Biography
Who is Justin Bijlow?
Early Career and Feyenoord Academy
Justin Bijlow began his sporting path as an outfield player for SC Feyenoord. He eventually chose to pursue a position as a goalkeeper and successfully joined the Feyenoord Academy. In February 2015, he signed his initial professional contract with the club. He traveled with the first team to a training camp in Albufeira in early 2016 and received his first call-up to the match squad for a game against AZ. By the 2016 season, he was a consistent member of the first team squad. Although he did not appear in matches that specific year, he extended his contract to remain with the club until mid-2021.
His professional debut occurred on August 13, 2017, during the opening round of the Eredivisie. He started in a 2-1 victory against FC Twente after the primary goalkeepers were unavailable due to injuries. Later that season, he was an unused substitute during the KNVB Cup final, which Feyenoord won 3-0 against AZ. He finished the season by starting in two league victories over Sparta Rotterdam and Heerenveen. During the match against Heerenveen, he saved a penalty kick.
Establishing Himself at Feyenoord
Ahead of the 2018-19 season, coach Giovanni van Bronckhorst designated Justin as the first-choice goalkeeper. He demonstrated his capabilities immediately by keeping a clean sheet and saving two penalties in the shoot-out against PSV to secure the Johan Cruyff Shield. In October 2018, he signed an extension keeping him at the club until 2023. However, his progress faced challenges when he suffered a foot injury during a defeat against PEC Zwolle in January 2019. This injury required a recovery period of two months, and he did not appear in any further matches that season.
Following a pre-season injury, head coach Jaap Stam selected another player as the primary goalkeeper for the 2019-20 campaign. Even after Dick Advocaat took over as manager, the situation remained unchanged until January 2020. Once the previous first-choice goalkeeper departed, Justin received the number 1 squad jersey and reclaimed his role. His performance in April 2021 earned him the Eredivisie Player of the Month award, as he successfully saved 15 out of 16 shots on goal.
European Competition and Transfers
In August 2021, the club extended his contract until mid-2025. During a match against Elfsborg, he received a red card for the first time in his career. Despite battling a foot injury, he recovered in time to captain the team in the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League final against Roma in Tirana. Although Feyenoord lost that game 1-0, the appearance marked a significant moment in his European experience. He later refused the opportunity to wear the captain's armband at the start of the 2022-23 season.
Justin Bijlow dealt with various wrist and calf injuries between 2023 and 2024, which frequently interrupted his playing time. He eventually made his UEFA Champions League debut in October 2023 against Lazio. After a period of being second choice during the 2024-25 season, he produced a well-known performance against Bayern Munich on his birthday in 2025, keeping a clean sheet in a 3-0 win. Following persistent injury setbacks in the Netherlands, he signed a contract with the Italian club Genoa in January 2026. He quickly made his debut for the new team in a 3-2 victory over Bologna shortly after his arrival.
Birthday and age
Justin Bijlow was born on January 22, 1998, which makes Justin 28 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Justin shares the date with 57 other famous people.
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