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Jetro Willems

Jetro Willems
Willems training with PSV Eindhoven in 2014
Personal information
Full name Jetro Danovich Sexer Willems[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-30) 30 March 1994 (age 30)[2]
Place of birth Willemstad, Curaçao[3]
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[4]
Position(s) Left-back, left wing-back
Team information
Current team
 Castellón
Number 15
Youth career
Spartaan'20
Sparta Rotterdam
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Sparta Rotterdam 16 (0)
2011–2017 PSV 144 (11)
2017–2021 Eintracht Frankfurt 46 (0)
2019–2020 → Newcastle United (loan) 19 (2)
2021–2022 Greuther Fürth 25 (1)
2023 Groningen 7 (0)
2023–2024 Heracles Almelo 20 (0)
2024– Castellón 0 (0)
International career
2010–2011 Netherlands U17 15 (0)
2011 Netherlands U19 2 (0)
2013–2014 Netherlands U21 5 (0)
2012–2016 Netherlands 22 (0)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA European Under-17 Championship
Winner 2011 Serbia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 May 2024

Jetro Danovich Sexer Willems (born 30 March 1994) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left wing-back or left-back for Segunda División club Castellón.

Willems represented the Netherlands national team at UEFA Euro 2012; he played in the Netherlands' opening match of the tournament at the age of 18 years and 71 days, making him the youngest player ever to play in the UEFA European Championship at the time. The record is now held by Spain's Lamine Yamal.

Club career

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Sparta Rotterdam

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Willems began his career with amateur side Spartaan '20 from whom he joined Sparta Rotterdam. During his time with Sparta he progressed through the club's youth academy and made his senior debut on 16 January 2011, in a match against Go Ahead Eagles.[5] He made 16 appearances in the Dutch second division.[6]

PSV

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Willems playing for PSV Eindhoven in 2014

On 31 August 2011, Willems joined PSV Eindhoven on a three-year contract.[7] He received the number 43 jersey and made his PSV debut on 23 October in a match against Vitesse.[8] Willems became the youngest Dutchman to play in a UEFA competition when he started against Hapoel Tel Aviv on 3 November in a UEFA Europa League group stage match.[9] That same month, he was permanently promoted to the first team squad.[10]

In December, Willems was targeted for a move to Manchester United, with then United manager Sir Alex Ferguson looking for "the next Patrice Evra".[11] On 3 April 2012, Willems' contract was upgraded and extended until 2016.[12]

Willems scored his first professional – and PSV – goal on 22 April 2012 in a match against NEC.[13] With this goal, he became the youngest goalscorer in the 2011–12 Eredivisie. He experienced a great amount of playing time in the 2011–12 season because full-back Erik Pieters was injured. Although being young and quite inexperienced, Willems quickly showed evidence of his raw talent, especially his technique and attacking traits.

On 15 July 2015, Willems suffered a serious injury and missed the first half of the 2015–16 season.

Eintracht Frankfurt

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On 17 July 2017, Willems joined Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt to replace Bastian Oczipka, who, in turn joined Schalke 04. The transfer fee paid to PSV was reported as between €5 million and €9 million, depending on the source.[14][15][16] Willems made 29 appearances during the 2017–18 season,[17] which included the surprise win over Bayern Munich in the German Cup final.[18]

Willems started the 2018–19 season by starting in the German Super Cup.[19]

2019–20 season: Loan to Newcastle United

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On 2 August 2019, Willems joined Newcastle United of the Premier League on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy.[20] Willems scored his first goal for Newcastle and in the Premier League on 14 September, putting the Magpies into a shock lead at reigning UEFA Champions League winners Liverpool, but the side eventually fell to a 1–3 defeat.[21] Willems then scored in a 2–2 draw with reigning league champions Manchester City on 30 November.[22]

He was ever-present in the Newcastle side during the first half of the season and made 20 appearances for the Magpies, until he suffered a season ending injury when he tore his ACL in January 2020.[23] He left the club when his loan expired on 1 July 2020.[24]

Consequently, Willems returned to Frankfurt for the 2020-21 Bundesliga season. During the first half of the season, he continued his recovery from his knee injury. After almost a year of rehabilitation, Willems re-joined the group training of Eintracht Frankfurt at the beginning of 2021, but did not make any appearances for the rest of the season.[citation needed] Willems left Eintracht Frankfurt after his contract expired at the end of the season. In total, he made 65 appearances for the club.

