Gregory van der Wiel
Gregory van der Wiel (born 3 February 1988) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a right-back.
Van der Wiel began his career at Ajax, making his debut in 2007. He won four Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups, and one Johan Cruyff Shield with the club. In 2012, he moved to Paris Saint-Germain, where he won five Ligue 1 titles, four Coupes de la Ligue, and three Coupes de France. He also played for Fenerbahçe and Cagliari before returning to Ajax in 2019.
Van der Wiel has represented the Netherlands at various youth levels, and made his senior debut in 2009. He was part of the Netherlands squad that finished second at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Early life and career
Van der Wiel was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to a Dutch father and a Surinamese mother. He began playing football at age six, joining the youth academy of local club AVV Zeeburgia. In 2000, he moved to the youth academy of Ajax.
Van der Wiel made his debut for the Ajax first team on 15 March 2007, in a 4–1 win over Willem II. He quickly established himself as a regular starter, and helped Ajax win the Eredivisie title in his first season.
In the 2009–10 season, Van der Wiel helped Ajax win the Johan Cruyff Shield and the KNVB Cup. He also made his debut for the Netherlands national team in October 2009.
Paris Saint-Germain
On 1 July 2012, Van der Wiel signed a four-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of €6 million. He made his debut for the club on 11 August 2012, in a 2–0 win over Lille.
Van der Wiel was a regular starter for Paris Saint-Germain, and helped the club win five Ligue 1 titles in a row from 2013 to 2017. He also won four Coupes de la Ligue and three Coupes de France during his time with the club.
Later career
In August 2016, Van der Wiel joined Fenerbahçe on a free transfer. He made 25 appearances for the club in the 2016–17 season, but left the club at the end of the season.
In August 2017, Van der Wiel joined Cagliari on a free transfer. He made 33 appearances for the club in the 2017–18 season, but left the club at the end of the season.
In August 2019, Van der Wiel returned to Ajax on a one-year contract. He made 17 appearances for the club in the 2019–20 season, but left the club at the end of the season.
International career
Van der Wiel has represented the Netherlands at various youth levels. He made his debut for the Netherlands senior team in October 2009, in a 1–0 win over Norway.
Van der Wiel was part of the Netherlands squad that finished second at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He also played for the Netherlands at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 UEFA European Championship.
Personal life
Van der Wiel is married to Rianne Meijer, a Dutch model and television personality. The couple have two children together.
