Tim Braem
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tim Braem | ||
| Date of birth | 13 February 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Venlo, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | De Graafschap | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | Venlosche Boys | ||
| 2014–2024 | VVV-Venlo | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2025 | VVV-Venlo | 32 | (2) |
| 2025– | De Graafschap | 0 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2024– | Netherlands U19 | 4 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 September 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22 July 2025 | |||
Tim Braem (born 13 February 2006) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for De Graafschap.[1]
Club career
Braem briefly played for local amateur side Venlosche Boys before joining the youth academy of VVV-Venlo in 2014, where he spent ten years developing through the club's youth system.
Ahead of the 2024–25 season, the 18-year-old midfielder was invited to join the first-team squad during pre-season to prove himself in friendly matches.[2] At the end of July 2024, he and Naïm Matoug were permanently promoted to the senior squad by head coach John Lammers.[3]
Braem made his professional debut on 10 August 2024 in the opening league match away against ADO Den Haag, which ended in a 1–1 draw.[4] He scored his first league goal on 25 August 2024 with a shot into the top-right corner during a 1–1 home draw against Roda JC Kerkrade.[5]
Braem quickly established himself as a regular starter and signed his first professional contract on 16 October 2024, keeping him at VVV until 1 July 2027 with an option for an additional season.[6]
During his first professional season, Braem also became a youth international and on 2 August 2025 received the Jan Klaassens Award, the annual prize awarded to the biggest talent from the VVV youth academy.[7]
Despite interest from clubs in Italy and the Eredivisie, Braem joined De Graafschap in September 2025, signing a three-year contract with an option for a fourth season. Reportedly, De Graafschap paid a transfer fee between €150,000 and €200,000 to VVV-Venlo.[8][9]
International career
Netherlands U19
In November 2024, Braem received his first call-up to the Netherlands U19 squad. Together with Jerolldino Bergraaf of Excelsior Rotterdam, he was one of only two players from the Eerste Divisie selected by head coach Peter van der Veen.[10]
He made his international debut on 13 November 2024 as a stoppage-time substitute for Tygo Land during a UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification match against Slovenia U19, which the Netherlands won 2–0.[11]
Braem was also part of the Netherlands squad that won the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Romania.[12]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Play-offs | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| VVV-Venlo | 2024–25 | Eerste Divisie | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 31 | 2 | |
| 2025–26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| De Graafschap | 2025–26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 32 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | 2 | ||
Honours
- Netherlands U19
Personal life
Braem's father, Geert Braem, was also a professional footballer and played for VVV-Venlo, Helmond Sport, FC Eindhoven and Go Ahead Eagles.[13]
References
- ^ "VVV-talent Tim Braem kijkt uit naar eerste derby: 'Kippenvel'". L1 Nieuws (in Dutch). 23 August 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Vijf jeugdspelers sluiten in voorbereiding aan bij selectie VVV-Venlo". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 25 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "VVV-jeugdspelers Braem en Matoug sluiten aan bij hoofdmacht". De Limburger (in Dutch). 31 July 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "VVV opent seizoen met gelijkspel tegen tienkoppig ADO". L1 Nieuws (in Dutch). 10 August 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Thuiswedstrijd VVV tegen Roda JC Kerkrade eindigt in gelijkspel". Omroep Venlo (in Dutch). 25 August 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "VVV-Venlo beloont basisspeler Braem: 'Heel goed karakter'". L1 Nieuws (in Dutch). 16 October 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Tim Braem wint Jan Klaassens Award als grootste talent uit de jeugdopleiding". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 2 August 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Ondanks interesse uit Italië en de eredivisie stapt VVV-talent Tim Braem over naar De Graafschap". De Limburger (in Dutch). 2 September 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Riskante gok: De Graafschap kiest met jong team voor lange termijn, maar mist ervaring". De Gelderlander (in Dutch). 2 September 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Tim Braem in definitieve selectie Oranje Onder 19". Omroep Venlo (in Dutch). 8 November 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Slovenië O19 0 - 2 Nederland O19". OnsOranje. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "VVV'er Tim Braem over EK-winst: 'Ik besef het nog niet helemaal'". Omroep Venlo (in Dutch). 28 June 2025. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
- ^ "Voetballers en -trainers opnieuw in de schijnwerpers; hoe is het nu met Geert Braem, Rob Delahaije en Pie Schmitz?". De Limburger (in Dutch). 8 August 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2026.