Kenneth Paal

Kenneth Immanuël Paal (born 24 June 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a left back and is currently a free agent and the Suriname national football team. Born in the Netherlands, Paal represented them at U17 level before switching to Suriname at senior level.

Kenneth Paal

Paal in 2025
Personal information
Full name	Kenneth Immanuël Paal[1]
Date of birth	(1997-06-24) 24 June 1997 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth	Arnhem, Netherlands
Height	1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	Queens Park Rangers
Number	22
Youth career
	NEC
0000–2014	PSV
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2018	Jong PSV	88	(5)
2015–2019	PSV	5	(0)
2018–2019	→ PEC Zwolle (loan)	29	(0)
2019–2022	PEC Zwolle	71	(3)
2022–2025	Queens Park Rangers	123	(6)
International career‡
2012–2014	Netherlands U17	13	(0)
2022–	Suriname	14	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 05:55, 10 June 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Paal made his professional debut for Jong PSV playing in the Eerste Divisie, the 2nd tier of professional football in the Netherlands, on 9 August 2014 against Achilles '29. He started in the first eleven at the first fixture of the 2014–15 season.^[3]

In June 2018, Paal joined PEC Zwolle on loan for the 2018–19 season with the club holding the option to buy.^[4] In May 2019, he signed a three-year contract with the club.^[5][6]

Queens Park Rangers

On 19 June 2022, Paal joined Championship club Queens Park Rangers on a three-year contract following the mutual termination of his contract with PEC Zwolle.^[7] He scored his first goal for QPR in a 3-0 win against Cardiff City on 19 October 2022.^[8]

He departed the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2024–25 season.^[9]

Personal life

Born in the Netherlands, Paal is of Surinamese descent.^[10]

On 31 May 2022 it was announced that Paal was officially eligible to represent Suriname at the 2022–23 CONCACAF Nations League.^[11] Due to contract negotiations for a new club, Paal was unavailable to play for Natio. On 22 September 2022 Paal made his debut for his Suriname, in friendly against Nicaragua. It was held in Almere, Netherlands and resulted in a 2-1 victory for Suriname.^[12]

Career statistics

As of end of 2024–25 season

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong PSV	2014–15	Eerste Divisie	9	0	—		—		0	0	9	0
	2015–16	Eerste Divisie	34	3	—		—		0	0	34	3
	2016–17	Eerste Divisie	34	2	—		—		0	0	34	2
	2017–18	Eerste Divisie	11	0	—		—		0	0	11	0
	Total		88	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	88	5
PSV	2017–18	Eredivisie	5	0	1	0	—		0	0	6	0
PEC Zwolle (loan)	2018–19	Eredivisie	29	0	3	0	—		0	0	32	0
Pec Zwolle	2019–20	Eredivisie	19	3	2	0	—		0	0	21	3
	2020–21	Eredivisie	27	0	1	0	—		0	0	28	0
	2021–22	Eredivisie	25	0	0	0	—		0	0	25	0
	Total		100	3	6	0	0	0	0	0	106	3
QPR	2022–23	Championship	40	1	1	0	0	0	—		41	1
	2023–24	Championship	44	4	1	0	1	0	—		46	4
	2024–25	Championship	39	1	1	0	3	0	—		43	1
	Total		123	6	3	0	4	0	0	0	130	6
Career total			316	14	10	0	4	0	0	0	330	14

1. Includes KNVB Cup, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup