Vertonghen began his senior career at Dutch clubAjax in 2006, and totalled 220 games and 28 goals for them across all competitions, serving as their captain from 2011 to 2012. He won twoEredivisie and twoKNVB Cup titles during his time at the club, and in 2012 was namedDutch Footballer of the Year. Vertonghen transferred toTottenham Hotspur in July 2012, and made thePFA Team of the Year in his firstPremier League season. He made 315 appearances for Spurs over eight years, as well as reaching the2019 UEFA Champions League final, and was named the club's Player of the Year in 2018. After spending two seasons with Portuguese clubBenfica, he joinedAnderlecht in 2022. At 37, he became the club's oldest player, surpassing club iconOlivier Deschacht, before retiring from the sport in 2025.
Vertonghen was born inSint-Niklaas, Belgium, to Ria Mattheeuws and Paul Vertonghen.[6][7] He has two brothers, Ward and Lode; both have played football.[6]
After spending time at VK Tielrode andGerminal Beerschot, Vertonghen moved to the Netherlands and signed a contract with the youth academy ofEredivisie sideAFC Ajax. He began as a midfielder but then became a regular at centre-back for Ajax.[8] During his time in thereserves, he became known for an incident in a2006 KNVB Cup game againstCambuur Leeuwarden, his first home game at theAmsterdam Arena, where he scored a goal to put Ajax 3–0 up. He had attempted a back pass to the Cambuur goalkeeper while a teammate was receiving treatment but instead the ball went into the goal. Since it was unintentional, Ajax allowed Cambuur to score a goal in return.[9] On 23 August 2006, Vertonghen made his first team debut in theChampions League third qualifying round againstCopenhagen. He made his first start and Eredivisie debut in a 6–0 win overWillem II at the Amsterdam Arena and would play another two matches for the first half of the season.
After the winter break of the2006–07 season, he was sent onloan to strugglingRKC Waalwijk for the remainder of the season. At RKC, he would play 12 matches in which he scored three times, but he was unable to help the team avoid relegation to theEerste Divisie. One of his goals with RKC Waalwijk was against his parent club, Ajax, in a 2–2 draw, which eventually let Ajax finish second in the league on only one goal difference withPSV.[10]
Vertonghen returned to Ajax for the2007–08 season, where he was tipped for stardom, but was unable to break through due to a severe injury and the presence of central defendersJohn Heitinga andThomas Vermaelen.Johan Cruyff had made no secret of his admiration for the left-footed youngster who can handle any left-sided position in defence and midfield, opting, on 26 September 2008, to extend his contract to 30 June 2013.
The2008–09 season was a breakthrough season for the young defender. After John Heitinga left forAtlético Madrid, Vertonghen became Thomas Vermaelen's first-choice partner in central defence; the former started 23 of the 26 games he played in and scored four goals. On 28 September, he scored a rare double againstVitesse in a 3–0 win. Although sustaining an injury from training during the week, he played in the match againstGroningen on 24 January, billed as a "must-win" match by coachMarco van Basten;[11] Vertonghen was unfortunate enough to be sent off for two yellow cards as Ajax lost 1–0. He was out for a month after sustaining a hamstring injury in an away win on 1 March againstUtrecht, but his return lasted only several games after his season was prematurely ended after aggravating another injury.
Under new coachMartin Jol, Vertonghen retained his place in the starting line-up for the2009–10 season. Despite injuring his toe while on international duty againstSpain the previous week, he scored his first goal of the season, a free kick, in a 6–0 thrashing ofNAC Breda on 13 September.[12] With the departure of Thomas Vermaelen toArsenal, he and fellow BelgianToby Alderweireld become the first choice centre-back pairing and soon became a firm fans' favourite.[13] Despite Ajax's erratic form in the latter weeks leading up to the winter break, he turned in some strong performances and attracted the interest of a number of clubs, includingBarcelona, but he played down the rumours, stating his intent to at least see out his contract with Ajax.[14][15]
After the winter break, Ajax went on a nine-game unbeaten streak in the league, with Vertonghen playing a key role. Their run of six consecutive clean sheets was ended in a 4–1 home win overPSV when the visiting side were awarded a penalty. Vertonghen was linked with a move toNewcastle United, and later he was also linked withMilan, stating, "I've heard Milan DirectorAdriano Galliani talk about me after the Champions League match inSan Siro and his words were very flattering."[16]
During the2011–12 Eredivisie season, Vertonghen emerged as one of Ajax's best players, demonstrating his versatility to cover multiple positions after Ajax had let several regular players out on long-term loans. After an impressive season, including a performance for which he was singled out for praise against Manchester United in theUEFA Europa League Round of 16, he was named the 2011–12Eredivisie Player of the Year. Named team captain byFrank de Boer, he led his Ajax to their second title in a row, scoring eight goals in 31 league games, highlighting his attacking strengths. Also, for the second time, he dropped the Championship plate. "Now it falls on my toe – this plate just does not like me," Vertonghen said.[21]
