Joeri Jesse Heerkens (born 8 May 2006) is a footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Eredivisie club Ajax. Born in the Czech Republic, he is a Netherlands and Czech Republic youth international.
Early life
Heerkens was born on 8 May 2006 in Broumov, Czech Republic. Born to Hillebrand and Natasja Heerkens, he started playing football at the age of six. At the age of thirteen, he started attending sports boarding school in the Czech Republic.[1]
Club career
As a youth player, Heerkens joined the youth academy of Czech side TJ Slovan Broumov. In 2018, he joined the youth academy of Czech side FK Náchod. One year later, he joined the youth academy of Czech side FC Hradec Králové at the age of twelve.[2]
Subsequently, he joined the youth academy of Czech side AC Sparta Prague in 2021. Three years later, he was sent on loan to Czech side FK Loko Prague, where he made nine league appearances. Following his stint there, he was promoted to Sparta's reserve team.[3]
On 28 July 2025, Heerkens signed a contract with AFC Ajax until 2030.[4]
International career
Heerkens is a Dutch and Czech Republic youth international.[5] During March 2023, he played for the Czech Republic national under-17 football team for 2023 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification. In March 2025 played for the Netherlands national under-19 football team for 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification
Career statistics
- As of match played 18 May 2025
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sparta Prague | 2023–24 | Czech First League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024–25 | Czech First League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Loko Prague (loan) | 2023–24 | Czech First League | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||
| Sparta Prague B (loan) | 2024–25 | Czech National Football League | 15 | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| Ajax | 2025–26 | Eredivisie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | |
| Career total | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
Honours
Netherlands U19
Individual
- UEFA European Under-19 Championship Team of the Tournament: 2025[7]
References
- ^ "Hoe Heerkens' Nederlandse voetbaldroom op een Tsjechische camping begon" [How Heerkens' Dutch football dream started on a Czech campsite] (in Dutch). ESPN. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ "Het bijzondere verhaal van keeperstalent Joeri Heerkens: "Binnen vijf jaar in het Nederlands elftal"" [The special story of goalkeeping talent Joeri Heerkens: "In the Dutch national team within five years"] (in Dutch). Voetbalzone. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ Joeri Heerkens at Soccerway
- ^ Lizec, Jiří (28 July 2025). "Česko, děkuji, rozloučil se talent Sparty. Přestoupil do slavného velkoklubu" [Czech Republic, thank you, the talent from Sparta said goodbye. He transferred to a famous big club]. Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ^ "Keeperstalent Joeri Heerkens: "Toen Nederland mij benaderde, was de keuze snel gemaakt"" [Goalkeeping talent Joeri Heerkens: "When the Netherlands approached me, the choice was quickly made"] (in Dutch). ELF Voetbal. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
- ^ "Under-19 EURO final report: Netherlands edge Spain for first title". uefa.com. 26 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
- ^ "2025 Under-19 EURO Team of the Tournament". uefa.com. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
External links
- Joeri Heerkens at Soccerway