Jan Vertonghen Bio, Age, Career, Wife, Net Worth

Jan Vertonghen's Net Worth as of October 2024 is $26.37 Million

Quick Facts of Jan Vertonghen

Jan Vertonghen is one of football’s most well-known figures. He is a Belgian professional footballer who now plays for Tottenham Hotspur in England and is a member of Belgium’s national squad. In the field, he wears the number 5 jersey as a defender, and his playing skills and techniques are well-liked. This 30-year-old player has also represented RKC and Ajax. He stands 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 74 kilograms.

Jan Vertonghen’s Bio, Age

Jan Bert Lieve Vertonghen (born 24 April 1987) is a Belgian footballer who currently plays for Benfica in the Primeira Liga and for the Belgium national team. He is primarily a central defender, but he can also play left-back. Vertonghen began his senior career in 2006 with Dutch club Ajax, where he played in 220 games and scored 28 goals in all competitions while also serving as captain from 2011 to 2012.

During his stint with the club, he won two Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups, and he was voted Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2012. Vertonghen joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2012, and in his debut Premier League season, he was named to the PFA Team of the Year. Over the course of eight years with Spurs, he made 315 appearances and was named player of the year in 2018.

Vertonghen made his international debut for Belgium in 2007, and he currently holds the record for most caps (136, according to FIFA standards, plus three unauthorized games). He was a member of Belgian teams that placed fourth in the 2008 Olympics, advanced to the 2014 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, UEFA Euro 2016 and Euro 2020 finals, and finished third in the 2018 World Cup. Ria Mattheeuws and Paul Vertonghen raised Vertonghen in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.  Ward and Lode, his two brothers, are both football players.

Jan Vertonghen’s Career

Vertonghen traveled to the Netherlands and signed a deal with AFC Ajax’s development academy after spending time with VK Tielrode and Germinal Beerschot. He started out as a midfielder for Ajax before moving to center-back. During his stint in the reserves, he made headlines for a goal he scored in a 2006 KNVB Cup match against Cambuur Leeuwarden, his first home game at the Amsterdam Arena, to put Ajax 3–0 up. While a teammate was receiving treatment, he attempted a back pass to the Cambuur goalkeeper, but the ball went into the goal instead. Ajax allowed Cambuur to score a goal in return because it was inadvertent.

Vertonghen made his first-team debut against Copenhagen in the Champions League third qualifying round on August 23, 2006. In a 6–0 triumph over Willem II at the Amsterdam Arena, he got his first start and Eredivisie debut, and he would play two more games in the first half of the season.

He was transferred on loan to struggling RKC Waalwijk for the remainder of the 2006–07 season after the winter break. He played 12 matches with RKC, scoring three times, but he couldn’t save the team from relegation to the Eerste Divisie. One of his goals at RKC Waalwijk came against his parent club, Ajax, in a 2–2 tie that saw Ajax finish second in the league on a goal difference of only one goal difference behind PSV.

Due to a severe injury and the presence of center defenders John Heitinga and Thomas Vermaelen, Vertonghen returned to Ajax for the 2007–08 season, where he was predicted for stardom but was unable to breakthrough. Johan Cruyff had expressed his admiration for the left-footed teenager, who can play in any left-sided position in defense and midfield, by extending his contract to 30 June 2013 on September 26, 2008.

For the young defender, the 2008–09 season was a watershed moment. Vertonghen became Thomas Vermaelen’s first-choice partner in central defense after John Heitinga left for Atlético Madrid; the former started 23 of the 26 games he appeared in and scored four goals. On September 28, he scored a rare double in a 3–0 win over Vitesse. Despite suffering an injury throughout the week, he played in the encounter against Groningen on January 24, which was regarded as a “must-win” match by coach Marco van Basten; nonetheless, Vertonghen was sent off for two yellow cards as Ajax lost 1–0. After sustaining a hamstring injury in an away win over Utrecht on March 1, he was out for a month, but his comeback only lasted a few games before his season was cut short due to the aggravation of another injury.

Vertonghen remained in the starting lineup for the 2009–10 season under new coach Martin Jol. He scored his first goal of the season, a free-kick, in a 6–0 thumping of NAC Breda on September 13, despite injuring his toe while on international duty against Spain the week before. After Thomas Vermaelen moved to Arsenal, he and fellow Belgian Toby Alderweireld were thrust into the starting lineup and quickly became a fan favorite. Despite Ajax’s fluctuating run in the weeks preceding up to the winter break, he put in some great performances and drew interest from a number of clubs, including Barcelona, but he played down the rumors, indicating his intention to at least see out his contract with the club.

