From Chelsea's youth ranks to the Dutch national team and beyond
In short: Born in 's-Hertogenbosch to parents from Curaçao, Patrick van Aanholt has navigated a complex professional journey. After developing at Chelsea, he experienced the highs of Premier League safety and the lows of injury, eventually representing the Netherlands at UEFA Euro 2020.
Patrick van Aanholt's professional career began at Chelsea, where he joined the youth ranks in 2007. His early years were defined by a series of strategic loans designed to provide first-team experience. He played for Newcastle United, Leicester City, Wigan Athletic, and Vitesse, the latter of which he joined in early 2012. During his time at Vitesse, he notably scored against PSV in December 2013, helping the club reach the top of the Eredivisie table.
His move to Sunderland in July 2014 marked a significant step, with a transfer fee estimated between £1.5 and £2 million. At Sunderland, he became a key figure in securing Premier League safety, notably scoring a 25-yard free-kick against Everton in 2016. In January 2017, he moved to Crystal Palace for a fee that could rise to £14 million, reuniting with his former manager, Sam Allardyce. He made history on August 24, 2019, as the initial visiting athlete to clinch a late victory at Old Trafford.
On the international stage, Van Aanholt earned his first senior cap for the Netherlands on November 19, 2013, in a friendly against Colombia. While he was called up for the Curaçao national team in September 2017, he did not make an appearance, remaining eligible for the Netherlands. His international career included participation in UEFA Euro 2020. Following his departure from Crystal Palace in June 2021, he joined Galatasaray on a free transfer before later returning to the Netherlands with PSV and Sparta Rotterdam.
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