Siebe Van der Heyden

Siebe Van der Heyden (born 30 May 1998) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for the Belgian Pro League side Gent^[1] and the Belgium national team.^[2]

Siebe Van der Heyden

Van der Heyden in 2025
Personal information
Date of birth	(1998-05-30) 30 May 1998 (age 27)
Place of birth	Denderleeuw, Belgium
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Centre back
Team information
Current team	Gent
Number	44
Youth career
2004-2005	SK Denderhoutem
2005-2008	Dender
2008–2009	Club Brugge
2009–2016	Anderlecht
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2018	Oostende	2	(1)
2018–2019	FC Eindhoven	32	(1)
2019–2023	Union SG	97	(3)
2023–	Mallorca	8	(0)
2025	→ FC St. Pauli (loan)	13	(1)
2025-	Gent	0	(0)
International career‡
2022–	Belgium	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4:45, 29 July 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 29 July 2025

Club career

Early career

Van der Heyden started with SK Denderhoutem in 2004, before moving to Dender.^[3][4] He also played for the youth academies of Club Brugge and Anderlecht. He was denied a professional contract at Anderlecht despite regularly starting for their youth team but signed his first professional contract at Belgian Pro League team Oostende in the summer of 2016, where he signed a two-year contract.^[5][6][7] Van der Heyden made his Belgian First Division A debut for Oostende on 21 May 2017 against Anderlecht, coming on as a substitute in the 88th minute for David Rozehnal.^[8] Van der Heyden struggled to break into the first team however, and was released at the end of his contract in 2018.^[8]

Eindhoven

Van der Heyden was offered a contract with FC Knokke, but instead, on 30 July 2018, moved to the Netherlands, signing with FC Eindhoven for one year with an option to extend the contract for one more year following a trial.^[6][9][10] He made his debut on 17 August 2018, where he lost 2–1 against Jong PSV. He also scored in the same match, the only goal he would score that season.^[11] Over the season, he would be a regular starter for David Nascimento's side.^[12]

Union SG

On 10 July 2019, he returned to his home country in the following year, signing a three year old contract with an option to extend for another year with Challenger Pro League team Union SG.^[13] He made his debut with the team on 4 August 2019 in a 3–0 win against Roeselare.^[14][15] He scored his first goal for Union SG on 30 January 2021 against Molenbeek.^[16] His one year extension was activated on 11 August 2021, with another option for a one year extension.^[17]

Mallorca

On 19 July 2023, Van der Heyden signed a five-year contract with La Liga side Mallorca.^[18]

Loan to St. Pauli

On 30 January 2025, Van der Heyden joined St. Pauli in Germany on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season.^[19]

Move to Gent

On 25 July 2025, he joined Pro League side Gent, signing a contract until the summer of 2028^[1]

International career

On 18 March 2022, Van der Heyden was named in the senior Belgium squad for the two friendly matches on 26 and 29 March the same year, respectively against Republic of Ireland and Burkina Faso.^[20] He debuted against the former opponent, playing the full match in a 3–0 victory.^[21]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 17 May 2025^[22]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Oostende	2016–17	Belgian First Division A	1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	2017–18		1	0	0	0	—		—		1	0
	Total		2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
FC Eindhoven	2018–19	Eerste Divisie	32	1	1	0	—		—		33	1
Union SG	2019–20	Proximus League	13	0	2	0	—		—		15	0
	2020–21		24	2	3	0	—		—		27	2
	2021–22	Belgian First Division A	28	0	2	0	—		—		30	0
	2022–23		32	1	3	0	10[a]	0	—		45	1
	Total		97	3	10	0	10	0	0	0	117	3
Mallorca	2023–24	La Liga	6	0	5	0	—		—		11	0
	2024–25		2	0	0	0	—		0	0	2	0
	Total		8	0	5	0	—		0	0	13	0
St. Pauli (loan)	2024–25	Bundesliga	13	1	—		—		—		13	1
Career total			152	5	16	0	10	0	0	0	178	5

1. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

K.V. Oostende

• Belgian Cup runner-up: 2016-17

Union SG

• Challenger Pro League: 2020-21
• Belgian First Division A runner-up: 2021-22