Calvin Stengs

Calvin Stengs
Stengs playing for Feyenoord in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1998-12-18) 18 December 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth Amstelveen, Netherlands
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Positions
Team information
Current team
 AZ
Number 14
Youth career
2003–2007 DIOS
2007–2009 Haarlem
2009–2016 AZ
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Jong AZ 24 (6)
2017–2021 AZ 78 (15)
2021–2023 Nice 28 (1)
2022–2023 → Antwerp (loan) 25 (1)
2023–2026 Feyenoord 41 (7)
2025–2026 → Pisa (loan) 4 (0)
2026– AZ 8 (1)
International career‡
2019–2021 Netherlands U21 7 (3)
2019–2023 Netherlands 8 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 October 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 November 2023

Calvin Stengs (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈkɛlvɪn ˈstɛŋs]; born 18 December 1998) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club AZ.

A product of the AZ academy, Stengs broke into the first team during the 2017–18 season. He developed into a key player for the club, and earned a transfer to Ligue 1 club Nice in 2021 for a fee reported to be €10 million plus bonuses. After mainly being a substitute during his first season at the club, he was sent on a season-long loan to Antwerp. There, he won the Belgian Pro League and Belgian Cup. In 2023, he returned to the Netherlands where he signed with defending Eredivisie title winners Feyenoord for a fee worth €6 million.

At international level, Stengs has represented the Netherlands, having made his debut for the senior team in November 2019.

Early life

Stengs was born on 18 December 1998 in Amstelveen, North Holland, and grew up in Nieuw-Vennep. He was raised mainly by his mother, Marlies, his father having been absent for part of his childhood. His grandfather also played a significant part in his upbringing. Stengs often stayed with his grandparents in IJmuiden while his mother was at work, and he later said that his football began on a small square there.

Club career

Early years

Stengs started out at the local amateur club SV DIOS, which he joined alongside Dani Gomes, the son of a youth coach there. He was scouted by HFC Haarlem and spent two years in their youth setup before joining the academy of AZ in 2009 at the age of ten. The move took him away from his familiar surroundings, and he attended school in Alkmaar from that point.

AZ

Stengs was promoted to the AZ reserves for the 2016–17 season playing in the third division. He made his professional debut for the first team on 14 December 2016, starting as a right winger in a KNVB Cup match against lower league ASWH, which his team won 2–0. That season, he made 22 league appearances for Jong AZ, scoring six goals and making eight assists. His strong performances for the reserves were noticed by first team head coach John van den Brom, and on 5 March 2017, Stengs made his league debut for AZ in a 1–1 home draw against Excelsior in the Eredivisie.

Stengs was promoted to the AZ first team ahead of the 2017–18 season, and he made his first start for the club on 12 August in a 3–2 away loss against PSV. In the seventh minute of the match he twisted his knee and tore his anterior cruciate ligament, cutting his first professional season short and ruling him out for 18 months.

Stengs returned to first team action in November 2018 and reconquered his position in the AZ starting eleven, 15 months after his injury. On 16 January 2019, he scored his first goal for AZ in a 3–0 home win over FC Utrecht. Stengs ended the 2018–19 season with three goals and four assists in 21 appearances.

On 25 July 2019, Stengs made his debut in the Europa League in a 0–0 home draw against Allsvenskan club BK Häcken. He made his first European goal in the return match in Sweden, netting in the 56th minute as AZ won 3–0 and advanced in the competition. He continued as a starter under head coaches Arne Slot and Pascal Jansen.

Nice

Stengs with Nice in 2022

On 14 July 2021, Stengs signed for Ligue 1 club Nice on a five-year contract for a transfer fee reported to be €10 million plus bonuses. On 28 August 2021, he made his debut for the club in a 4–0 league win over Bordeaux. He came on as a 36th-minute substitute for injured compatriot Justin Kluivert. On 25 September, he scored his first goal in a 3–0 win over bottom of the league Saint-Étienne.

