Damián van der Vaart

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Damián van der Vaart
Personal information
Date of birth (2006-05-28) 28 May 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth Zaanstad, Netherlands[1]
Position Winger
Team information
Current team
 Ajax
Number 64
Youth career
2012–2020 SC Victoria
2020–2023 Esbjerg
2023– Ajax
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2025– Jong Ajax 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:04, 1 April 2024 (UTC)

Damián van der Vaart (born 28 May 2006) is a Dutch footballer currently playing as a winger for Jong Ajax.

Early life

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Van der Vaart was born in the Dutch municipality of Zaanstad to former Dutch international footballer Rafael van der Vaart and Dutch television personality and model Sylvie Meis.[2] He is of Dutch and Spanish descent through his father, and Dutch, Indonesian and Belgian descent through his mother.[3][4] Following his parent's separation in 2013, he remained in Germany with his mother.[5]

Club career

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Following his father's move from London-based club Tottenham Hotspur to German side Hamburger SV in 2012, van der Vaart joined the academy of fellow Hamburg-based club SC Victoria.[6] During his time with SC Victoria, the club was sponsored by his mother's company, Meis Enterprise.[7]

In July 2020, van der Vaart moved to Denmark to live with his father, joining the academy of Esbjerg - the last club his father had played for, and the club his father's new partner, Estavana Polman, played handball for.[8][9] A year after joining the Danish 1st Division side, on his fifteenth birthday in May 2021, he signed a new contract, keeping him with the club until 2023.[10] He made his unofficial debut for the club in February 2022, while his father was a member of the coaching staff.[11]

On 6 September 2023, van der Vaart joined another of his father's former clubs, returning to the Netherlands to join Ajax on a free transfer, with a compensation fee being agreed between Ajax and Esbjerg.[2][12][13] He had trialled with the Eredivisie side three months prior, and on signing a one-year deal, he stated: "I am very happy. It was always a dream of mine to play for Ajax."[14] On 7 January 2025, Van der vaart extended his contract with Ajax until 2029 with a plan to integrate him to Ajax's U23s.[15] On 8 August 2025, he made his professional debut with Jong Ajax as a substitute in a 2–0 Eerste Divisie loss to FC Den Bosch.[16]

International career

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Born in the Netherlands, Van der Vaart is eligible to represent the Netherlands and Indonesia at international level, due to his mother's Dutch East Indies heritage.[17] He made his debut for the Netherlands under-17 Futures side, composed of players not yet eligible to represent the full under-17 squad, in a 2–2 friendly draw against Luxembourg in February 2023, before going on to also feature in a 2–0 loss to Belgium.[18][19]

References

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  1. ^ Damián van der Vaart at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "Ajax has signed Damián van der Vaart". english.ajax.nl. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  3. ^ Lozano, Andrós (21 June 2015). "Rafael Van der Vaart vuelve a tierras gaditanas, su segundo hogar" [Rafael Van der Vaart returns to Cádiz, his second home.]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Indische vrouwen in het Nederlandse culturele leven". Kunst en cultuur / Arbeid en Economische zelfstandigheid / Scholing en leren (in Dutch). Centrum voor de Geschiedenis van Migranten. Retrieved 10 January 2015. De komst van ongeveer 350.000 Nederlands-Indische repatrianten blijkt een verrijking voor het culturele leven in Nederland. [...] Verder kennen wij natuurlijk Georgina Verbaan, Sylvie Meis, Patty Brard, Sandra Reemer en Patricia Paay.
  5. ^ Gründlers, Berit-Silja (3 May 2019). "Sylvie Meis' Sohn spricht über schwere Kindheit" [Sylvie Meis' son talks about difficult childhood]. schweizer-illustrierte.ch (in German). Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  6. ^ "Damian Van der Vaart verstärkt Victoria Hamburg" [Damian Van der Vaart joins Victoria Hamburg]. sportal.de (in German). 9 October 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Tritt er in Papas Fußstapfen? DFB fördert Damian van der Vaart" [Is he following in Dad’s footsteps? DFB supports Damian van der Vaart]. stern.de (in German). 29 November 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Fussball zuerst: Sohn Damian zieht zu Vater Rafael van der Vaart" [Football first: Son Damian moves in with father Rafael van der Vaart]. bluewin.ch (in German). 18 July 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. ^ Westphal, Kim (22 July 2020). "Ny van der Vaart på banen" [New van der Vaart on the pitch]. ugeavisen.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  10. ^ "Scorer kontrakt med dansk klub" [Scores contract with Danish club]. ekstrabladet.dk (in Danish). 28 May 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Wie is Damian Van der Vaart, de zoon van Rafael die heeft getekend bij Ajax?" [Who is Damian Van der Vaart, the son of Rafael who has signed with Ajax?]. voetbalnieuws.nl (in Dutch). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Esbjerg har solgt Damian van der Vaart til Ajax" [Esbjerg has sold Damian van der Vaart to Ajax]. bt.dk (in Danish). 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  13. ^ "EFB SÆLGER DAMIAN VAN DER VAART TIL AFC AJAX" [EFB SELLS DAMIAN VAN DER VAART TO AFC AJAX]. efb.dk (in Danish). 6 September 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  14. ^ "Damián van der Vaart dolt bij Ajax met vader Rafael: 'Ik ben sneller dan hij was'" [Damián van der Vaart plays at Ajax with father Rafael: 'I am faster than he was']. ad.nl (in Dutch). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Van der Vaart verlängert bei Ajax – Sylvie im Video-Anruf dabei". 9 January 2025.
  16. ^ "Liefst 25 jaar na vader Rafael maakt van der Vaart debuut in betaalde voetbal".
  17. ^ Rahmayunita, Husna (7 September 2023). "3 Fakta Menarik Damian van der Vaart, Pemain Berdarah Indonesia yang Resmi Gabung Ajax Amsterdam" [3 Interesting Facts about Damian van der Vaart, Indonesian Player Who Officially Joined Ajax Amsterdam]. suara.com (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  18. ^ "DAMIAN VAN DER VAART PÅ U17-LANDSHOLDET" [DAMIAN VAN DER VAART ON THE U17 NATIONAL TEAM]. efb.dk (in Danish). 17 February 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  19. ^ Milani, Babak (22 March 2023). "Van-der-Vaart-Sohn Damian läuft im Oranje Trikot auf" [Van der Vaart's son Damian wears the Oranje jersey]. sportbild.bild.de (in German). Retrieved 1 April 2024.