Mike Kleijn

Mike Kleijn
Personal information
Date of birth (2005-02-09) 9 February 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Breda, Netherlands
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sparta Rotterdam
Youth career
Baronie
2011–2024 Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Sparta Rotterdam 4 (0)
2024– Sparta II 1 (0)
International career‡
2020 Netherlands U15 5 (0)
2021–2022 Netherlands U17 16 (1)
2023 Netherlands U18 3 (0)
2024– Netherlands U19 3 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Runner-up 2022 Israel
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 March 2024

Mike Kleijn (born 9 February 2005) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam.

Professional career

Kleijn began playing football with the youth side of Baronie, and moved to Feyenoord's youth academy at the age of 6 in 2011.[1] He worked his way up their youth sides, eventually captaining the U18s, and signed his first professional contract with them on 2 November 2020.[2] In September 2022, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2005 worldwide.[3]

In his time with Feyenoord, Kleijn was included in the senior team's matchday squad only once, on 17 March 2022 in a Conference League game against Partizan, he remained on the bench in that game.[4]

On 12 April 2024, Kleijn signed a four-year contract with Sparta Rotterdam, beginning in the 2024–25 season.[5]

International career

Kleijn is a youth international for the Netherlands, and captained the Netherlands U17s at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.[6]

Career statistics

As of match played 3 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sparta Rotterdam 2024–25 Eredivisie 4 0 0 0 — 0 0 4 0
Jong Sparta 2024–25 Tweede Divisie 1 0 — — — 1 0
Career total 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0

References

  1. ^ Theunis, Jeroen (12 November 2021). "Bredanaar Mike Kleijn (16) is een 'stille leider' bij Feyenoord, maar laat zijn voeten altijd spreken". BN DeStem (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Mike Kleijn tekent contract bij Feyenoord |". 2 November 2020.
  3. ^ Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (28 September 2022). "Next Generation 2022: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Feyenoord v Partizan game report". UEFA. 17 March 2022.
  5. ^ "SPARTA LEGT JEUGDINTERNATIONAL MIKE KLEIJN VAST" [SPARTA SIGNS YOUTH INTERNATIONAL MIKE KLEIJN] (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 12 April 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  6. ^ "Definitieve selectie Onder 17 voor EK in Israël". www.onsoranje.nl.