Gijs Smal

Gijs Smal (born 31 August 1997) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Eredivisie club Feyenoord.

Gijs Smal

Smal in 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-08-31) 31 August 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	De Rijp, Netherlands
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Left-back
Team information
Current team	Feyenoord
Number	5
Youth career
	SV De Rijp
2010–2012	AFC '34
2012–2015	Volendam
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2020	Jong Volendam	63	(4)
2017–2020	Volendam	68	(9)
2020–2024	Twente	107	(4)
2024–	Feyenoord	25	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:56, 18 May 2025 (UTC)

Career

Born in De Rijp, Smal made his Eerste Divisie debut for FC Volendam on 22 September 2017 in a game against De Graafschap.^[1] He then managed to establish himself in the starting line-up and made 28 league appearances in his first season. The following season, Smal lost the competition for left-back to Robin Schouten, who had come over from Jong Ajax, and mainly appeared as a substitute. However, he did become champion of the Derde Divisie Sunday with the reserve team, Jong Volendam. Under the new head coach Wim Jonk, he again became a starter for the first team in the 2019–20 season. With six goals and ten assists, he was a key player in the second-tier that season, which was suspended and later abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 26 June 2020, Smal signed a three-year contract with Eredivisie club FC Twente, coming over on a free transfer.^[2]

Feyenoord

On 31 May 2024, Smal signed a four-year contract with Feyenoord.^[3] He made his official debut for the club on 18 August, coming on as a substitute in a 5–1 away win against PEC Zwolle.^[4]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			KNVB Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong Volendam	2015–16	Beloften Eredivisie	7	0	—		—		—		7	0
	2016–17	Derde Divisie	33	1	—		—		—		33	1
	2017–18	Derde Divisie	7	1	—		—		—		7	1
	2018–19	Derde Divisie	16	2	—		—		—		16	2
	Total		63	4	—		—		—		63	4
FC Volendam	2017–18	Eerste Divisie	28	3	—		—		—		28	3
	2018–19	Eerste Divisie	12	0	—		—		—		12	0
	2019–20	Eerste Divisie	28	6	1	0	—		—		29	6
	Total		68	9	1	0	—		—		69	9
FC Twente	2020–21	Eredivisie	22	0	1	0	—		—		23	0
	2021–22	Eredivisie	25	2	2	0	—		—		27	0
	2022–23	Eredivisie	34	2	2	0	4[a]	0	4[b]	0	44	2
	2023–24	Eredivisie	26	0	1	0	2[a]	0	—		29	0
	Total		107	4	6	0	6	0	4	0	123	2
Feyenoord	2024–25	Eredivisie	25	0	2	0	11[c]	0	0	0	38	0
Career total			244	19	9	0	17	0	4	0	274	21

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
2. Appearances in Eredivisie European competition play-offs
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Individual

• Eredivisie Team of the Month: May 2022,^[5] August 2022,^[6] November 2022,^[7] January 2023,^[8]