Greuther Fürth

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In August 2021, Willems signed a two-year contract with newly promoted Bundesliga side Greuther Fürth and has been given the number 15 jersey.[25] He left the club on 1 September 2022, after his contract was terminated.[26]

Groningen

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On 23 February 2023, Willems joined Eredivisie club Groningen on a contract until the end of the season.[27]

Heracles Almelo

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On 14 June 2023, Willems signed a one-year contract with Heracles Almelo, with an option for the second year.[28]

Castellón

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On 25 July 2024, Willems signed for Spanish Segunda División side Castellón, after a trial period.[29]

International career

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Willems playing for the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2012

In 2011, Willems won the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Championship with the Netherlands under-17 team.[30] While being selected for the under-19 squad, on 7 May 2012 Willems was named in the provisional list of 36 players for UEFA Euro 2012, one of nine uncapped players to be chosen by senior team manager Bert van Marwijk as part of the preliminary squad. He was still in the Oranje squad for Euro 2012 after Van Marwijk had made a first cut to 27 players on 15 May 2012.[31] Willems also made the final cut into the 23-man squad, being given the number 15 shirt.[32] He made his first unofficial appearance for the senior national team on 22 May 2012 in a friendly match against Bayern Munich.

On 26 May 2012, Willems made his first appearance with the senior Dutch side in a match against Bulgaria.[33]

At the Euro 2012, Willems made his first start for the Netherlands, against Denmark, becoming the youngest ever player to play at the Euros and the fourth-youngest player to play for the Netherlands, at 18 years and 71 days of age.[34] The record was previously held by Belgian Enzo Scifo, at 18 years and 115 days.[35] He featured in all the group stage games, however the Netherlands were eliminated from the tournament after losing all three group stage matches.[36]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played on 14 June 2020
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 2010–11[6] Eerste Divisie 13 0 0 0 — — 12 0
2011–12[6] Eerste Divisie 3 0 0 0 — — 3 0
Total 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
PSV 2011–12[6] Eredivisie 20 1 3 0 6[a] 0 — 29 1
2012–13[6] Eredivisie 26 0 3 0 4[a] 0 1[b] 0 34 0
2013–14[6] Eredivisie 28 4 1 0 9[c] 0 — 38 4
2014–15[6] Eredivisie 30 2 3 1 8[a] 0 — 41 3
2015–16[6] Eredivisie 15 2 1 0 1[d] 0 — 17 2
2016–17[6] Eredivisie 24 2 1 0 5[d] 0 1[b] 0 31 2
Total 143 11 12 1 33 0 2 0 190 12
Eintracht Frankfurt 2017–18[17] Bundesliga 23 0 6 0 — — 29 0
2018–19[19] Bundesliga 22 0 1 0 11[a] 0 1[e] 0 35 0
2020–21 Bundesliga 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Total 45 0 7 0 11 0 1 0 64 0
Newcastle United (loan) 2019–20 Premier League 19 2 0 0 — 1[f] 0 20 2
Career total 223 12 19 1 44 0 4 0 289 14
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ a b Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League, appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  5. ^ Appearance in DFL-Supercup
  6. ^ Appearance in EFL Cup

International

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As of 10 October 2016
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 2012 8 0
2013 3 0
2014 2 0
2015 3 0
2016 6 0
Total 22 0

Honours

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PSV[37]

