Bert Esselink

Esselink's current-season form is level with last season (Season 16→16), while his Rating held around 35. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 22).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Dundee Utd · 11th	3	0	6.73	35	16
2025/26	Dundee Utd · 7th	21	1	6.63	35	16
2024/25	Stal Mielec · 16th	22	0	6.88	34	13
2023/24	Stal Mielec · 11th	27	2	6.82	37	22
2022/23	Apoel Nicosia	1	0	—	—	—
2022/23	Olympiakos	29	4	—	—	—

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 2 earlier seasons in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral defender

B. Esselink is a 27-year-old central defender at Dundee Utd, rated 34.9 overall by Field Insider's model. In his prime years, he has been a rotation option this season (47.7% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.97 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Esselink.

On the season, Esselink graded 16 for current form (age-blind), on 3 clean sheets and 3.973 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 16 → 16). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 35. At 27 Esselink is in his prime years, and a market index of 7.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2023/24 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2023/24Holding levelRemarkably consistent

34.9

Ratingi

developing / rotation level

16.2

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

47.7%

Minutes

rotation minutes

3.97

Def. actions / 90

solid defensive volume

Output in context · Dundee Utd finished 7th of 12 · a mid-table side

Apps

3.97

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.97 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — solid defensive volume, with 3 clean sheets across 21 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 1 goal and 0 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

Defensive volume. 3.97 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 47.7% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

Rated 34.9 overall — developing / rotation level. Defensively he reads as solid defensive volume (3.97 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). In the prime window — at or near peak market value, so the next two seasons are the ones to cash in or build around.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %47.7%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900.055

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900.055

Defensive actions / 903.973

Player flow

Goal involvements1

Cards / 900.221

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~8), then tapers with age. At 27, Esselink sits on 7.8, at or near its peak. The blue line is Esselink's projected Rating — 34.9 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the Premiership with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals1

Passing

Assists0

Defending

Tackles26

Interceptions32

Blocks14

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

Dundee UtdJul 2025 – nowFree Transfer

SStal Mielecuntil Jul 2025

PPAEEKJul 2020 – Jul 2025

De Graafschapuntil Jul 2020

About B. Esselink

Bert Johan Esselink is a 27-year-old centre-back who plays for Dundee Utd, born on August 16, 1999 in 's-Heerenberg, standing 191 cm tall. He is from Netherlands. Dundee Utd currently sit 11th of 12 in the Premiership.

This season

In the current season, B. Esselink has made 3 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 247 minutes, averaging a 6.73 match rating over his last 3 rated games.

Recent matches

August 22, 2026: 0-2 loss at home vs Dundee (95 minutes, 7.6 rating)
August 9, 2026: 0-4 loss away at Heart Of Midlothian (90 minutes, 6.3 rating)
July 31, 2026: 1-1 draw at home vs Rangers (62 minutes, 6.3 rating)

B. Esselink's next match is on August 29, 2026, when Dundee Utd face Kilmarnock away in the Premiership.

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates B. Esselink at 34.9 with a Season form score of 16.2. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 2 career titles — among them the 2. Division. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 7 recorded seasons, B. Esselink has totalled 129 club appearances with 9 goals and 0 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2022/23, with 29 appearances for Olympiakos.

B. Esselink's career has also included time at SStal Mielec, PPAEEK and De Graafschap.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.