*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:20, 19 January 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:56, 27 March 2023 (UTC)
Klaassen began his football career in the youth ranks of local amateur side HVV de Zebra's, where he played until 2003, when he transferred to HSV Wasmeer. A year later he was recruited into the famed Ajax Youth Academy. While playing for the Ajax A1 youth squad in 2011–12, Klaassen helped his side to win the Nike Eredivisie league title,[4] as well as finishing as runners-up to Inter Milan in the NextGen Series (the Champions League equivalent for under-19 teams) after losing on penalties (5–3) following a 1–1 deadlock after extra time.[5]
Ajax
Klaassen made his debut for the first team in the UEFA Champions League group stage away draw (0–0) against Olympique Lyonnais on 22 November 2011 replacing Lorenzo Ebecilio in the 85th minute.[6] While still competing in the A-Juniors Nike Eredivisie league competing for the Ajax A1 under-19 squad, he made his Eredivisie debut on 27 November as a substitute against NEC and scored only 42 seconds after having been subbed on.[7] He made his debut in the starting XI of the Ajax first team on 11 December 2011, due to starting center midfielder Theo Janssen catching the flu. Klaassen played the entire match, which ended in a 0–1 away win for Ajax against RKC Waalwijk.[8]
Klaassen (bottom right) captaining Ajax in 2016
On 5 August 2013, Klaassen made his debut in the Dutch Eerste Divisie in the 2–0 win against Telstar while playing for the newly promoted reserves team Jong Ajax, in what would be the first match in the 2nd tier of professional football ever for the reserves.[9] He scored his first goal for Jong Ajax on 20 September 2013 in the 1–2 away victory against FC Eindhoven.[10] On 6 October 2013, while playing for the Ajax first team, he scored his team's second goal in the 59th minute in the 3–0 home win against Utrecht.[11] On 7 December 2013, Klaassen scored his first hat-trick while playing for the first team, in a 4–0 victory at home over NAC Breda, taking home the match ball and earning himself the Man of the Match award.[12] Following the departure of Ajax captain Siem de Jong, Klaassen switched to the vacant number 10 shirt for the upcoming season.
On 15 June 2017, Klaassen signed for Premier League side Everton on a five-year deal worth £23.6 million.[14] He was handed the number 20 jersey at his new club for the 2017–18 season.[15] He made his first official appearance for Everton in a 1–0 win over MFK Ružomberok in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round first leg.[16] Klaassen made his league debut for Everton on 12 August 2017, when his club beat Stoke City 1–0 at Goodison Park.[17]
Klaassen endured a difficult season with the club, falling out of favor with both Sam Allardyce and Marco Silva after Ronald Koeman was fired in October 2017.[18] Between late September 2017 and early March 2018, he failed to make a Premier League appearance. At the end of the January transfer window, Klaassen neared a loan move to Napoli, although the move would never materialize. Allardyce claimed the deal collapsed as a result of an image rights dispute between Klaassen and the Italian club,[19] although Klaassen would later reject this statement.[20] Ahead of his summer move to Werder Bremen, Klaassen expressed his desire to prove his worth for the following season.[21] Klaassen stated that he struggled to adapt to the different style of play in the Premier League, hence his struggles with the club.[20]
On 27 July 2018, Klaassen joined Werder Bremen on a four-year deal while the transfer fee paid to Everton was reported as €13.5 million (£12 million).[22][23] He quickly established himself as a key player for the club, making 38 appearances and scoring 7 goals in his first season. His performances earned him the vice-captaincy for the 2019–20 season.[24] In the relegation play-off that season, Klaassen played an important role in helping Werder Bremen secure their Bundesliga status by captaining the team in a 2-2 draw with Heidenheim.[25] Following this, Klaassen returned to Ajax in October 2020.[26]
Return to Ajax
On 5 October 2020, Klaassen rejoined Ajax on a contract until 30 June 2024, with a transfer fee which could rise to €14 million.[27] He quickly re-established himself as a vital part of the Ajax midfield, helping them to secure the Eredivisie title in both the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons.
