Lance Duijvestijn

Lance Duijvestijn
Duijvestijn in 2021
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-01-15) 15 January 1999
Place of birth Wateringen, Netherlands
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Darmstadt 98
Number 41
Youth career
–2009 SV VELO
2009–2018 ADO Den Haag
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2019 NEC 1 (0)
2019–2020 Jong ADO 21 (11)
2020–2021 Helmond Sport 37 (11)
2021–2024 Almere City 83 (20)
2024–2025 Excelsior 37 (15)
2025–2026 Sparta Rotterdam 13 (0)
2026 → Fortuna Sittard (loan) 15 (3)
2026– Darmstadt 98 0 (0)
International career
2013–2014 Netherlands U15 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:13, 2 July 2026 (UTC)

Lance Duijvestijn (born 15 January 1999) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for 2. Bundesliga club Darmstadt 98.

Career

Early years

Born in Wateringen,[1] Duijvestijn began his youth career at SV VELO before moving to the ADO Den Haag academy. After failing to break into the first team, he moved to NEC,[1] where he made his Eerste Divisie debut for on 17 August 2018 in a match against Cambuur, as a 77th-minute substitute for Sven Braken.[2]

In 2019, he returned to his former club ADO Den Haag where he played for the reserve team, Jong ADO, in the fourth-tier Derde Divisie. There, he established himself as a prolific scorer for midfield, among others scoring four goals in a 4–2 win over Gemert.[1] After Alan Pardew took over as new head coach of the ADO first team, Duijvestijn saw his chances of breaking into the first team diminish.[1] After a trial with Quick Boys in May 2020,[3] he eventually moved to Helmond Sport on 30 July 2020 on a one-year deal with the option of one more year.[4]

Almere City

On 29 June 2021, Duijvestijn signed a three-year contract with Almere City.[5] He made his debut on 9 August in a 2–1 loss to Jong AZ, playing the entire game.[6] Less than two weeks later, in his third game for the club, Duijvestijn scored his first goal in the third minute, but saw his team lose 2–1 to VVV-Venlo.[7]

Duijvestijn played a key role in Almere City's promotion to the Eredivisie during the 2022–23 season, marking the club's first-ever appearance in the top tier of Dutch football. He scored eight goals in 32 league appearances and netted three goals in six play-off matches.[8] Notably, Duijvestijn scored a crucial brace in the first leg of the play-off final against Emmen, significantly contributing to the club's historic promotion to the Eredivisie.[9][10]

Excelsior

On 1 February 2024, Duijvestijn joined Excelsior from Almere City, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Eredivisie club.[11] He made his debut on 10 February, coming on at half-time for Redouan El Yaakoubi in a 3–0 home defeat to Twente.[12][13] Duijvestijn went on to score four goals in fourteen Eredivisie appearances in the remainder of the 2023–24 campaign, and also found the net in the promotion/relegation play-offs, including the first leg of the final against NAC Breda in which he scored before being sent off in a 6–2 defeat.[14] Excelsior were ultimately relegated after losing the two-legged final 7–6 on aggregate, despite winning the return 4–1.[15][16]

Duijvestijn stayed with Excelsior following relegation and was made captain for the 2024–25 season in the Eerste Divisie.[17] He missed several months after ankle surgery but returned to play a central role in the club's push for immediate promotion.[17] He finished the league season with eleven goals and nine assists in 23 appearances, as Excelsior secured promotion back to the Eredivisie after one year.[18][19] In May 2025, he was named Eerste Divisie Player of the Season and received the competition's Gouden Schild award from Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman.[20][21]

Sparta Rotterdam

On 23 June 2025, Duijvestijn signed a four-year contract with Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam.[22] An injury sustained in pre-season delayed his competitive debut until 14 September 2025, when he came on as a substitute in the 74th minute of a 1–0 away win at Excelsior—his former club—which Sparta won through a stoppage-time goal.[23][24] Duijvestijn described making his debut against Excelsior as "naturally special", having spent a year and a half there.[23] He subsequently lost his place in the starting eleven during the final weeks of 2025, finishing the first half of the season with 13 Eredivisie appearances and no goal contributions in the league; his only goal and assist came in the KNVB Cup.[25]

On 16 January 2026, Duijvestijn joined Fortuna Sittard on loan for the remainder of the season.[26][25] He made his debut the following day, starting in a 2–1 home defeat to PSV.[27] He scored his first goal for the club on 8 February 2026, netting just before half-time against his parent club Sparta Rotterdam in a match that ended 2–2—having failed to score in 13 Eredivisie appearances for Sparta, he converted from around ten metres to give Fortuna the lead.[28]

Darmstadt 98

On 30 June 2026, Duijvestijn signed for German 2. Bundesliga club Darmstadt 98.[29]

Career statistics

As of match played 25 April 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League KNVB Cup Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
NEC 2018–19 Eerste Divisie 10——10
Jong ADO 2019–20 Derde Divisie 2111——2111
Helmond Sport 2020–21 Eerste Divisie 371110—3811
Almere City 2021–22 Eerste Divisie 371210—3812
2022–23 Eerste Divisie 328116[a]33912
2023–24 Eredivisie 14021—161
Total 832042639325
Excelsior 2023–24 Eredivisie 144—3[b]2176
2024–25 Eredivisie 231122—2513
Total 371522324219
Sparta Rotterdam 2025–26 Eredivisie 13021—151
Fortuna Sittard (loan) 2025–26 Eredivisie 12200—122
Darmstadt 98 2026–27 2. Bundesliga 0000—00
Career total 20459959522269

