Dutch-Canadian soccer player
Frank Sturing (born May 29, 1997) is a professionalsoccer player who plays as acentre-back forInter Toronto FC in theCanadian Premier League . Born in the Netherlands, he represents Canada at international level.
Sturing began playing youth soccer in the Netherlands at age five with Oranje Blauw.[ 1] He joined the youth academy ofNEC at age 10.[ 2]
On 2 April 2017, Sturing made his senior debut for his debut forNEC in the DutchEredivisie againstVitesse .[ 3] [ 4] In February 2018, he signed an extension until June 2020 with an option for an additional year.[ 5] [ 6] At the end of the 2019-20 season, he departed the club, upon the expiry of his contract, after 13 years with the club.[ 7] [ 8]
In October 2020, Sturing joinedEerste Divisie sideFC Den Bosch on an amateur basis.[ 9] [ 10]
In September 2021, Sturing signed with Austrian2. Liga sideSV Horn .[ 11] [ 12] In April 2022, he extended his contract for an additional season.[ 13] He departed the club in June 2023.[ 14]
In January 2024, he signed withCanadian Premier League clubYork United FC (later re-branded asInter Toronto FC .[ 15] [ 16] Cavalry FC andPacific FC had also been interested in signing him.[ 17] He made his debut for York on April 26 againstVancouver FC .[ 18] In January 2025, Sturing re-signed with York United FC for the 2025 season.[ 19] In January 2026, he once again re-signed with the club for another season.[ 20]
International career [ edit ] Sturing was born in the Netherlands to a Dutch mother and a Canadian father.[ 1]
He played at the youth international level with theNetherlands U18 ,Netherlands U19 , andNetherlands U20 teams.[ 21] [ 22]
In 2019, Sturing reached out to theCanadian Soccer Association to let them know he was eligible and interested in representing Canada at international level.[ 23] In 2020, Sturing obtained his Canadian passport with the goal of representing Canada at the 2020 Olympic Games,[ 24] [ 25] despite never having been to Canada before.[ 26] In March 2020, he was named to the provisional squad for theCanada U23 for their Olympic qualification matches.[ 27] [ 28] However, the 2020 qualifiers were postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic .[ 29] In January 2021, he was called up to a training camp with theCanada senior team for the first time.[ 30] [ 31] In March 2021, he was originally called up to the Canada U23 for their postponed Olympic qualifies, but was then named to theCanada senior team roster for World Cup qualifiers.[ 32] On March 29, 2021, he made his senior international debut and scored his first goal in an 11–0 victory over theCayman Islands in a2022 World Cup qualification match.[ 33] He made a second appearance againstAruba , but has not appeared since.[ 34]
As of match played October 27, 2025 [ 35] ^ York United FC changed its name to Inter Toronto FC in 2026 ^ Appearance in the Promotion playoffs As of match played June 5, 2021 Appearances and goals by national team and year National team Year Apps Goals Canada 2021 2 1 Total 2 1
International goals [ edit ] Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first. ^a b Frank Sturing atCanada Soccer ^ Sommerdijk, Jan (30 May 2021)."Een Nijmegenaar die voetbalt voor Canada: het verhaal van Frank Sturing" [A Nijmegen resident who plays football for Canada: the story of Frank Sturing].Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). ^ "Frank Sturing: Nijmeegs jeugdproduct in de defensie van N.E.C." [Frank Sturing: Nijmegen youth product in NEC's defense].NEC Nijmegen (in Dutch). 11 December 2019.^ "Oostenrijks avontuur voor Canadees international Frank Sturing uit Nijmegen" [Austrian adventure for Canadian international Frank Sturing from Nijmegen].Headliner (in Dutch). 2 September 2021.^ "Frank Sturing N.E.C.'er tot 2020" [Frank Sturing NEC player until 2020].NEC Nijmegen (in Dutch). 28 February 2020.^ "NEC-verdediger Sturing verlengt contract" [NEC defender Sturing extends contract].Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). 6 February 2018.^ "Abrupt einde voor spelers met aflopend contract" [Abrupt end for players with expiring contracts].Forza NEC (in Dutch). 29 May 2020.^ van den Broek, Danny (5 December 2019)."Dit seizoen moet het gebeuren voor Frank Sturing" [This season it has to happen for Frank Sturing].De Gelderlander (in Dutch). ^ van Beek, Yvonne (5 October 2020)."Verdediger Sturing sluit op amateurbasis aan bij FC Den Bosch" [Defender Sturing joins FC Den Bosch on an amateur basis].Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). ^ "Frank Sturing versterkt FC Den Bosch" [Frank Sturing strengthens FC Den Bosch].Den Bosch Nieuws (in Dutch). 5 October 2020.^ "Herzlich Willkommen Frank Sturing und Djibril Fandje Toure!" [Welcome Frank Sturing and Djibril Fandje Toure!].SV Horn (in German). 1 September 2021.^ Pichel, Dominique (2 September 2021)."Oostenrijks avontuur voor voormalig FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing" [Austrian adventure for former FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing].Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). ^ "Sturing bleibt im Waldviertel" [Sturing stays in the Waldviertel].SV Horn (in German). 25 April 2022.^ Hewitt, Thomas (30 January 2024)."York United sign Canadian international centre-back Frank Sturing in surprise CPL move" .Canadian Soccer Daily . ^ "York United FC announce signing of Canadian defender Frank Sturing" .York United FC . 30 January 2024.^ Pichel, Dominique (31 January 2024)."Wens in vervulling voor Nijmeegse oud-NEC'er Frank Sturing: voetballen in Canada" [Wish come true for former NEC player Frank Sturing from Nijmegen: playing football in Canada].De Gelderlander (in Dutch). ^ Jacques, John (4 January 2024)."Multiple CPL Sides In Hunt For Frank Sturing" .Northern Tribune . ^ Tierney, Mitchell (26 April 2024)."Match Analysis: Second half masterclass powers York United past Vancouver FC" .Canadian Premier League . ^ "Frank Sturing extends stay with The Nine Stripes" .York United FC press release . 21 January 2025.^ "Inter Toronto Football Club announces Frank Sturing contract re-signing" .Inter Toronto FC . 22 January 2026.^ Hessing, David (2 February 2021)."Wordt deze Nijmeegse speler van FC Den Bosch international voor Canada?" [Will this Nijmegen player from FC Den Bosch become an international for Canada?].De Stentor (in Dutch). ^ Janssen, Sander."Frank Sturing op avontuur met Canada: 'Oranje zit er niet meer in' " [Frank Sturing on an adventure with Canada: 'Orange is no longer an option'].Voetbal International (in Dutch). ^ Janssen, Joram (6 March 2020)."Sturing gaat vol voor interlandcarrière met Canada" [Sturing goes all out for international career with Canada].Forza NEC (in Dutch). ^ van Mil, Lars (30 May 2020)."NEC'er Sturing kan naar Spelen in Tokio: "Ik wil daar echt bij zijn" " [NEC player Sturing can go to the Games in Tokyo: "I really want to be there"].FC Update (in Dutch). ^ Pichel, Dominique (1 August 2020)."NEC'er Sturing wacht op club én interlanddebuut bij Canada" [NEC'er Sturing awaits club and international debut with Canada].De Gelderlander (in Dutch). ^ Pichel, Dominique (16 April 2021)."Frank Sturing debuteerde al voor Canada maar was er nog nooit: 'Het volkslied heb ik helemaal meegezongen' " [Frank Sturing made his debut for Canada but had never been there before: 'I sang the entire national anthem'].De Gelderlander (in Dutch). ^ "NEC'er Sturing wil naar Olympische Spelen met Canada" [NEC'er Sturing wants to go to the Olympic Games with Canada].Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). 1 March 2020.^ van den Broek, Danny (6 March 2020)." 'Mister' Sturing van NEC wil met Canada naar de Olympische Spelen in Tokio" ['Mister' Sturing from NEC wants to go to the Olympic Games in Tokyo with Canada].De Gelderlander (in Dutch). ^ Pichel, Dominique (10 December 2020)."Nijmegenaar Frank Sturing wil via Den Bosch met Canada naar Tokio" [Nijmegen resident Frank Sturing wants to travel to Tokyo with Canada via Den Bosch].De Gelderlander (in Dutch). ^ Davidson, Neil (1 February 2021)."Dutch-born defender Frank Sturing enjoys first taste of life with Canada soccer team" .The Globe & Mail . ^ Martens, Jan (24 December 2020)."Canadese voetbaltoekomst gloort voor FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing" [Canadian soccer future bright for FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing].Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). ^ Pichel, Dominique (23 March 2021)."FC Den Bosch-verdediger Frank Sturing zit plots bij de nationale ploeg van Canada" [FC Den Bosch defender Frank Sturing suddenly joins the Canadian national team].Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). ^ Pichel, Dominique (30 March 2021)."Droomdebuut voor Den Bosch-speler Frank Sturing in Canadees voetbalelftal" [Dream debut for Den Bosch player Frank Sturing in Canadian national football team].Brabants Dagblad (in Dutch). ^ Jacques, John (17 January 2024)."Veth: Nine Stripes Set To Sign Sturing" .Northern Tribune . ^ Frank Sturing at Soccerway