladet's team of the round following a strong display against Nordsjælland, the publication describing him as a "solid rock in Brøndby's defence" who was "also strong on the ball".[20] Brøndby's title bid ended on the final matchday when they lost 3–2 at home to AGF and finished a single point behind champions Midtjylland.[21]

Vanlerberghe began the 2024–25 season as a regular starter but suffered a knee and ankle sprain during a 2–0 win at Lyngby on 4 August 2024. Fearing an anterior cruciate ligament injury, he left the stadium on crutches and was ruled out for six weeks.[22] On his return in late September he re-established himself in the starting lineup. Sørensen was dismissed on 11 December 2024 with the club in a difficult run of form; assistant Frederik Birk initially took charge on a caretaker basis before being confirmed as permanent head coach in January 2025.[23] Brøndby finished the season in third place, qualifying for the UEFA Conference League qualifying rounds.[24]

After the 2025–26 season had begun under Frederik Birk, whose dismissal on 9 September 2025 was followed by the appointment of the Welshman Steve Cooper,[25] Vanlerberghe found himself out of the squad by late September after the new coach moved to a two-centre-back system. Cooper described the decision as tactical, telling reporters that Vanlerberghe had "become surplus" to his preferred pairing of Frederik Alves and Luis Binks.[26][27]

The club placed Vanlerberghe on the transfer list over the winter break. He did not travel to the first-team training camp in Spain and trained instead with the under-19 side, rejoining the squad in Portugal in late January 2026 after a proposed move had collapsed.[28][29] Vanlerberghe made his first start of 2026 on 7 April, away to Nordsjælland in the championship round, in place of the suspended Binks; Brøndby lost 2–1.[30] Cooper deployed him at right-back ten days later, in a 6–0 home win over Sønderjyske.[31] On 17 May, Vanlerberghe started in a back three at Midtjylland as Brøndby came from 0–2 down to win 3–2 and secure fourth place in the Superliga.[32] Four days later, he came on as an extra-tima substitute and scored a goal, that was controversially deemed off-side, as Brøndby lost the European play-off 3–1 at home to rivals Copenhagen, missing out on Conference League qualification.[33]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 August 2026[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mechelen 2012–13 Pro League 1000—0010
2013–14 Pro League 6100—0061
2014–15 Pro League 2010—0030
2015–16 Pro League 16020—00180
2016–17 First Division A 22200——222
Total 47330—00503
Club Brugge 2017–18 First Division A 701000—80
Oostende (loan) 2018–19 First Division A 31420——334
Mechelen (loan) 2019–20 First Division A 17300——173
Mechelen 2020–21 First Division A 31230——342
2021–22 First Division A 33230——362
2022–23 Belgian Pro League 20230—1[a]0242
2023–24 Belgian Pro League 21010——220
Total 1229100—101339
Brøndby 2023–24 Danish Superliga 121———121
2024–25 Danish Superliga 222601[b]0—292
2025–26 Danish Superliga 140105[b]01[c]0210
2026–27 Danish Superliga 5100——51
Total 534706010674
Career total 26020230602029120
  1. ↑ Appearances in Belgian Super Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League
  3. ↑ Appearance in Danish Superliga play-off

