Biography
Who is Vincent Janssen?
Early life and career beginnings
Vincent Petrus Anna Sebastiaan Janssen was born in Heesch, Netherlands. He started his football path within the youth systems of various Dutch clubs. His path included time in the academies of TOP, N.E.C., and Feyenoord. While playing for the Feyenoord youth teams, he won a national U19 title in 2013.
After leaving Feyenoord, he moved to Almere City in 2013 to play in the Eerste Divisie. He made his professional debut for Almere City on August 3, 2013, against Volendam. During his two seasons with the club, he scored 32 goals in 74 appearances across all competitions. This period established him as a consistent goal scorer before he made the jump to the top tier of Dutch football.
Rising to prominence in the Eredivisie
In 2015, Vincent Janssen signed with the Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar. He struggled to score in his first eight matches but soon found his form. He finished the 2015–16 season as the league top scorer with 27 total goals. This achievement made him the youngest player to score over 25 goals in an Eredivisie season since Ronaldo in 1994–95. For his performance, he received the Johan Cruyff Trophy as the Dutch Talent of the Year in 2016.
Following his success at AZ, he signed with Tottenham Hotspur in July 2016 for a fee of £17 million. He made his Premier League debut in August 2016 against Everton. While at Tottenham, he faced challenges including injuries and limited playing time. He spent the 2017–18 season on loan at Fenerbahçe in the Turkish Süper Lig, where he scored goals in both league play and the Istanbul derby against Beşiktaş.
International experience and career in North America
Janssen represented the Netherlands national team, earning 22 caps and scoring seven goals. He made his senior debut in 2016 against England, where he scored his first international goal. He was a member of the Dutch squad that participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He announced his retirement from international football in March 2023 at the age of 28.
His career expanded outside of Europe when he joined the Mexican club Monterrey in 2019. He was a key player in their Apertura 2019 title win and scored for the team during the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League. After his time in Mexico, he played for Royal Antwerp in Belgium, winning the Belgian Cup in his first season. In July 2026, he signed with the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer, eventually becoming the first player in Timbers history to record a hat-trick in an MLS match.
Personal life and playing style
Vincent is the son of Annemarie Verstappen, who is a former world champion swimmer and a past Dutch Sportswoman of the Year. On the pitch, he is known as a two-footed player with good pace and finishing ability. He often acts as a hold-up man, using his physical strength to bring teammates into scoring positions. Scouts and analysts have previously compared his playing style to that of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Birthday and age
Vincent Janssen was born on June 15, 1994, which makes Vincent 32 years old today. That birthday falls under the Gemini sign. Vincent shares the date with 52 other famous people.
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