Bjorn van Zijl
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 July 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Roermond, Netherlands | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | VVV-Venlo | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| SC Leeuwen | |||
| 2024–2025 | VVV-Venlo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023–2024 | SC Leeuwen | ||
| 2025– | VVV-Venlo | 29 | (8) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:51, 17 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
Bjorn van Zijl (born 9 July 2004) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a striker for Eerste Divisie club VVV-Venlo.
Career
Early years
Van Zijl was born in Roermond, and progressed through the youth system of local side SC Leeuwen, where he made his senior debut during the 2023–24 season in the Vijfde Klasse of Dutch amateur football; the tenth and lowest tier.[1] He finished the season as the club's leading goalscorer. In March 2024, he was among seven players invited to a trial with the reserve team of VVV-Venlo, featuring in a friendly match against NEC U21.[2]
He left SC Leeuwen in May 2024 after scoring five goals in a 6–1 away victory over VVV '03, a result that secured the league title for his club.[3]
VVV-Venlo
On 1 June 2024, Van Zijl joined VVV-Venlo, initially playing for the club's under-21 team. He scored regularly at that level, which led to his inclusion in the first-team squad later in the season.[4] Owing to injuries within the senior squad, head coach John Lammers selected him for the first team for the first time for an away match against Jong AZ on 3 February 2025, and he made his competitive senior debut later that day, appearing as a substitute in a 3–0 away defeat to Jong AZ in the Eerste Divisie.[4][1] On 22 February 2025, again appearing as a substitute, he scored his first professional goal in a 3–1 home defeat against Volendam.[5] He made his first start for VVV on 22 March in a 2–2 home draw against Eindhoven.[6] During the second half of the 2024–25 season, Van Zijl made 13 league appearances, scoring two goals.[7]
In June 2025, he signed his first professional contract with VVV-Venlo, running until 1 July 2027 and including an option for an additional season.[4][8] On 17 October, he scored two goals in a 4–0 win over Emmen.[9] He subsequently missed several matches due to lingering effects of infectious mononucleosis.[10][11]
Career statistics
- As of match played 16 January 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| VVV-Venlo | 2024–25 | Eerste Divisie | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 2 | |
| 2025–26 | Eerste Divisie | 16 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 6 | ||
| Career total | 29 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 8 | ||
References
- ^ a b Visser, Emil (6 February 2025). "Een verhaal uit een jongensboek: Bjorn (20) uit Roermond ging in negen maanden tijd van kelderklasse amateurs naar betaald voetbal" [A story straight out of a boys' adventure novel: Bjorn (20) from Roermond went from amateur basement league to professional football in just nine months]. De Limburger (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "VVV Onder-21 krijgt bezoek van beloften Excelsior: 'Lastig om er doorheen te komen'" [VVV Under-21 host Excelsior reserves: "Hard to break through"]. De Limburger (in Dutch). 1 April 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Cox, Tim (20 May 2024). "Bjorn van Zijl schiet Sportclub Leeuwen met vijf goals naar de titel: 'Heel mooi, ik had het niet anders willen afsluiten'" [Bjorn van Zijl fires Sportclub Leeuwen to the title with five goals: "Beautiful — I couldn't have wished for a better finish"]. De Limburger (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ a b c "VVV-Venlo bindt Van Zijl met eerste profcontract tot medio 2027" [VVV binds Van Zijl with first pro deal until 2027]. VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 11 June 2025. Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Van Zijl: "Mooi om een goaltje te maken, maar de winst was belangrijker"" [Van Zijl: "Nice to get on the scoresheet, but the win mattered more"]. ESPN (in Dutch). 22 February 2025. Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Aerdts, Joop (22 March 2025). "VVV weet niet te winnen van FC Eindhoven" [VVV fail to beat FC Eindhoven]. Omroep Venlo (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "Bjorn Van Zijl Carrierestatistieken". ESPN (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Schreurs, Joost (11 June 2025). "Bjorn van Zijl tekent eerste profcontract bij VVV-Venlo" [Bjorn van Zijl signs first professional contract with VVV-Venlo]. L1 Nieuws (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 11 June 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Reuvers, Huub (17 October 2025). "Rampzalig tweede bedrijf nekt FC Emmen in De Koel" [Horrific second half sinks FC Emmen in De Koel]. RTV Drenthe (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ Visser, Emil (12 December 2025). "Ineens was VVV-spits Bjorn van Zijl in de greep van de ziekte van Pfeiffer: 'Na de training lag ik gewoon plat'" [Suddenly, VVV striker Bjorn van Zijl was gripped by glandular fever: "After training, I was completely wiped out"]. De Limburger (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ^ "VVV-Venlo ontvangt Willem II: "Er zit een hele goede energie in de groep"" [VVV-Venlo host Willem II: "There's a really good energy in the group"]. VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 20 November 2025. Retrieved 17 January 2026.