Jens Toornstra

Jens Toornstra
Toornstra with FC Utrecht in 2022
Personal information
Date of birth 4 April 1989
Place of birth Ter Aar, Netherlands
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
 FC Utrecht
Number 18
Youth career
1995–1999 TAVV
1999–2009 Alphense Boys
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2013 ADO Den Haag 104 (11)
2013–2014 FC Utrecht 48 (18)
2014–2022 Feyenoord 234 (55)
2022– FC Utrecht 37 (2)
International career‡
2010–2013 Netherlands U21 5 (1)
2013–2017 Netherlands 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 September 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 May 2017

Jens Toornstra (born 4 April 1989) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays for Eredivisie side FC Utrecht. He usually plays as an attacking midfielder.

Club career

Early career

Toornstra was born in Ter Aar. In his youth, he played eight years for amateur football club Alphense Boys in the Tweede Klasse C. In his last year he scored 20 goals for the team. He impressed so much Kees Jansma recommended Toornstra to ADO Den Haag. Initially, the scouts of ADO Den Haag did not believe Toornstra would be as good but ADO Den Haag bought Toornstra for the reserve squad.

ADO Den Haag

In the summer of 2009 Toornstra came to ADO Den Haag with a contract until July 2012. He made his debut in the 3–0 victory against Willem II. Soon, he became first team player for ADO and quickly gained interests from AZ, FC Twente and Roda JC. Toornstra signed a new improved contract on 4 July that same year until the summer of 2013.

In the 2010–11 season Toornstra received the jersey number 7, last worn by Karim Soltani who moved to Iraklis Thessaloniki F.C. He scored his first goal for ADO Den Haag in January against Excelsior after missing not a single game. On 26 May 2011, He scored a hat-trick against Groningen in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. His goals helped Den Haag to a 5–1 lead on aggregate.

Utrecht

At the end of the winter transfer window, Toornstra signed with FC Utrecht. He grew out to be one of the important players.

Feyenoord

On 25 August 2014, Toornstra made a transfer to Feyenoord for a fee of €3.5 million. He signed a four-year deal.

On 22 April 2018, he scored as Feyenoord won the 2017–18 KNVB Cup final 3–0 against AZ Alkmaar.

Utrecht

On 23 August 2022, he returned to his old club FC Utrecht on a free transfer

International

On 13 May 2010, Toornstra got his first election for the Netherlands under-21 national team for the games against Portugal on 18 and 21 May. He instantly played his first match on 18 May. He scored his first goal for the U-21 team on 11 August 2010 against Liechtenstein.

In May 2013 Toornstra was part of the Netherlands national team's tour of Asia, with friendly matches against China and Indonesia. He made his debut against Indonesia.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 May 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Playoffs Cup Super Cup Europe Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
ADO Den Haag 2009–10 Eredivisie 18 0 – 0 0 – 18 0
2010–11 34 3 4 3 2 0 – 40 6
2011–12 32 3 – 2 1 – 4 1 38 5
2012–13 20 5 – 2 1 – 22 6
Total 104 11 4 3 6 2 0 0 4 1 118 17
Utrecht 2012–13 Eredivisie 12 5 4 2 0 0 – 16 7
2013–14 34 12 – 4 3 – 2 0 40 15
2014–15 2 1 – 0 0 – 2 1
Total 48 18 4 2 4 3 0 0 2 0 58 23
Feyenoord 2014–15 Eredivisie 29 7 2 0 1 0 – 8 3 40 10
2015–16 21 2 – 3 0 – 0 0 24 2
2016–17 34 14 – 3 1 1 0 6 0 44 15
2017–18 32 8 – 6 1 1 1 5 0 44 10
2018–19 32 8 – 3 0 1 0 2 0 38 8
2019–20 21 5 – 4 0 – 6 2 31 7
2020–21 31 8 2 0 2 0 – 6 0 41 8
2021–22 31 3 – 1 0 – 16 2 48 5
Total 231 55 4 0 23 2 3 1 49 7 310 65
Career total 383 84 12 5 33 7 3 1 55 8 485 105

International

As of match played 31 May 2017
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Netherlands 2013 2 0
2017 2 0
Total 4 0

Honours

Feyenoord