Maxim De Cuyper

Maxim Peter M. De Cuyper (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈmɑksɪm də ˈkœypər]; born 22 December 2000) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the Belgium national team.

Maxim De Cuyper

Personal information
Full name	Maxim Peter M. De Cuyper[1]
Date of birth	(2000-12-20) 20 December 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Knokke-Heist, Belgium
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s)	Full-back
Team information
Current team	Brighton & Hove Albion
Youth career
	KFC Heist
	Blauw-Zwart
2016–2020	Club Brugge
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2025	Club Brugge	74	(6)
2020–2021	Club NXT	20	(5)
2021–2023	→ Westerlo (loan)	64	(15)
2025–	Brighton & Hove Albion	0	(0)
International career‡
2016	Belgium U16	3	(0)
2018	Belgium U19	1	(0)
2022–2023	Belgium U21	8	(1)
2024–	Belgium	10	(3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 23:00, 9 June 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Club Brugge

De Cuyper began his career at the youth academy of Club Brugge. On 20 February 2020, De Cuyper made his professional debut for Brugge against Manchester United in the first-leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 32. He started and played 73 minutes as Club Brugge drew 1–1.^[3] De Cuyper was then a starter again for Brugge in the second leg of the tie and played the whole match as Brugge fell 0–5.^[4] On 30 August 2020, De Cuyper made his debut for Club NXT, Brugge's reserve team, in Belgian First Division B. He came on as a 64th minute substitute as Brugge were defeated 2–2.^[5] On 4 February 2022, Club Brugge announced that they had extended de Cuyper's contract through 2025.^[6]

Westerlo (loan)

On 2 August 2021, he joined Westerlo on loan for the 2021–22 season.^[7] The loan was extended for the 2022–23 season.^[8]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 5 July 2025, De Cuyper transferred to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed transfer fee, signing a five-year contract.^[9][10]

International career

De Cuyper made his debut for the Belgium national team on 5 June 2024 in a friendly against Montenegro. He played the full game in a 2–0 victory at King Baudouin Stadium.^[11] De Cuyper was selected for the Belgium National team for the 2024 Euros,^[12] but was an unused substitute in all 4 of Belgium's games. De Cuyper scored his first goal for Belgium in a 2-2 draw against Italy on 10 October 2024.^[13]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 25 May 2025^[14]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Belgian Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Club Brugge	2019–20	Belgian Pro League	0	0	0	0	2[a]	0	–		2	0
	2020–21	Belgian Pro League	0	0	1	0	2[a]	0	–		3	0
	2023–24	Belgian Pro League	37	3	2	0	16[b]	2	–		55	5
	2024–25	Belgian Pro League	37	3	5	0	12[c]	1	0	0	54	4
	Total		74	6	8	0	32	3	0	0	114	9
Club NXT	2020–21	Belgian First Division B	20	5	–		–		–		20	5
	Total		20	5	–		–		–		20	5
Westerlo (loan)	2021–22	Belgian First Division B	25	6	3	0	–		–		28	6
	2022–23	Belgian Pro League	39	9	2	0	–		–		41	9
	Total		64	15	5	0	–		–		69	15
Career total			158	26	13	0	32	3	0	0	204	29

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League

International

As of match played 9 June 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Belgium	2024	6	1
	2025	4	2
Total		10	3

As of match played 6 June 2025

Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each De Cuyper goal.

List of international goals scored by Maxim De Cuyper

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	10 October 2024	Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy	3	Italy	1–2	2–2	2024–25 UEFA Nations League A	[16]
2	23 March 2025	Cegeka Arena, Genk, Belgium	8	Ukraine	1–0	3–0	2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs	[17]
3	6 June 2025	Toše Proeski Arena, Skopje, North Macedonia	9	North Macedonia	1–0	1–1	2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	[18]

Honours

Club Brugge

• Belgian Pro League: 2023–24^{[citation needed]}
• Belgian Cup: 2024–25
• Belgian Super Cup: 2021^[19]

Westerlo

• Belgian First Division B: 2021–22^[20]