During the2007–08 season, at 18 years of age, he was a key member in the squad of Standard Liège, winners of the Belgian League title that year. During this year, he formed a very young midfield together with other Belgian talents Defour andMarouane Fellaini. In thefollowing season, he scored the winning goalfrom the penalty spot in atwo-legged playoff to decide the championship.[citation needed]
On 30 August 2009, Witsel sparked controversy when he brokeMarcin Wasilewski's leg by stamping on his ankle during the match betweenAnderlecht and Standard.[5][6] Following the tackle, Witsel protested the red card, claiming that it was an accident without intent, before being sent off the pitch. He soon apologised, but was the subject of criticism from several media outlets and numerousdeath threats from angry Anderlecht andPoland fans.[7] The initial ban until 23 November by theBelgian Football Association,[8] was later reduced on appeal to eight matches.[9]
Witsel signed for Portuguese clubBenfica on a five-year deal on 13 July 2011, including a €40 million buyout clause.[10] Witsel scored twice in the 3–1 win againstFC Twente, in theChampions League play-off second leg, on 24 August 2011, sending Benfica to the group stages with a 5–3 aggregate victory.[11]
He scored the opening goal in a 4–1 thrashing ofVitória de Guimarães in theTaça da Liga on 9 January 2012.[12] He then assistedNolito in a 4–1 league defeat ofVitória de Setúbal. Witsel scored his fourth goal againstSanta Clara on 18 January in a Taça da Liga match.[13] Benfica reached the final on 14 April againstGil Vicente and Witsel was awarded theMan of the Match award as Benfica claimed their fourth Taça da Liga title with a 2–1 victory.[14]
On 3 September 2012, Witsel signed forZenit Saint Petersburg for €40 million, after signing a five-year contract.[15][16] Witsel made his debut in theRussian Premier League on 14 September, replacingKonstantin Zyryanov in the 70th minute as Zenit fell 2–0 toTerek Grozny.[17] He scored his first two goals for the club on 30 November when Zenit brushed asideSpartak Moscow 4–2 at theLuzhniki Stadium.[18] Witsel scored Zenit's winner against Terek Grozny on 30 March 2013, an eighth-minute strike, as his side cruised to a 3–0 league victory.[19]
In Zenit's first match of the2014–15 UEFA Champions League group stage on 16 September 2014, Witsel scored Zenit's second goal in a 2–0 away victory over former club Benfica.[20] After finishing third in their Champions League group, Zenit were parachuted into theEuropa League knockout phase; in the first leg of their Round of 16 clash againstTorino on 12 March 2015, Witsel scored on a rebound as Zenit defeated the Italian club 2–0.[21] On 26 April, Witsel scored the game's only goal in the seventeenth minute as Zenit defeatedArsenal Tula in a league match at thePetrovsky Stadium.[22] On Sunday 17 May, Witsel played the full 90 minutes as Zenit drew 1–1 withFC Ufa, earning the point they needed to secure thePremier League crown, the club's fourth overall and Witsel's first with Zenit.[23]
On 6 August 2018, Witsel signed forBundesliga clubBorussia Dortmund and agreed a four-year contract which would last until 30 June 2022.[28][29] On 21 August, he scored an equalizing goal in thestoppage time to make it 1–1 after coming on as a substitute on his debut for the club againstSpVgg Greuther Fürth in theDFB-Pokal first round match and later his side went on to win the match in theextra time with a 2–1 victory.[30] Witsel scored his first Bundesliga goal on his league debut for the club with an overhead kick in a 4–1 victory overRB Leipzig on 26 August.[31]
On 7 July 2022,Atlético Madrid officially announced that Witsel had signed for the club on a one-year contract via a free transfer after his contract with Borussia Dortmund expired.[32] Under managerDiego Simeone, Witsel began to play as a defender in the middle of a back three in the5–3–2 formation.[33][34] On 12 November 2023, he scored his firstLa Liga goal in a 3–1 victory overVillarreal.[35]
On 13 June 2024, he extended his contract until 2025.[36] He participated in the2025 FIFA Club World Cup, scoring in a 3–1 group stage win againstSeattle Sounders, before departing the club upon the expiration of his contract.[37]
On 12 August 2025, Witsel signed a one-year deal withGirona also in the Spanish top tier.[38]On 18 October 2025, he scored his first goal for Girona againstBarcelona.
Prior to making his international debut for the senior side, Witsel played for theunder-21 side in 2007, earning nine caps as well as helping his side reach the semi-finals of the2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.
On 26 March 2008, Witsel made his senior international debut forBelgium during a friendly game againstMorocco. The match resulted in a 1–4 loss, but Witsel scored his first goal.[39]
Witsel's first goal in a competitive international match came a day short of three years after the Morocco goal, in the sixth minute againstAustria inGroup A of theUEFA Euro 2012 qualifying process, and his second would come in the second half.[40] However, Belgian hopes of qualifying forUEFA Euro 2012 were dashed on 11 October 2011, by defeat toGermany coupled withTurkey's victory overAzerbaijan.[41]
On 12 May 2023, Witsel announced his retirement from the national team onInstagram, having made 130 appearances for Belgium.[49] However, Witsel would later reverse his decision and on 28 May 2024, he was included in Belgium's squad forUEFA Euro 2024.[50]
Witsel has been married since 2015 to Romanian-Hungarian Rafaella Szabo, with whom he has three children.[51][52] He is ofMartiniquais descent through his father.[53][54] He was a boyhoodArsenal fan.[55]
^"Conselho de disciplina" [Disciplinary board] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 23 March 2012. p. 2. Archived fromthe original on 19 June 2016.
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