Ajax went on a nine-game unbeaten streak in the league after the winter break, with Vertonghen playing a significant part. In a 4–1 home win over PSV, their record of six straight clean sheets came to an end when the visitors were given a penalty. Vertonghen was linked with a move to Newcastle United, and he later stated, “I’ve heard Milan Director Adriano Galliani talk about me after the Champions League match in San Siro, and his remarks were quite flattering.”

Late in the 2010–11 season, Vertonghen revealed on several occasions that he was considering quitting Ajax at the end of the season. In May 2011, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was confirmed to have attended the 2011 KNVB Cup Final, in which Vertonghen’s team lost 3–2 against Twente. After qualifying for the UEFA Champions League in 2011–12, Mancini was said to be scouting Vertonghen to bolster his squad.

Vertonghen emerged as one of Ajax’s finest players during the 2011–12 Eredivisie season, showcasing his versatility to cover numerous positions after the club allowed several regular players out on long-term loans. He was voted the 2011–12 Eredivisie Player of the Year after an excellent season that included a performance that earned him praise against Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League Round of 16.

Frank de Boer named him team captain, and he guided Ajax to their second consecutive title, scoring eight goals in 31 league games, demonstrating his attacking abilities. He also dropped the Championship plate for the second time. “Now it’s on my toe – this plate isn’t fond of me,” Vertonghen explained.

Jan Vertonghen’s International Career

In 2006, Vertonghen made his international debut for the Netherlands at the under-21 level, and he competed in the 2007 UEFA U21 Championships.

In a 2–1 home loss to Portugal in UEFA Euro 2008 qualification on June 2, 2007, he made his senior debut for the national squad. He was fouled by replacement attacker Hugo Almeida, who was sent off, near the end of the game.  Vertonghen was also selected for the 2008 Olympics, where he appeared in every game as the Belgians finished fourth.

In 2010 World Cup qualifying, he established himself as a regular, starting at center-back alongside former Ajax teammate Thomas Vermaelen. In an August 2009 friendly against the Czech Republic that resulted in a 3–1 loss, he scored the first goal, which was also his first-ever international goal. He injured his toe in a World Cup qualifying away encounter against Spain on September 7, 2009 and was stretchered off and replaced in the 29th minute. The game ended in a 5–0 loss as well. Because Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany are the favored central defensive pairing, he now plays as a left-back. For the friendly against Hungary, a 3–0 triumph, and the 1–0 loss to Croatia the following March, he was back in the starting eleven.

Vertonghen was chosen to be Belgium’s team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on May 13, 2014. After Vertonghen brought down Sofiane Feghouli and received a yellow card in the team’s first encounter against Algeria, the African side was given a penalty. Algeria’s Feghouli scored a penalty kick goal, but Belgium rallied back to win 2–1. On June 22, he was replaced in the starting lineup by Thomas Vermaelen in the second match against Russia. Vermaelen, on the other hand, was taken out after 31 minutes with an injury and replaced by Vertonghen. Vertonghen led the team and scored the game-winning goal in Belgium’s 1–0 victory over South Korea in the final group match.

During a training session with the Belgian squad early in the 2014–15 season, Vertonghen knocked a youngster unconscious with a wayward shot. He tore two ligaments in his ankle in an injury while practicing before the UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-final against Wales, and as a result, he missed the match, which Belgium lost. Vertonghen won his 100th cap (the first in Belgian history) against the same opposition (Portugal) eleven years after making his international debut. Vertonghen kicked off Belgium’s second-half comeback from a 0–2 deficit against Japan at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, heading from 20 yards out to the far post in a 3–2 triumph.

Jan Vertonghen’s Wife

He is a happily married man when it comes to his personal life. Sophie de Vries, his lovely lover, wedded him. His wife is an art student who hails from Amsterdam.

Jan Vertonghen’s Net Worth and Cars

As a defender for Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Jan Vertonghen makes £100,000 per week and £5,200,000 per year. Jan Vertonghen has made a total of £15,028,000 in his professional career and is estimated to have a net worth of £20,228,000.

Aside from his football career, he is also associated with a number of sponsorship deals and companies. Nike, AIA, and other brands are among his endorsement arrangements.

He has a number of high-end luxury vehicles. Hyundai, Audi, Range Rover, and other brands are among his automobiles. He is currently driving a Mercedes, which is a high-end vehicle.

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