Loan to Antwerp

On 30 August 2022, Stengs joined Belgian Pro League club Antwerp on a season-long loan. He made his debut on 4 September, starting in a 3–0 league victory over Westerlo. In his following appearance, a 2–1 home win against Seraing on 16 September, he recorded his first assist as his corner-kick was headed in by Toby Alderweireld. He scored his first goal for Antwerp on 10 November, contributing to a 2–2 draw in the Belgian Cup against Beveren, which Antwerp would go on to win after a penalty-shootout. His first league goal came on 27 December in a 3–3 away draw against Westerlo, completing a comeback in the 88th minute. On 29 January 2023, Stengs was sent off for the second time in his professional career in a league game against Anderlecht after a punching motion towards Amadou Diawara.

On 30 April 2023, Stengs won the Belgian Cup with Antwerp. Just over a month later, on 4 June, he won the league title with the club on the final match-day after a dramatic 2–2 draw against Genk, handing Antwerp their first league title in 66 years. Stengs was suspended for the game.

Feyenoord

On 26 July 2023, Stengs joined reigning Dutch champions Feyenoord on a four-year contract, where he reunited with Arne Slot, who also coached him at AZ. The Rotterdam club paid Nice a reported €6 million transfer fee. He made his debut on 6 August against PSV in the 2023 Johan Cruyff Shield, which Feyenoord lost 1–0. On 13 August, Stengs started in Feyenoord's opening match of the 2023–24 Eredivisie season, a 0–0 home draw against Fortuna Sittard. He scored his first goal for the club on 3 September, scoring the second goal in a 5–1 away win against FC Utrecht.

During the opening match of the 2024–25 Eredivisie, played at De Kuip against Willem II, Stengs was absent due to illness. A few days later, it was reported that Feyenoord had reached an agreement with Charlotte FC for his transfer. However, despite a medical examination having already taken place, the move did not materialise, and he remained in Rotterdam.

On 28 August 2025, Stengs joined Serie A club Pisa on a season-long loan with an option to buy. He made four appearances for the club, all as a substitute and totalling 42 minutes, his involvement limited by injury and by selection decisions. Pisa were relegated to Serie B at the end of the season, which Voetbal International described as a disastrous one for both club and player.

Stengs returned to Feyenoord at the end of the loan. On 22 July 2026 the club terminated his contract, leaving him a free agent.

Return to AZ

On 28 July 2026, Stengs returned to AZ, signing a one-year contract with an option for an extra season.

International career

Born in the Netherlands, Stengs is of Surinamese descent. Stengs made his international debut for the Netherlands under-21 team on 24 March 2019 in a friendly against the United States. On 19 November 2019, Stengs made his debut for the Netherlands national team in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying match against Estonia, giving two assists in a 5–0 victory.

On 21 November 2023, Stengs scored a hat-trick in the Netherlands' final UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier against Gibraltar to register his first senior international goals.

Personal life

Stengs's partner is Beau de Boer, a daughter of the footballer and manager Frank de Boer. The two met at the Johan Cruyff College in Amsterdam and have been in a relationship since 2017. They have two children, born in 2023 and 2026.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 15 October 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong AZ 2016–17 Tweede Divisie 226———226
2017–18 Eerste Divisie 00———00
2018–19 Eerste Divisie 20———20
Total 246———246
AZ 2016–17 Eredivisie 1010004262
2017–18 Eredivisie 1000——10
2018–19 Eredivisie 2134200—255
2019–20 Eredivisie 25530145—4210
2020–21 Eredivisie 3071080—397
Total 7815922254211324
Nice 2021–22 Ligue 1 24120——261
2022–23 Ligue 1 400020—60
Total 2812020—321
Antwerp (loan) 2022–23 Belgian Pro League 2516200—313
Feyenoord 2023–24 Eredivisie 296518110438
2024–25 Eredivisie 121003010161
Total 4175111120599
Pisa (loan) 2025–26 Serie A 4000——40
AZ 2026–27 Eredivisie 81002010111
Career total 208312253667227344
  1. ↑ Includes KNVB Cup, Coupe de France, Belgian Cup
  2. ↑ Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
  3. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League
  6. ↑ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. 1 2 3 Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield
  8. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 21 November 2023
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Netherlands 201910
202040
202120
202200
202313
Total83
Netherlands score listed first, score column indicates score after each Stengs goal.
List of international goals scored by Calvin Stengs
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
121 November 2023Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal Gibraltar2–06–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
24–0
35–0

