Field Insider
Defensive midfielderBelgiumEerste Divisie

Nicolas Verkooijen

Elite prospectJong PSV U21 · 20 yrsRotation

Profile

Full nameNicolas Verkooijen
PositionDefensive midfielder
NationalityBelgium
Age20
Date of birth5 Dec 2005
Height180 cm
Shirt number#10
ClubJong PSV U21
More about N. Verkooijen →
Defensive midfielder

Season stats

Full career & schedule →
28
Appearances
8
Goals
2
Assists
1865
Minutes

Domestic-league season · Jong PSV U21.

Performance data · by competition

CompetitionAppsGAMinMatch
2. Bundesligaat SV Darmstadt 98100306.7

Scout report

Elite prospectDefensive midfielder

N. Verkooijen is a 20-year-old defensive midfielder at Jong PSV U21, rated 60.1 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 1st of 192 on scout potential in the Eerste Divisie and 47th of 640 U-21 players tracked. A young player, he has been a regular starter this season (74% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.22 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Verkooijen.

Judged on this season alone, Verkooijen graded 52 — an excellent campaign that ranks top 9% of the 12 defensive midfielders in the Eerste Divisie, on 8 goals, 2 assists and 2.22 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 30 → 52). Across the 4 seasons we hold, it's his best return yet.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 60, top 9% of the 12 defensive midfielders in the Eerste Divisie. At 20 Verkooijen is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 21.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report
Read the full career report →

A career still climbing — Verkooijen is at his peak right now, and the curve hasn't flattened.

Peak: 2025/26Trending upBreakout: 2025/26
Current potentialTop 9% defensive midfielders · Eerste DivisieCurrent seasonTop 9% defensive midfielders · Eerste Divisie1st-best defensive midfielder in the Eerste Divisie1st in the Eerste Divisie · potential1st-highest potential defensive midfielder in the Eerste Divisie47th-highest potential U-21 tracked
60.1
Ratingi
1st of 12 defensive midfielders
52.2
Seasoni
a solid contributor and squad regular
74%
Minutes
a regular starter
2.22
Def. actions / 90
moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Jong PSV U21 finished 13th of 20 · a mid-table side

28
Apps
2.22
Def. / 90
32
Tackles
10
Interceptions
4
Clean sheets

2.22 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 28 appearances. Going forward he chipped in 8 goals and 2 assists — a useful bonus from the back.

Strengths

  • Availability. On the pitch for 74% of available minutes — a dependable presence in the XI.
  • Attacking threat. Chips in from deep: 0.48 goal involvements per 90, useful for a defensive midfielder.
  • Ceiling. High potential at just 20 — room to grow into a bigger role.

Watch points

  • Few red flags. No obvious weaknesses in the current-season profile — consistency is the next test.

Outlook

With a Rating of 60.1, Verkooijen carries the 1st-highest potential of the defensive midfielders in the Eerste Divisie (top 9%). Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.22 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). At 20 the trajectory points up — potential sits near its ceiling (98/100) and market value should climb as minutes and output follow. With this floor already at 20, the ceiling gets tested by a step up in level — one to track.

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

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among defensive midfielders in the Eerste Divisie with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals8

Passing

Assists2

Defending

Tackles32
Interceptions10
Blocks4

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards2
Red cards0

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.