North West Derby

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Alderweireld's career is marked by a series of key moves and achievements. At Ajax, he won three consecutive Eredivisie titles and was named Ajax Talent of the Year in 2010. He scored Ajax's 100th UEFA Champions League goal on 3 November 2011. In 2013, he joined Atlético Madrid for an estimated €7 million. In his first season, he played 12 matches as the club won La Liga, and he headed his only goal of the season, an equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Málaga on 11 May 2014. He played the final seven minutes and extra time of the 2014 Champions League final, entering when Atlético was beating Real Madrid 1-0, but they eventually lost 1-4. After a loan at Southampton, he joined Tottenham Hotspur on 8 July 2015. In his first season, he was chosen as a centre back for the PFA Team of the Year. He reached the Champions League final again in 2019. He left Tottenham in 2021, having made 236 official appearances.

In Their Own Story

On 11 May 2014, with La Liga on the line, Alderweireld headed in an equaliser against Málaga in a 1-1 home draw. That goal ensured Atlético remained in the title race. Later that season, he entered the 2014 Champions League final in the 83rd minute, replacing Filipe Luís. Atlético was leading 1-0 at the time, but Real Madrid equalised in the 93rd minute and won 4-1 in extra time. Years later, on 20 December 2019, Alderweireld signed a contract extension with Tottenham to 2023. On 16 February 2020, he scored his first goal for the club since May 2017, making amends for an earlier own goal, and helped Tottenham win 3-2 away to Aston Villa. On 12 July 2020, he scored an 81st-minute winner against Arsenal in a North London derby to help his team to a 2-1 victory.

Reader's Guide

Alderweireld's career path took him through four major clubs. He began at Ajax, where he formed a formidable partnership with fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen. He won three consecutive Eredivisie titles (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13). In 2013, he moved to Atlético Madrid, winning La Liga in his first season. He was then loaned to Southampton for the 2014-15 season, where he scored his first goal for the club on 26 December 2014 in a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in July 2015, reuniting with former Ajax teammates Christian Eriksen and Jan Vertonghen. In his first season, he helped Tottenham achieve the best defensive record in the Premier League, with only 35 goals conceded. He was part of the Tottenham defense that achieved the best defensive record in the club's history in 2016-17, with only 26 goals conceded. He left Tottenham in 2021, having made 236 official appearances, to join Al-Duhail. After one season in Qatar, he returned to Belgium and signed for Royal Antwerp, winning the Belgian Pro League in his first season and scoring the title-winning goal. He retired from football in July 2025.

Did You Know?

• Alderweireld scored Ajax's 100th UEFA Champions League goal on 3 November 2011.
• He scored a 25-yard strike at the San Siro against Milan in the Champions League.
• He played the final seven minutes and extra time of the 2014 Champions League final for Atlético Madrid.
• He was chosen as a centre back for the PFA Team of the Year in his first season at Tottenham.
• He scored the title-winning goal for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League.