Eintracht Frankfurt

Netherlands U17

References

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  1. ^ "2019/20 Premier League squads confirmed". Premier League. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Netherlands – J. Willems – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway". us.soccerway.com.
  3. ^ "Jetro " Di velt pa SDKK" Documentary" – via YouTube.
  4. ^ "Jetro Willems: Overview". Premier League. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  5. ^ Sparta Rotterdam – Go Ahead Eagles (16-01-2011); Voetbal International, 16 January 2011 (in Dutch)
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jetro Willems » Club matches". World Football. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  7. ^ Jeugdinternational Jetro Willems naar PSV (Youth International Jetro Willems on PSV) Archived 7 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine; PSV Eindhoven, 31 August 2011 (in Dutch)
  8. ^ Vitesse – PSV (23-10-2011); Voetbal International, 23 October 2011 (in Dutch)
  9. ^ PSV fight back to progress against Hapoel Tel-Aviv; UEFA, 3 November 2011
  10. ^ Willems definitief naar eerste selectie PSV (Willems' definitely on PSV's first team); ED, 29 November 2011 (in Dutch)
  11. ^ Football, Mirror (11 December 2011). "Man United plot swoop for Dutch starlet". mirror.
  12. ^ Contract Jetro Willems opengebroken en verlengd (Jetro Willems' contract broken and extended) Archived 6 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine; PSV Eindhoven, 3 April 2012 (in Dutch)
  13. ^ PSV – NEC (22-04-2012); Voetbal International, 22 April 2012 (in Dutch)
  14. ^ "PSV defender Willems joins Frankfurt". Special Broadcasting Service. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  15. ^ "Fix: Rekordhalter Willems beerbt Oczipka in Frankfurt". kicker Online (in German). 21 July 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  16. ^ "Frankfurt holt Niederländer Willems als Oczipka-Ersatz" (in German). RP Online. 17 July 2017.
  17. ^ a b "Jetro Willems". kicker.de (in German). kicker. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  18. ^ "Rebic und Gacinovic schießen Frankfurt zum Pokalsieg". kicker.de (in German). kicker. 19 May 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  19. ^ a b "FCB gewinnt Supercup – Lewandowski macht den Unterschied". kicker.de (in German). kicker. 12 August 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  20. ^ "Jetro Willems' first day in pictures". NUFC. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Premier League leaders Liverpool shrugged off an early scare to sweep past Newcastle and maintain their 100% start to the season with another dominant attacking display". BBC Sport. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Manchester City's hopes of retaining their Premier League title were dealt another blow when Jonjo Shelvey's stunning late equaliser earned Newcastle a point at St James' Park". BBC Sport. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  23. ^ "Bruce confirms Willems and Dummett set to miss rest of the season". nufc.co.uk. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  24. ^ "Jetro Willems says Newcastle will hold a 'special place' in his heart as his loan deal comes to end". Chronicle Live. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  25. ^ "Die SpVgg Greuther Fürth verpflichtet Jetro Willems". bundesliga.com (in German). 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  26. ^ "Willems gratis op te pikken: Greuther Fürth verscheurt contract" (in Dutch). 1 September 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  27. ^ "FC GRONINGEN CONTRACTEERT WILLEMS" [FC GRONINGEN SIGNS WILLEMS.]. fcgroningen.nl (in Dutch). 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  28. ^ "HERACLES ALMELO TREKT JETRO WILLEMS AAN" (in Dutch). Heracles Almelo. 14 June 2023.
  29. ^ "Jetro Willems, nuevo jugador del CD Castellón" [Jetro Willems, new player of CD Castellón] (in Spanish). CD Castellón. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  30. ^ UEFA European Under-17 Championship 2011, UEFA.com, Retrieved 1. 9. 2014
  31. ^ "UEFA EURO 2016 – News – UEFA.com". UEFA. 15 May 2012.
  32. ^ Bouma and Willems make final Dutch squad; UEFA, 26 May 2012
  33. ^ Oranje met Van Persie én ook Huntelaar tegen Bulgarije (Oranje with Van Persie and Huntelaar against Bulgaria); Voetbal International, 26 May 2012 (in Dutch)
  34. ^ Jetro Willems sets age mark Archived 13 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine; ESPN
  35. ^ Teenager Willems breaks Scifo's record; UEFA, 9 June 2012
  36. ^ "Portugal 2–1 Netherlands" BBC Sport. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2012.
  37. ^ "Jetro Willems joins Eintracht Frankfurt". PSV. 21 July 2017. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  38. ^ "Bayern Munich 1-3 Eintracht Frankfurt". Whoscored.com. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
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