Jerolldino Bergraaf

Jerolldino Bergraaf
Personal information
Birth name Jerolldino Armantrading
Date of birth (2006-07-05) 5 July 2006
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
 Excelsior
Number 33
Youth career
–2017 SV Charlois
2017–2024 Excelsior
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Excelsior 44 (4)
International career
2024 Netherlands U19 5 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 February 2026

Jerolldino Bergraaf (born 5 July 2006) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger for Dutch Eredivisie club Excelsior. A Netherlands youth international, Bergraaf is of Curaçao descent.

Club career

Bergraaf began his football development in the youth teams of SV Charlois before joining the academy of Excelsior at the age of eleven.[2] Ahead of the 2024–25 season, he was promoted to Excelsior's first-team squad.[2]

He made his professional debut on 9 August 2024 in an away match against TOP Oss in the second-tier Eerste Divisie. Bergraaf began the match on the bench and was introduced by head coach Ruben den Uil in the second half as a substitute for Richie Omorowa.[3] Twenty days after his debut, Bergraaf signed his first professional contract with Excelsior.[2] The following day, he scored his first professional goal in a 5–0 away victory over ADO Den Haag, completing the scoring late in the match.[4][5] Bergraaf made his first competitive start on 18 October 2024, also scoring the decisive goal in injury time as Excelsior secured a 3–2 home victory over MVV.[6] On 6 May 2025, he signed a contract extension that tied him to the club until 2028.[7] Three days earlier, Excelsior had secured promotion back to the Eredivisie after one season in the second tier.[8]

He made his Eredivisie debut on 9 August 2025, the opening matchday of the 2025–26 season, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute for Mike van Duinen in a 5–0 defeat to NEC.[9][10] From November 2025, Bergraaf was used more frequently as the starting centre-forward under head coach.[11]

International career

Bergraaf received his first call-up for the Netherlands under-19 team in October 2024, appearing and scoring a goal in a 4–1 friendly loss to England U19 on 12 October 2024 during a training camp in Marbella.[12] He was part of the squad for UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification matches in November 2024 under coach Peter van der Veen, contributing to the team's efforts in the first round of qualifying fixtures.[13]

Born in the Netherlands and of Curaçaoan descent, Bergraaf is eligible to represent either Netherlands or Curaçao at senior international level. In December 2025, Dick Advocaat, head coach of the Curaçao national team, publicly stated that Bergraaf was being monitored as a potential future international, citing his performances for Excelsior and positive assessments from club head coach Ruben den Uil. Advocaat indicated that members of his staff intended to observe Bergraaf in person as part of Curaçao's wider player assessment process ahead of upcoming international competitions, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[14][15]

Style of play

Bergraaf has been described by Excelsior head coach Ruben den Uil and teammates as a physically strong forward, noted for his ability to hold up the ball and create space for attacking teammates.[11] Although he experienced difficulties converting chances during the early stages of his professional career, his link-up play and tactical understanding within the attacking unit were identified as key strengths. Den Uil compared elements of Bergraaf's playing style to that of Emmanuel Emegha, particularly in terms of physical presence and movement.[11][16]

Personal life

Bergraaf was born Jerolldino Armantrading and used his mother's surname during his early youth career. In April 2024, his father died, and shortly before his father's death he chose to adopt his father's surname, Bergraaf, as a tribute to him.[2] His father's passing has been cited as a formative experience in his early professional career and personal development.[5]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 February 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Excelsior 2024–25 Eerste Divisie 28 4 3 1 — 31 5
2025–26 Eredivisie 16 0 1 0 — 17 0
Career total 44 4 4 1 0 0 48 5

References

  1. ^ "Jerolldino Bergraaf". VriendenLoterij Eredivisie (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b c d "Jerolldino Bergraaf tekent eerste profcontract bij Excelsior" [Jerolldino Bergraaf signs first pro contract with Excelsior]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 29 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 July 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  3. ^ "TOP Oss – Excelsior Rotterdam 3:1". Soccerway (in Dutch). Livesport s.r.o. Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  4. ^ "KKD blijft verrassen: Helmond Sport aan kop, Excelsior vernedert ADO in Den Haag" [KKD continue to surprise: Helmond Sport top of the table, Excelsior humiliate ADO in The Hague]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). PXR. 30 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b Kerkhof, Michael (11 September 2024). "Samen met zijn vader had Jerolldino één droom: prof worden, maar zijn vader maakt het niet meer mee" [Jerolldino shared one dream with his father: turning professional, but his father did not live to see it]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). DPG Media. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Doelpuntenfestijnen, schlemielen en stakingen op verhitte Keuken Kampioen Divisie-avond" [Goal feasts, villains and stoppages on a heated Keuken Kampioen Divisie night]. ESPN.nl (in Dutch). ESPN Inc. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Jerolldino Bergraaf verlengt contract bij Excelsior" [Jerolldino Bergraaf extends contract with Excelsior]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 6 May 2025. Archived from the original on 6 September 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Kralingen viert feest: Excelsior promoveert naar de Eredivisie" [Kralingen celebrate as Excelsior are promoted to the Eredivisie]. VriendenLoterij Eredivisie (in Dutch). 3 May 2025. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Valse start in Nijmegen voor Excelsior Rotterdam" [False start in Nijmegen for Excelsior Rotterdam]. Excelsior Rotterdam (in Dutch). 9 August 2025. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  10. ^ "NEC wint eerste eredivisieduel onder Schreuder ruim van zwak Excelsior" [NEC win first Eredivisie match under Schreuder comfortably against weak Excelsior]. NOS (in Dutch). 9 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  11. ^ a b c "Excelsior hoopt op aanvallende impulsen en goals van Bergraaf" [Excelsior hopes for attacking impetus and goals from Bergraaf]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). PXR. 21 December 2025. Archived from the original on 28 December 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Nederland O19 – Engeland O19". Ons Oranje (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 18 June 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  13. ^ "Jerroldino Bergraaf: Jeugd mannen onder 19". Ons Oranje (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Advocaat overweegt Eredivisie-speler te overtuigen van interlandswitch" [Advocaat considers persuading Eredivisie player to switch international allegiance]. VoetbalPrimeur.nl (in Dutch). PXR. 8 December 2025. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  15. ^ Feenstra, Richard (9 December 2025). "Advocaat zet vizier op Bergraaf (Excelsior) voor Curaçao: 'Gaan hem zeker benaderen'" [Advocaat sets his sights on Bergraaf (Excelsior) for Curaçao: 'We will certainly approach him']. VoetbalRotterdam (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
  16. ^ Vreeswijk, Sam (22 November 2025). "Speelt toekomstige spits Nederlands elftal in Eredivisie? 'Hij kan net zo goed worden als Emegha'" [Future Netherlands international striker in the Eredivisie? 'He could be just as good as Emegha']. Voetbalzone (in Dutch). FootballCo Group. Retrieved 7 February 2026.
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