Honours

Nice

Antwerp

Feyenoord

AZ

References

  1. ↑ "Wie is die AZ-sensatie Stengs eigenlijk?". ELF Voetbal (in Dutch). 27 May 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Calvin Stengs: vrolijk joch op weg naar wereldtop" [Calvin Stengs: cheerful lad on his way to the top of the world]. Elfvoetbal (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  3. 1 2 Vissers, Willem (14 March 2019). "Calvin Stengs, sieraad van AZ, wil na lang blessureleed de top halen" [Calvin Stengs, AZ's star player, aims to reach the top after a long spell on the sidelines]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  4. ↑ "Voormaalig DIOS-speler Stengs debuteert in AZ 1". 433magazine.nl. 433Magazine. 5 March 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Rolmodel: Calvin Stengs" [Role model: Calvin Stengs] (in Dutch). Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur. 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "AZ bereikt kwartfinale beker na zuinige zege op ASWH". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 14 December 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "C. Stengs – Profiel". Voetbal International. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  8. ↑ "OVER Stengs". AZ (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 25 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "Eredivisie (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "Stengs onderweg naar de VS voor operatie aan knie". NOS (in Dutch). 19 August 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Eredivisie (Sky Sports)". Sky Sports. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  12. ↑ "Calvin Stengs » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  13. 1 2 Calvin Stengs at Soccerway
  14. ↑ "Nollat och utslaget efter nybörjarmissen". aftonbladet.se. Aftonbladet. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  15. ↑ Zwartkruis, Simon (18 December 2020). "Centrale rol Stengs bevalt AZ-trainer Pascal Jansen goed". Voetbal International (in Dutch). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  16. ↑ "Calvin Stengs signs for Nice !". OGC Nice (Press release) (in French). 15 July 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Official | Calvin Stengs joins OGC Nice". Get French Football News. 14 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  18. ↑ Haarsma, Jeroen (14 July 2021). "Calvin Stengs tekent vijfjarig contract bij OGC Nice en verlaat AZ". Noordhollands Dagblad (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Eerste goal Justin Kluivert voor OGC Nice, debuut Calvin Stengs". Telegraaf (in Dutch). 28 August 2021.
  20. ↑ "Stengs helpt Nice met eerste doelpunt in Frankrijk aan zege op Saint-Étienne". NU (in Dutch). 25 September 2021.
  21. ↑ "Stengs makes it 0-2 for Nice as Saint-Etienne defense keeps struggling". beIN SPORTS USA. 25 September 2021.
  22. ↑ "CALVIN STENGS OP HUURBASIS NAAR RAFC" (in Dutch). Antwerp. 30 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  23. ↑ Van Essche, Niel (4 September 2022). "Antwerp dankt zijn Nederlandse enclave voor perfecte seizoensstart". De Morgen (in Belgian Dutch). Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  24. ↑ Groenstege, Minne (16 September 2022). "Calvin Stengs en Vincent Janssen belangrijk voor Royal Antwerp, negende zege voor Mark van Bommel". BN De Stem (in Dutch). Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  25. ↑ "Antwerp kruipt door het oog van de naald in Beveren: Great Old haalt het na strafschoppen en vroege rode kaart, Mbokani scoort twee keer tegen ex-club". Het Laatste Nieuws (in Belgian Dutch). 10 November 2022. Archived from the original on 23 November 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  26. ↑ "Vincent Janssen en Calvin Stengs bezorgen Royal Antwerp na bizarre comeback nog een punt". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 27 December 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  27. ↑ Houttuin, Vincent (29 January 2023). "Stengs slaat tegenstander in het gezicht en krijgt directe rode kaart". FCUpdate.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  28. 1 2 "Geen schoonheidsprijs, wel een vierde beker: Antwerp maakt favorietenrol waar tegen KV Mechelen" (in Dutch). Sporza. 30 April 2023.
