Sebastiaan Bornauw

Sebastiaan Bornauw (born 22 March 1999) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Leeds United.

Sebastiaan Bornauw

Bornauw with VfL Wolfsburg in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Sebastiaan Bornauw
Date of birth	(1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 26)
Place of birth	Wemmel, Belgium
Height	1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Leeds United
Number	23
Youth career
2007–2008	Wydad
2008–2009	Dender
2009–2018	Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Anderlecht	24	(1)
2019–2021	1. FC Köln	52	(7)
2021–2025	VfL Wolfsburg	88	(4)
2025–	Leeds United	0	(0)
International career
2014	Belgium U15	3	(0)
2015	Belgium U16	7	(0)
2015–2016	Belgium U17	16	(1)
2017	Belgium U18	1	(0)
2017–2018	Belgium U19	9	(1)
2019–2020	Belgium U21	8	(1)
2020–2023	Belgium	4	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:12, 1 July 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Youth

Bornauw began his club career - unusual for a European player - in the youth ranks of Moroccan First Division club Wydad Casablanca when his father was working there.^[2]

Anderlecht

Bornauw made his professional debut for Anderlecht in a 4–1 Belgian Pro League win over Kortrijk on 28 July 2018, at the age of 19. He played the full game.^[3] Bornauw would go on to become a key defender for Anderlecht, despite his young age. In total, he played in 24 league games and he scored one goal as a defender for Anderlecht in his debut season.

1. FC Köln

On 6 August 2019, Bornauw joined 1. FC Köln on a five-year deal.^[4] He scored his first Bundesliga goal on 20 October 2019 against SC Paderborn. In his first season at 1. FC Köln, Bornauw established himself as a regular starter^[5][6] and became a key player for the club.^[7]

VfL Wolfsburg

On 16 July 2021, Köln announced that the club had transferred Bornauw to VfL Wolfsburg, where he signed a contract until 2026.^[8] He scored his first goal for Wolfsburg on 26 February 2022 in a 2–2 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Leeds United

On 1 July 2025, Bornauw signed for Premier League club Leeds United on a four-year deal, for a fee of £5,100,000.^[9]

International career

Bornauw debuted with the Belgium national football team in a 1–1 friendly draw with Ivory Coast on 8 October 2020.^[10]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 May 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup[a]		League cup[b]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Anderlecht	2018–19[11]	Belgian Pro League	23	1	1	0	—		4[c]	0	—		28	1
	2019–20[11]	Belgian Pro League	1	0	0	0	—		—		—		1	0
	Total		24	1	1	0	—		4	0	—		29	1
Köln	2019–20[12]	Bundesliga	28	6	1	0	—		—		—		29	6
	2020–21[13]	Bundesliga	24	1	2	0	—		—		2[d]	0	28	1
	Total		52	7	3	0	—		—		2	0	57	7
Wolfsburg	2021–22[14]	Bundesliga	27	1	1	0	—		3[e]	0	—		31	1
	2022–23[15]	Bundesliga	26	1	2	0	—		—		—		28	1
	2023–24[16]	Bundesliga	20	0	1	0	—		—		—		21	0
	2024–25[17]	Bundesliga	15	2	1	0	—		—		—		16	2
	Total		88	4	5	0	—		3	0	—		96	4
Leeds United	2025–26[18]	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
Career total			164	12	9	0	0	0	7	0	2	0	182	12

1. Includes Belgian Cup, DFB-Pokal, FA Cup
2. Includes EFL Cup
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
4. Appearances in Bundesliga relegation play-offs
5. Appearances in UEFA Champions League