Throughout the 2011–12 season, Vertonghen was linked with English clubTottenham Hotspur and publicly expressed his desire to make the move toWhite Hart Lane ahead of numerous other teams. A key factor in this was his desire to play as a centre-back, with Arsenal wanting to use him as a defensive midfielder. On 8 July 2012, Tottenham agreed a fee and terms for Vertonghen subject to a medical. On 12 July, Tottenham announced that they had officially completed the signing of Vertonghen, for an amount around 12 million Euros, after he successfully completed his medical.[22][23] Vertonghen took part in his first game as a Tottenham player in a 3–2friendly win againstBrentford on 14 July, then later scored his first goal for the club on 26 September in a 3–0 win againstCarlisle United in the third round of theFootball League Cup.[24]
During a League Cup match withAston Villa in September, Villa strikerNicklas Helenius gained notoriety when Vertonghen pulled down his shorts while he shot on goal, which revealed hisbriefs.[30] After an incident the following game withChelsea which gotFernando Torres sent off, Chelsea coachJosé Mourinho thought that Vertonghen should not have been playing because of the Helenius incident which he said that Vertonghen left the striker "naked".[31]
At the start of the2014–15 season, Vertonghen appeared to be out of favour with new managerMauricio Pochettino. The Argentine gave Vertonghen limited games, preferringYounès Kaboul andFederico Fazio. However, Kaboul lost his place to Vertonghen, who formed an effective partnership with Fazio. Together, the pair, over the span of 15 games, celebrated 11 wins and only suffered one loss. Vertonghen helped Spurs to reach the2015 League Cup Final and started the game on 1 March 2015, but Tottenham lost torival clubChelsea atWembley Stadium 2–0.[32]
Vertonghen was joined in defence by former Ajax teammate and compatriot Alderweireld at the start of the2015–16 season. Over the first ten games of the season, Vertonghen and Alderweireld played ten out of the opening ten games together, with Spurs suffering only one loss during the span. In late January 2016, he damaged his medial knee-ligament and did not play for 11 weeks.[33] He returned in the home match against Manchester United on 10 April 2016, which finished in a 3–0 win, the first home league win for Tottenham against Manchester United since 2001.[34] His partnership with Alderweireld in the defence was recognised as being crucial for the club which had the joint-lowest number of goals conceded in the Premier League that season.[35][36]
On 2 December 2016, Vertonghen signed a new contract with Tottenham until 2019.[35] However, in mid January 2017, Vertonghen suffered an ankle ligament injury that would see him out of action for five weeks.[33] He returned to the team on 19 February in the fifth roundFA Cup match againstFulham atCraven Cottage.[37] This season, Vertonghen was part of the Tottenham defence that achieved the best defensive record for the club, with only 26 goals conceded in the Premier League (and only 9 conceded in home league games), 6 better than the previous record of 32 conceded that was set in the1908–09 season in theSecond Division.[38] He was considered then one of the best defenders in the Premier League.[39][40]
On 7 January 2018, Vertonghen scored his first goal for the club since October 2013, a 30-yard strike in the 3–0 win overWimbledon in the third round of the2017–18 FA Cup.[41] This season, he made 36 appearances out of the 38 Premier League games, as well six in the UEFA Champions League, and five in the cups.[42]
In the opening game of the2018–19 season againstNewcastle United, Vertonghen scored Tottenham's first goal of the season 8 minutes into the game, helping the team to a 2–1 win.[43] However, he suffered a hamstring injury in the game againstHuddersfield on 29 September, and was out for two months,[44] returning to the starting lineup in theChampions League game againstInter Milan in late November.[45] His contract with Tottenham was extended to 2020 in December 2018.[46] In thelast 16 round home game againstBorussia Dortmund in the Champions League, Vertonghen played in the less familiar position of leftwing back, scoring one goal and providing one assist in a game that finished 3–0. He received wide praise for his performance in this game,[47][48][49] and he was named the Champions League Player of the Week by UEFA.[50]
In the match againstAjax in the semifinal of the Champions League, he suffered a head injury after clashing his head with Toby Alderweireld.[51][52] He returned to play in the leg in Amsterdam wearing a protective mask, and helped the team to a dramatic win against Ajax that sent Tottenham to their first Champions League final.[53][54] Vertonghen later revealed that the collision left him with symptoms ofconcussion such as dizziness and headaches for nine months afterwards, which affected his performance in the following and final season with Tottenham.[55]
In the2019–20 season, Vertonghen scored a late goal also as the winning goal, his first of the season, in the away game againstWolverhampton Wanderers to snatch a 2–1 win.[56] On 26 December 2019, he made his 300th Tottenham appearance in a 2–1 home comeback win overBrighton & Hove Albion.[57] Vertonghen's contract was originally set to expire on 30 June 2020, but was extended to the end of the 2019–20 campaign due to the stoppage related toCOVID-19. He became a free agent after the club's last game of the season againstCrystal Palace.[58] Vertonghen did not appear in the match.
