Toby Alderweireld

Tobias Albertine Maurits Alderweireld (born 2 March 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp.

Alderweireld began his professional career at Dutch club Ajax, where he won honours including three consecutive Eredivisie titles.

Born in Antwerp, Alderweireld moved to Ajax's youth academy in August 2004 from Germinal Beerschot.

On 22 February 2007, he signed his first professional contract, tying him to the club until 30 June 2010.

He was promoted to the first team for the 2008–09 season, but only made his first team debut on 18 January, in the 4–2 victory over NEC.

On 26 February, he made his European debut during a 1–1 draw against Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup.

A senior Belgium international from 2009 to 2022, Alderweireld earned 127 caps and represented the country at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020.

During the early stages of the 2009–10 season, Alderweireld established himself in the first team and starting XI.

He became first-choice centre back along with fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen following the departure of former captain Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal.

New Ajax coach Martin Jol praised the two defenders and kept faith in the duo after a string of good performances.

During the 3–0 win against Heracles on 4 September, he scored his first league goal for the club when he opened the scoring with a header from Luis Suárez's corner-kick.

On 27 January, he scored a late equaliser in extra time during the KNVB Cup quarter-final against NEC; Siem de Jong scored five minutes before the final whistle to steal a 3–2 win for Ajax.

At the end of the 2009–10 season, Alderweireld was named Ajax Talent of the Year.

In the 2010–11 season, he scored a stunning 25-yard strike at the San Siro against Champions League group rivals Milan in a 2–0 away win.

He followed this spectacular goal with an even more impressive 32-yard strike against Feyenoord in a 2–0 home win.

He assured himself of a place in the Eredivisie giants' history books on 3 November 2011, heading in Ajax's 100th UEFA Champions League goal in the 2–1 Group G defeat by Auxerre.

In the 2011–12 season, Alderweireld made significant strides in his ability as a footballer, also forming a formidable partnership in the heart of the Ajax defensive with captain and fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen.

Alderweireld also showed some impressive offensive ability, scoring a remarkable goal against Heerenveen.

On 5 August 2012, during the Johan Cruyff Shield encounter against PSV, Alderweireld managed to score for Ajax in the 44th minute, bringing his club back within a goals difference going into halftime 2–1.

It was a match Ajax would lose 4–2, making it the third Johan Cruyff Shield which Alderweireld participated in and finished as runners-up.

The following 2012–13 season, however, would be a successful one, marking the third year in a row that Alderweireld would play Champions League football, and also winning his third consecutive Eredivisie title for Ajax and 32nd overall, having played as a starting centre back for Ajax in all three championship pursuits.

Alderweireld scored a further three goals that season for Ajax, including two goals during the regular season against PEC Zwolle and Twente, as well as scoring another goal in a 2–0 home victory against Steaua București at the Amsterdam Arena, in the first leg of the Round of 32 in the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.

Having been drawn into a group with Manchester City, Real Madrid and eventual runners-up Borussia Dortmund during its Champions League campaign, Ajax had entered into the Europa League at the knockout phase having secured third place in their group, but failed to advance, losing in the second leg match in Romania 4–2 on penalty kicks after extra time.

With one more year remaining on his contract, Alderweireld opted not to extend his contract with Ajax, subsequently receiving plenty of interest during the off-season, with Bayer Leverkusen, Liverpool, Napoli and Norwich City being mentioned as the most keen to sign the young defender.

In 2013, he moved to Atlético Madrid, where he won La Liga and reached the UEFA Champions League final in his first season.

On 2 September 2013, Alderweireld joined Atlético Madrid on a four-year contract for an estimated €7 million (£6.16 million) transfer fee.

He played 12 matches as the club won La Liga; on 11 May, he headed his only goal of the season, an equaliser in a 1–1 home draw with Málaga in the penultimate round of fixtures, ensuring that Atlético remained in the title race.

Although he only made several appearances for the remainder of the season, he was awarded a new long-term contract extension until 2014.

Alderweireld played the final seven minutes and extra time of the 2014 Champions League final for Atlético in place of Filipe Luís; the team was beating city rival Real Madrid 1–0 when he entered the field of play, but Atlético eventually lost 1–4.

Alderweireld was sent on a season-long loan to English Premier League side Southampton on 1 September 2014, with the option for Southampton to buy him at the end of the season.

He made his Southampton debut on 13 September, helping to keep a clean sheet in a 4–0 victory against Newcastle United.

On 26 December, he scored his first goal for the club, Southampton's third in a 3–1 away win away to Crystal Palace by heading James Ward-Prowse's corner kick.

After a year on loan at Southampton, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2015 and once again reached the Champions League final in 2019.

He left Tottenham in 2021, having made 236 official appearances in all competitions, to join Al-Duhail.

After one season in Qatar, he returned to Belgium and signed for his hometown club Royal Antwerp, winning the title in his first season there and scoring the title-winning goal.

Southampton had a £6.8 million option to buy Alderweireld, but in July 2015 Atlético cancelled the clause for £1.5 million in order to sell to the highest bidder.

Subsequent reports claimed that Atlético failed to exercise their buy-out in time.

On 8 July 2015, Alderweireld joined Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract which ran until the summer of 2020 at White Hart Lane, despite Southampton threatening legal action over the transfer.

At Spurs, he was reunited with former Ajax teammates Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen, who previously joined the north London side from Ajax.

On 30 July, Alderweireld made his club debut in the 2015 MLS All-Star Game in Denver, Colorado.