Naïm Matoug
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 12 April 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Grubbenvorst, Netherlands | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | VVV-Venlo | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2016 | Sparta '18 | ||
| 2016–2018 | VVV-Venlo | ||
| 2018–2021 | PSV | ||
| 2021–2024 | Willem II | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Jong PSV | 1 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Willem II | 0 | (0) |
| 2024– | VVV-Venlo | 41 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Netherlands U15 | 4 | (0) |
| 2019 | Netherlands U16 | 2 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:30, 30 December 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 13:17, 8 January 2021 (UTC) | |||
Naïm Matoug (born 12 April 2003) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a winger for Eerste Divisie club VVV-Venlo.
Club career
Early years
Naïm Matoug was born on 12 April 2003 in Grubbenvorst, Limburg, Netherlands, and began his youth career with Sparta '18 before joining the academy of VVV-Venlo. In 2018, he moved to the youth setup of PSV, where he signed his first professional contract in August 2019, running until mid-2022.[1]
Jong PSV
Matoug made his professional debut for Jong PSV on 6 November 2020 in a 2–1 away victory over FC Den Bosch in the Eerste Divisie. He was introduced as a substitute in the 81st minute for Koen Oostenbrink.[2] The match was played under exceptional circumstances, with Jong PSV fielding several youth players due to the absence of eighteen squad members, twelve of whom were unavailable after contracting SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Willem II
In July 2021, Matoug joined Willem II, initially linking up with the club's under-21 side.[4] He signed a one-year contract, which was extended in both 2022 and 2023 through successive one-year renewals.[5][6] He left the Tilburg-based club in the summer of 2024.
Return to VVV-Venlo
In May 2024, Matoug returned to VVV-Venlo, initially joining the club's reserve side.[7] Ahead of the 2024–25 Eerste Divisie season, he was promoted to the first-team squad during pre-season preparations in order to earn a place through friendly matches.[8] At the end of July, head coach John Lammers permanently promoted Matoug to the senior team alongside Tim Braem.[9]
He made his official first-team debut on 10 August 2024 in a 1–1 away draw against ADO Den Haag. Coming on as a substitute for Lasse Wehmeyer in the 61st minute, Matoug provided the assist for VVV-Venlo's equaliser.[10] During the first 17 league matches of the season, Matoug featured in every fixture, starting 11 of them. In December 2024, he was rewarded for his rapid development by signing his first full professional contract with VVV-Venlo, running until 1 July 2026, with an option for an additional season.[11] On 13 January 2025, Matoug scored his first professional goal in a 4–1 away victory over Vitesse, although he was forced off later in the match with a pulled hamstring.[12] Nearly two months later, he returned from injury as a substitute in a home match against Jong Ajax, scoring the winning goal with a free kick in a 1–0 victory.[13]
International career
Born in the Netherlands, Matoug is of Algerian and Dutch descent. He is a youth international for the Netherlands.[14]
Career statistics
- As of match played 12 December 2025[15]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Jong PSV | 2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| Willem II | 2023–24 | Eerste Divisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| VVV-Venlo | 2024–25 | Eerste Divisie | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 33 | 3 | |
| 2025–26 | Eerste Divisie | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | ||
| Total | 41 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 42 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 42 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 4 | ||
References
- ^ "Matoug beloond met eerste profcontract". PSV.nl (in Dutch). 6 August 2019.
- ^ "Talent Naïm Matoug uit Grubbenvorst maakt debuut voor Jong PSV in eerste divisie". De Limburger (in Dutch). 18 November 2020.
- ^ "Jong PSV komt ondanks 18 afwezige spelers gewoon in actie tegen FC Den Bosch". Eindhovens Dagblad (in Dutch). 6 November 2020.
- ^ "Naïm Matoug van PSV naar Willem II". Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). 2 July 2021.
- ^ "Willem II houdt talent Naïm Matoug langer aan boord". Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). 4 July 2022.
- ^ "Grubbenvorstenaar Naïm Matoug verlengt contract bij Willem II". NU Horst aan de Maas (in Dutch). 23 June 2023.
- ^ "Nieuwe aanwinst Jeugdopleiding". X. VVV-Venlo Youth Academy. 31 May 2024.
- ^ "Vijf jeugdspelers sluiten in voorbereiding aan bij selectie VVV-Venlo". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 25 June 2024.
- ^ "VVV-jeugdspelers Braem en Matoug sluiten aan bij hoofdmacht". De Limburger (in Dutch). 31 July 2024.
- ^ "ADO geeft met tien man overwinning weg tegen VVV". Voetbal International (in Dutch). 10 August 2024.
- ^ "VVV-Venlo legt Matoug vast tot zomer van 2026". L1 Nieuws (in Dutch). 4 December 2024.
- ^ "VVV flitst, Naïm Matoug straalt na zijn eerste goal". De Limburger (in Dutch). 12 January 2025.
- ^ "VVV-goudhaantje Matoug schiet vrije trap fraai binnen tegen Jong Ajax". De Limburger (in Dutch). 8 March 2025.
- ^ "PSV strikt speler 'die al van kinds af aan fan is': contract tot medio 2022". www.voetbalprimeur.nl.
- ^ Naïm Matoug at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 January 2021.