English
- English
- Spanish
1
Maarten Stekelenburg
Everton signed Dutchman Maarten Stekelenburg on a three-year contract in June 2016, the keeper becoming Ronald Koeman’s first signing as Blues boss.
Born in Haarlem, Stekelenburg started his career with Ajax, coming through the youth ranks to become established number one in the 2005-06 campaign. By that time he had already lifted the Eredivisie title in 2004 and added a Dutch Cup to his cabinet in 2006.
Named Dutch Player of the Year for 2007-08, Stekelenburg gained European experience in both the Champions League and Europa League and won his second league title in 2011.
He was named Player of the Year again that season, in what would be his last for Ajax. In August 2011, Stekelenburg joined Roma for €6 million, making his debut against Cagliari.
Stekelenburg was first choice in his initial season in Italy but had to share duties with fellow keepers Bogdan Lobont and Mauro Goicoechea during 2012-13.
This prompted a move to Fulham, the player signing a four-year deal at Craven Cottage after joining for an undisclosed fee.
However, he failed to cement a first team place as the Cottagers were relegated.
Stekelenburg spent the following campaign on loan at Monaco, providing back-up to Danijel Subašić,.
He then joined Southampton ahead of 2015-16 in a similar deal as cover for the injured Fraser Forster, going on to make 25 appearances for Saints.
Internationally, after making his Holland debut in September 2004 against Liechtenstein, Stekelenburg went on to amass 54 caps and earned a spot in the Dutch squads for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups - playing in the 2010 final in South Africa - and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships.
Working under manager Koeman and goalkeeper coach Patrick Lodewijks, both fellow newcomers at Everton, he began the 2016-17 campaign as first-choice goalkeeper.
Stekelenburg made an impressive start to his Blues career, producing two fine saves on the opening day of the season to earn the Toffees a point against Tottenham Hotspur.
He continued between the sticks before suffering a dead leg in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in December 2016, with fellow 'keeper Joel Robles taking his chance and cementing a starting berth in the team while his colleague was sidelined.
Stekelenburg eventually won back his place in April 2017, before missing the final two games of the campaign with a groin injury.
During the 2017-18 and 2018-19 campaigns, Stekelenburg has been a reliable understudy to Everton No. 1 Jordan Pickford.
Contracted until: June 2020