On 14 August 2020,Benfica announced the signing of the 33-year old on a three-year deal.[59] He made his debut on 15 September away to Greece'sPAOK in the third qualifying round of the Champions League, a 2–1 loss in a one-leg match where he scored an own goal.[60] Three days later he played for the first time in thePrimeira Liga, a 5–1 win atFamalicão in the season opener.[61] On 3 December 2020, Vertonghen scored his first goal for Benfica in a home match againstLech Poznan in the group stage of theEuropa League.[62]
On 2 September 2022, Vertonghen signed with Belgian clubAnderlecht on a free transfer, after he and Benfica agreed to the termination of his contract.[63]
Vertonghen made his debut for Anderlecht on 7 August 2022, in a 2–2 home draw againstLeuven in theBelgian Pro League. He scored his first goal for Anderlecht on 18 September 2022, in aBelgian Pro League match againstKortrijk He scored with a powerful header, contributing to a 4–1 home win. Jan Vertonghen first wore the captain's armband for Anderlecht on 23 October 2022, during aBelgian Pro League match against fierce rivalsStandard de Liège in the Belgian Clasico, at theStade Maurice Dufrasne .The match was abandoned due to flares being thrown by the away supporters after the hosts went 3–1 up. Vertonghen stepped in as captain due to the absence of the regular captain,Hendrik Van Crombrugge. Vertonghen was named captain ahead of the 2023–24 season, his second with the club.[64]
On 11 December 2023, Jan Vertonghen made his 50th appearance for Anderlecht in a 1–1 away draw againstGent, at thePlanet Group Arena.
On 5 May 2024, in a 0–0Belgian Pro League Champions’ Playoffs match in the Brussels Derby againstUnion Saint-Gilloise, Vertonghen picked up a groin injury, sidelining him for the rest of the season. His absence was an integral part of Anderlecht losing the title to rivalsClub Brugge. On 18 July 2024, Vertonghen signed a one-year extension with Anderlecht.[65] In March 2025, he announced his retirement from professional football by the end of the 2024–25 season.[66] On 18 May 2025, Vertonghen played his last professional match againstBrugge.[67]
On 2 June 2007, he made his senior debut for thenational team in a 2–1 home loss againstPortugal inUEFA Euro 2008qualification. At the end of the game he was fouled by substitute strikerHugo Almeida, who was sent off.[68] Vertonghen was also selected for the 2008 Olympics and played in every match as the Belgians unexpectedly took fourth place.
In the2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying, he began to establish himself as a regular for Belgium, initially at centre-back as former Ajax teammateThomas Vermaelen's partner. He scored the opening goal, also his first ever international goal,[69] in an August 2009 friendly against theCzech Republic that ended in a 3–1 loss. On 7 September 2009, in aWorld Cup qualifying away match againstSpain, he injured his toe and had to be stretchered off and substituted in the 29th minute of a 5–0 loss.[70] He often played at left-back as Vermaelen andVincent Kompany were the preferred pairing in central defence.[71] He was back in the starting eleven for the friendly againstHungary, a 3–0 win,[72] and the 1–0 loss toCroatia the following March.
On 13 May 2014, Vertonghen was named inBelgium's squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[73] In the team's opening match againstAlgeria, the African side was awarded a penalty after Vertonghen pulled downSofiane Feghouli and received a yellow card. Feghouli scored for Algeria from the penalty spot, but Belgium came back to win 2–1.[74] He was then replaced by Thomas Vermaelen in the starting line-up for the second match againstRussia on 22 June.[75] After 31 minutes, however, Vermaelen was taken off with an injury and replaced by Vertonghen.[75] In the final group match, Vertonghencaptained the team and scored the winning goal as Belgium beatSouth Korea 1–0.[76]
Early in the 2014–15 season, Vertonghen knocked a child unconscious with a misplaced shot during a training session with the Belgian squad.[77] In 2016, he injured two ligaments in his ankle in an accident while training before the quarter-final against Wales duringUEFA Euro 2016, and as a result missed the match that Belgium lost.[78]
Eleven years to the day on from his international debut, against the same opposition (Portugal), Vertonghen won his 100thcap (the first in Belgian history), which was presented to him by his mother.[79]
At the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Vertonghen initiated the scoring in Belgium's second-half comeback from a 2–0 deficit againstJapan, heading into the far post from 20 yards out as his side went on to win 3–2.[80]
Vertonghen was called up to Belgium's squads forUEFA Euro 2020,[81] in which they reached the quarter-finals, as well as the2022 FIFA World Cup,[82] in which they were eliminated in the group stage.
On 28 May 2024, Vertonghen was called up to Belgium's squad forUEFA Euro 2024.[83] He scored an own goal in their 1–0 defeat toFrance in theround of 16.[84]
Vertonghen announced his retirement from international football on 5 July 2024, ending his Belgium career with a record 157 appearances across seventeen years.[85]
The friendlies againstRomania on 14 November 2012 andLuxembourg on 26 May 2014 are not officially recognised FIFA matches due to an excessive number ofsubstitutions when only six were allowed.[89]
Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Vertonghen goal.[90]
List of international goals scored by Jan Vertonghen