  29. 1 2 "Antwerp win Belgian title on dramatic final day". BBC Sport. 4 June 2023. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  30. ↑ Calcoen, Pieter-Jan (30 May 2023). "Behoudens surprise van de chef vervangt Mandela Keita de geschorste Calvin Stengs in titelwedstrijd". Het Nieuwsblad (in Belgian Dutch). Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  31. ↑ "Feyenoord presenteert Calvin Stengs" [Feyenoord announces Calvin Stengs] (in Dutch). 26 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  32. ↑ "Feyenoord unveil Stengs". Football Oranje. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  33. ↑ "Lang beslist duel met Feyenoord en bezorgt PSV veertiende Johan Cruijff Schaal" [Long decided duel with Feyenoord and gives PSV fourteenth Johan Cruijff Shield]. NOS (in Dutch). 4 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  34. ↑ "Tiental Feyenoord loopt door gelijkspel tegen Fortuna Sittard meteen averij op: 0-0" [Feyenoord's ten men immediately spill points with a draw against Fortuna Sittard: 0-0.]. NOS (in Dutch). 13 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  35. ↑ "Feyenoord heerst in Galgenwaard en drukt FC Utrecht nog dieper in het moeras" [Feyenoord rules in the Galgenward and further brings FC Utrecht into trouble] (in Dutch). 3 September 2023. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  36. ↑ Krabbendam, Martijn (13 August 2024). "Stengs-deal staat op klappen" [Stengs transfer on the verge of collapse]. Voetbal International (in Netherlands Dutch). Archived from the original on 7 August 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  37. ↑ Gouka, Mikos (13 August 2024). "Transfer Calvin Stengs naar Verenigde Staten geklapt na twijfels bij Charlotte FC" [Calvin Stengs transfer to the United States collapses amid doubts at Charlotte FC]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  38. ↑ "Feyenoord verhuurt Calvin Stengs aan Pisa SC" [Feyenoord loans out Calvin Stengs to Pisa SC]. Feyenoord (in Dutch). 28 August 2025. Archived from the original on 12 January 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  39. 1 2 "Pisa in rouw, Stengs opnieuw terug bij af na rampjaar" [Pisa in mourning; Stengs back to square one after a disastrous year]. Voetbal International (in Dutch). 2 May 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  40. ↑ "Feyenoord-huurling Stengs degradeert met Pisa naar Serie B" [Feyenoord loanee Stengs is relegated to Serie B with Pisa]. ESPN.nl (in Dutch). 2 May 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  41. ↑ "Feyenoord ontbindt contract Stengs, aanvaller transfervrij" [Feyenoord terminates Stengs' contract; forward leaves on a free transfer]. NOS (in Dutch). 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  42. ↑ "AZ en Stengs herenigd" (in Dutch). AZ Alkmaar. 28 July 2026.
  43. ↑ "Profvoetballers van Surinaamse afkomst". Natio Suriname | Voetbal. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  44. ↑ "Jong Oranje – Jong Verenigde Staten". onsoranje.nl. OnsOranje. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  45. ↑ "Nederland – Estland". onsoranje.nl. OnsOranje. 19 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  46. ↑ Hincks, Michael (21 November 2023). "Gibraltar 0–6 Netherlands: Calvin Stengs Scores Hat-Trick as Dutch Sign Of free esgtgfgdjYs,6". Eurosport. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  47. ↑ Weesenbeek, Martijn van (29 January 2024). "Calvin Stengs: Come back kid". Helden (in Netherlands Dutch). Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  48. ↑ Wils, Sanhty (17 July 2026). "Frank de Boer opnieuw opa geworden: 'Supertrots op onze nieuwe aanwinst'" [Frank de Boer has become a grandfather again: 'So proud of our new addition']. RTL (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  49. ↑ "Zwangere dochter Frank de Boer open over onzekere toekomst met Calvin Stengs: 'Dat is elk jaar weer spannend'" [Frank de Boer's pregnant daughter opens up about her uncertain future with Calvin Stengs: 'It's nerve-wracking every year']. Sportnieuws (in Dutch). 30 April 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  50. ↑ "Calvin Stengs en partner laten bevalling opwekken om bij trainingskamp Feyenoord te zijn" [Calvin Stengs and his partner have the birth induced so he can attend Feyenoord's training camp]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 21 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  51. 1 2 "Calvin Stengs- Nederlands Elftal" (in Dutch). KNVB.nl. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  52. ↑ "Ludovic Blas penalty wins French Cup for Nantes". BBC Sport. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  53. ↑ "Als rook is opgetrokken, wint Feyenoord bekerfinale van NEC" [As smoke clears, Feyenoord wins cup final against NEC] (in Dutch). 21 April 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  54. ↑ "AZ rout 10-man PSV 4-0 to lift second Johan Cruyff Shield". NL Times. 2 August 2026. Retrieved 3 August 2026.