Honours

Individual

Notes

  1. ↑ Appearances in promotion play-offs
  2. ↑ Appearances in relegation play-offs

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ottens, Chris (29 August 2020). "Duijvestijn wil de tijden van zijn schoonvader herleven bij Helmond Sport: 'We hebben veel vertrouwen'" (in Dutch). Eindhovens Dagblad. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Game Report by Soccerway". Soccerway. 17 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Middenvelder van Jong ADO Den Haag traint mee bij Quick Boys". voetbal247.nl (in Dutch). 17 May 2020. Archived from the original on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. ↑ "Lance Duijvestijn tekent contract bij Helmond Sport". helmondsport.nl (in Dutch). Helmond Sport. 30 July 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Haak, Jordy (29 June 2021). "Almere City FC versterkt zich met Lance Duijvestijn". Almere City FC (in Dutch).
  6. ↑ "AZ II vs. Almere City - 9 August 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  7. ↑ "VVV vs. Almere City - 21 August 2021 - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  8. ↑ Lance Duijvestijn at WorldFootball.net
  9. ↑ "Almere City slaat eerste slag in strijd om eredivisieticket met FC Emmen". NOS (in Dutch). 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
  10. ↑ "Almere City debuteert volgend seizoen in eredivisie: 'Geweldig ontwikkeld'". NOS (in Dutch). 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "LANCE DUIJVESTIJN MAAKT DE OVERSTAP NAAR EXCELSIOR" [Lance Duijvestijn makes the switch to Excelsior]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 1 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 February 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  12. ↑ "Excelsior vs. Twente 0–3: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "Kansloze nederlaag voor Excelsior tegen FC Twente (0–3)" [Excelsior suffer heavy defeat to FC Twente (0–3)]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  14. ↑ "NAC Breda 6–2 Excelsior". ESPN. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "Excelsior komt tegen NAC Breda net te kort en degradeert" [Excelsior fall just short against NAC Breda and are relegated]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 2 June 2024. Archived from the original on 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  16. ↑ "NAC promoveert, Excelsior degradeert na krankzinnige play-offfinale" [NAC promoted, Excelsior relegated after frantic play-off final]. NOS (in Dutch). 2 June 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  17. 1 2 "Aanvoerder Excelsior na enkeloperatie beste speler van de KKD: 'Ik ben van ver gekomen'" [Excelsior captain, back from ankle surgery, named best player in the KKD: 'I've come a long way']. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 15 May 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Gouden Schilden voor Veerman, Duijvestijn en Kruys op Kampioensdiner" [Golden Shields for Veerman, Duijvestijn and Kruys at Championship Dinner]. ESPN (in Dutch). 14 May 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  19. ↑ "Speler van het jaar bij Excelsior door het dolle heen na promotie: 'Die play-offs ga ik zeker niet kijken'" [Excelsior's player of the year ecstatic after promotion: 'I definitely won't be watching those play-offs']. Sportnieuws (in Dutch). 3 May 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  20. 1 2 "Duijvestijn Beste Speler & Slory Beste Talent van de Keuken Kampioen Divisie". Keuken Kampioen Divisie (in Dutch). 14 May 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  21. ↑ "Lance Duijvestijn ontvangt uit handen van Ronald Koeman prijs Beste Speler KKD" [Lance Duijvestijn receives KKD Best Player award from Ronald Koeman]. Haaglanden Voetbal (in Dutch). 15 May 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  22. ↑ "Lance Duijvestijn maakt overstap naar Sparta Rotterdam" [Lance Duijvestijn makes move to Sparta Rotterdam]. Sparta Rotterdam (Press release) (in Dutch). 23 June 2025. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  23. 1 2 Eersel, Dennis van (11 September 2025). "Excelsior en Sparta treffen elkaar in derby vol dwarsverbanden" [Excelsior and Sparta meet in a derby full of connections]. Rijnmond (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 September 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Excelsior geeft in de laatste minuten een punt weg in de stadsderby tegen Sparta" [Excelsior give away a point in the final minutes of the city derby against Sparta]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 14 September 2025. Archived from the original on 11 February 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Fortuna Sittard haalt Lance Duijvestijn" [Fortuna Sittard sign Lance Duijvestijn]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). 16 January 2026. Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  26. ↑ "Fortuna huurt Duijvestijn van Sparta" [Fortuna loan Duijvestijn from Sparta]. Fortuna Sittard (Press release) (in Dutch). 16 January 2026. Archived from the original on 28 April 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  27. ↑ "17 januari 2026 – Fortuna Sittard vs PSV". Voetbal International (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 April 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "Uitgerekend Duijvestijn scoort tegen Sparta • Fortuna leidt in eigen huis" [Of all people, Duijvestijn scores against Sparta • Fortuna lead at home]. NOS (in Dutch). 7 February 2026. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  29. ↑ "Niederländer Duijvestijn wechselt zu Darmstadt 98". Die Welt (in German). 30 June 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "Duijvestijn en Raatsie winnen Beste Speler en Beste Keeper" [Duijvestijn and Raatsie win Best Player and Best Goalkeeper]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 16 May 2025. Archived from the original on 17 June 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.