Honours

Club Brugge

References

  1. ↑ Jordi Vanlerberghe at Soccerway
  2. 1 2 "Vanlerberghe trekt naar Brøndby". KV Mechelen (in Dutch). 29 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Jordi Vanlerberghe trekt naar Club Brugge". KV Mechelen (in Dutch). 21 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  4. ↑ "Mechelen vs. Lierse – 27 October 2012". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  5. ↑ "Mons vs. Mechelen – 25 January 2014". Soccerway. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Op dit uur mag het al wat meer zijn: transfer van Jordi Vanlerberghe naar Club Brugge is op alle vlakken een voltreffer". Voetbalkrant (in Dutch). 21 June 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  7. ↑ Geypen, Diederik (25 September 2020). "Jordi Vanlerberghe (24) over zijn nieuwe rol achterin bij KV Mechelen: "Polyvalentie? Da's iets voor spelers die pas komen piepen"". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Flemish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Taecke, Tomas (26 July 2018). "Vanlerberghe blij met keuze voor KVO: "Hier wil ik opnieuw voetballer worden"". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 July 2018.
  9. ↑ Conn, David (11 October 2018). "Belgium football corruption investigation looks at relegation battle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  10. ↑ "Transfer: Jordi Vanlerberghe tekent bij Malinwa" (Press release) (in Dutch). KV Mechelen. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  11. ↑ "Jordi Vanlerberghe – overbodig bij Club Brugge – keert terug naar KV Mechelen". Sporza (in Dutch). 29 June 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  12. ↑ Geypen, Diederik (25 September 2020). "Jordi Vanlerberghe (24) over zijn nieuwe rol achterin bij KV Mechelen: "Polyvalentie? Da's iets voor spelers die pas komen piepen"". Gazet van Antwerpen (in Flemish). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  13. ↑ "Antwerp wint Croky Cup na zege tegen KV Mechelen". Sporza (in Dutch). 30 April 2023. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  14. ↑ "Antwerp pakt Supercup na strafschoppen tegen KV Mechelen". Sporza (in Dutch). 23 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Brøndby IF skriver kontrakt med Jordi Vanlerberghe" [Brøndby IF sign contract with Jordi Vanlerberghe]. Brøndby IF (in Danish). 29 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Andersen, Emil (29 January 2024). "Officielt: Brøndby henter Jordi Vanlerberghe" [Official: Brøndby sign Jordi Vanlerberghe]. Campo (in Danish). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Jordi Vanlerberghe om Brøndby-skifte: Et perfekt match" [Jordi Vanlerberghe on Brøndby move: A perfect match]. Campo (in Danish). 29 January 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Jordi Vanlerberghe: Spændt på at komme i gang" [Jordi Vanlerberghe: Excited to get started]. Brøndby IF (in Danish). July 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  19. ↑ "2023/24". Brøndby IF (in Danish). Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Rundens Hold i Superligaen – 30. runde" [Team of the Round in the Superliga – Round 30]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). 17 May 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  21. ↑ "Brøndby fyrer Jesper Sørensen" [Brøndby sack Jesper Sørensen]. TV 2 Sport (in Danish). 11 December 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  22. ↑ "Vanlerberghe tilbage efter skade: Frygtede at sæsonen var forbi" [Vanlerberghe back after injury: Feared the season was over]. 3point.dk (in Danish). 19 September 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  23. ↑ "Brøndby IF stopper samarbejdet med cheftræner Jesper Sørensen" [Brøndby IF end collaboration with head coach Jesper Sørensen]. Brøndby IF (in Danish). 11 December 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  24. ↑ Schmidt, Martin (11 May 2025). "Birk-job til debat: Sket meget på en uge". Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  25. ↑ "Steve Cooper bliver ny cheftræner for Brøndby IF" [Steve Cooper is to become the new head coach of Brøndby IF]. Brøndby IF (Press release) (in Danish). 9 September 2025. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  26. ↑ Jijan, Jrah Lafi (25 September 2025). "Ingen plads til Vanlerberghe: Taktisk beslutning" [No place for Vanlerberghe: a tactical decision]. Bold (in Danish). Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  27. ↑ Hoffskov, Ole (24 September 2025). "Jordi Vanlerberghe ude af Brøndby-truppen" [Jordi Vanlerberghe dropped from the Brøndby squad]. Tipsbladet (in Danish). Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Glud, Rasmus (25 January 2026). "Indgår ikke i planerne: Vanlerberghe i ingenmandsland" [Not part of the plans: Vanlerberghe in no man's land]. Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  29. ↑ Jijan, Jrah Lafi (20 January 2026). "Skifte glippet: Vanlerberghe tilslutter sig Brøndby-lejren" [Deal falls through: Vanlerberghe joins Brøndby camp]. Bold (in Danish). Archived from the original on 22 January 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  30. ↑ Hjorth, Alexander (7 April 2026). "Udstødt Brøndby-stopper starter mod FCN" [Ostracised Brøndby defender to start against FCN]. Campo (in Danish). Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  31. ↑ Karlsen, Nanna Møller (17 April 2026). "Brøndbys drømmeaften: Seks mål, to debutanter og en SEJR!" [Brøndby's dream night: Six goals, two debutants and a WIN!]. 3point (in Danish). Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  32. ↑ Leth, Rasmus Lomholt (17 May 2026). "Brøndby møder FCK i Conference League-playoff" [Brøndby stage a stunning comeback – a clash with FCK awaits]. TV 2 Sport (in Danish). Archived from the original on 18 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  33. ↑ "Europa playoff-nederlag til FC København" [European playoff defeat against FC Copenhagen]. Brøndby IF (in Danish). 24 May 2026. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
  34. ↑ Jordi Vanlerberghe at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  35. ↑ "Summary - First Division A - Belgium - Results, fixtures, tables and news". Soccerway.
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