Kjell Scherpen (born 23 January 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Vitesse, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion of the Premier League, and the Netherlands under-21 national team.
![]() Scherpen with Ajax | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Kjell Scherpen[1] | ||
Date of birth | (2000-01-23) 23 January 2000 (age 22) | ||
Place of birth | Emmen, Netherlands | ||
Height | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)[2] | ||
Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
Club information | |||
Current team |
Vitesse (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion) | ||
Number | 16 | ||
Youth career | |||
2007–2011 | VV Emmen[3] | ||
2011–2016 | FC Emmen | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2016–2019 | FC Emmen | 35 | (0) |
2019–2021 | Jong Ajax | 29 | (0) |
2019–2021 | Ajax | 2 | (0) |
2021– | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | (0) |
2022 | → Oostende (loan) | 7 | (0) |
2022– | → Vitesse (loan) | 7 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2018 | Netherlands U19 | 7 | (0) |
2019– | Netherlands U21 | 16 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:38, 17 October 2022 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13:59, 26 September 2022 (UTC) |
Scherpen began his senior career with FC Emmen in the 2016–17 season.[4][5]
In April 2019 it was announced that he would sign for Ajax in June 2019.[6] His 'signing video' involved him writing the words "Ajax is de mooiste club van Nederland" (Ajax is the most beautiful club in the Netherlands) 1,000 times, given that he had been a childhood supporter of rival club Feyenoord.[7]
Scherpen made his debut for the Ajax senior team on 4 April 2021, as starter Maarten Stekelenburg was injured shortly before kickoff.[8][9]
He was linked with a loan move to Eredivisie side PEC Zwolle,[10] but on 16 July 2021, Scherpen signed for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion on a permanent basis, for an undisclosed fee.[11][12] He made his debut on 8 January 2022, in a 2–1 (after extra-time) away victory over Championship side West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup third round.[13]
On 31 January 2022, Scherpen signed for Oostende of Belgian First Division A on loan for the remainder of the season.[14] He moved on loan to Vitesse in August 2022.[15]
He has represented the Netherlands at under-19 and under-21 youth levels.[16][17] Scherpen was called-up to the senior squad for the first time in June 2022, replacing the injured Tim Krul.[18]
When he was 18 years old, his older brother Jorg (20) died after having been in a coma following a sudden cardiac arrest.[19]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
FC Emmen | 2017–18 | Eerste Divisie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
2018–19 | Eredivisie | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 0 | |||
Total | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 0 | ||||
Jong Ajax | 2019–20 | Eerste Divisie | 14 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
2020–21 | Eerste Divisie | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||||
Total | 29 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 0 | |||||
Ajax | 2019–20 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
2020–21 | Eredivisie | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1[lower-alpha 1] | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
Total | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||
Brighton & Hove Albion | 2021–22 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
2022–23 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
K.V. Oostende (loan) | 2021–22 | Belgian First Division A | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
Vitesse (loan) | 2022–23 | Eredivisie | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | ||
Career total | 80 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 84 | 0 |
Ajax[4]
SBV Vitesse – current squad | |
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