On 5 April 2023, during a Dutch cup semifinal away against Feyenoord, he suffered a head injury when he was hit by an object thrown from the stands. The incident caused a 30-minute delay and he was substituted shortly after the resumption, gesturing that he was suffering from dizziness.[28] Despite this incident, Klaassen continued to be a regular for Ajax until his departure for Inter Milan in September 2023.
Inter Milan
On 1 September 2023, Klaassen signed as a free agent for Italian club Inter Milan, on a two-year contract.[29] Although still under contract with Ajax for one more year, the Dutch side amicably decided to mutually end the contract, out of respect for his career, and to easily facilitate his transfer to the Italian side.[30] During his time at Inter, Klaassen made 18 appearances in all competitions, contributing to the team's victory in the 2023–24 Serie A, their 20th title. [31] He left the club at the end of the season. [31]
Second time return to Ajax
On 17 September 2024, Klaassen rejoined Ajax with a one-year contract.[32]
International career
Youth
Klaassen made his debut for the Dutch national team at youth levels, debuting for the Netherlands U-16 team on 28 October 2008 in the 10th edition of the Tournoi Val de Marne '08 in the 3–0 victory over Italy U-16, while scoring the second goal for the Netherlands in his first international encounter.[33] Klaassen scored in his second appearance for the Netherlands U-16 in the same tournament as well in 0–1 win over France U-16.[34] In total Klaassen made 5 appearances for the Netherlands U-16 while scoring 4 goals.[35] Scoring two more goals in friendly encounters against Ukraine U-16 and Ireland U-16 as well.[36] On 22 September 2009, Klaassen made his first appearance for the Netherlands U17 team in a friendly encounter against France U17 which ended in a 1–0 loss for the Dutch. On 3 March 2010, he scored his first goal for the under-17 side in his 8th appearance, a friendly match against Greece U17.[37] He also played a major role in the Netherlands qualifying campaign ahead of the 2010 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship as well as playing in the 2009 edition of La Manga Cup. On 2 September 2010, Klaassen made his debut for the Netherlands U19 team in a friendly match against Germany U19 which ended in a 2–2 draw. In his 7th appearance for the under-19 side he scored both his first and second goal on 10 November 2011 in a qualification match ahead of the 2012 UEFA European Under-19 Championship against Moldova U19 with the Netherlands failing to qualify for the final tournament in Estonia.[38]
Klaassen (second from left, bottom row) with the Netherlands in 2017
On 5 March 2014, Klaassen made his debut for the Netherlands first team under head coach Louis van Gaal at the Stade de France in Paris, in a friendly match against France ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He was substituted on in the 72nd minute for Wesley Sneijder, as the Netherlands lost the match 2–0.[41] While making his debut for the Netherlands, Klaassen became the 100th player to make his debut for the Dutch national team while playing his club football at Ajax.[42]
On 31 March 2015, Klaassen scored his first international goal in a 2–0 win over Spain in a friendly match.[43]
In November 2020, Klaassen was recalled to the Netherlands squad for the first time in over three years.[44] He appeared as a second-half substitute in a friendly draw with Spain,[45] before starting in UEFA Nations League fixtures against Bosnia & Herzegovina[46]
and Poland.[47]
In June 2021, Klaassen was included in the Netherlands' squad for UEFA Euro 2020 but did not make an appearance in the tournament.[48]
In November 2022, Klaassen was named in the Netherlands' squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He scored in the team's opening match, a 2–0 win over Senegal.[49] He was named Player of the Match in the team's final group match against Qatar.[50]
Style of play
Klaassen's nickname is "cheese straw" (Dutch: kaasstengel) due to his physical appearance.[51] Another nickname is "Mister 1-0" due to him often scoring the first goal of a match.[52] On the signing of the former Ajax captain, then Everton manager Ronald Koeman was quoted saying Klaassen was a leader on the pitch. Koeman further described Klaassen's playing style as hardworking, liked to press and would provide creativity and goals.[53]
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