Thomas Bruns

For the German writer and poet, see Thomas Bruns (poet).

Thomas Bruns (born 7 January 1992) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo.^[1]

Thomas Bruns

Bruns in 2020
Personal information
Date of birth	(1992-01-07) 7 January 1992 (age 33)
Place of birth	Wierden, Netherlands
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Heracles Almelo
Number	17
Youth career
0000–2003	SV Omhoog
2003–2011	Twente
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2011–2017	Heracles Almelo	175	(24)
2017–2021	Vitesse	61	(3)
2019	→ Groningen (loan)	15	(2)
2019–2020	→ PEC Zwolle (loan)	8	(1)
2020	→ VVV-Venlo (loan)	6	(0)
2021–2022	Adanaspor	30	(3)
2022–	Heracles Almelo	83	(7)
International career
2008	Netherlands U16	1	(1)
2008–2009	Netherlands U17	7	(1)
2012	Netherlands U20	2	(0)
2013	Netherlands U21	3	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10 June 2025

Club career

Heracles Almelo

Bruns with Heracles Almelo in 2023

Born in Wierden, Bruns is a product of the local youth academy (Dutch source), which since 2020 has developed into an equal venture between Heracles Almelo and FC Twente. Bruns left the Hengelo-based institute in 2011 to join Eredivisie side Heracles Almelo.^[2] A couple of months after joining the club, Bruns finally made his debut on 9 April 2011, in Heracles' 6–2 away victory against Willem II, replacing Everton in the 79th minute.^[3] The following season, Bruns scored his first league goal for Heracles, in their 4–2 home defeat against Heerenveen.^[4] After a couple of seasons at the club, Bruns finally became a regular in the starting eleven, during Heracles' 2014–15 campaign, making twenty-nine starts and netting seven times.^[5]

Vitesse

On 10 April 2017, it was announced that Bruns would join Vitesse on a free transfer, at the end of the 2016–17 campaign upon the expiry of his current contract at Heracles.^[6]

FC Groningen

On 24 December 2018, it was announced that Bruns would join fellow Eredivisie side Groningen on loan for the remainder of the campaign as of 1 January 2019.^[7]

Adanaspor

On 12 August 2021, he joined Turkish TFF First League club Adanaspor on a two-year contract.^[8] He made his debut for Turuncu on 21 August, replacing Uğurcan Yazğılı in the 70th minute of a 0–0 home draw against Gençlerbirliği.^[9] On 8 January 2022, he scored his first goal for the club, opening the score in a 3–1 league victory against Bursaspor.^[10] Bruns scored three goals in 32 appearances for Adanaspor, as the team avoided relegation by one point.^[5][11]

Return to Heracles Almelo

On 3 August 2022, Bruns returned to Heracles Almelo and signed a three-year contract.^[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 April 2019^[5]

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
Heracles Almelo	2010–11	Eredivisie	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
	2011–12	Eredivisie	19	1	5	1	—		—		24	2
	2012–13	Eredivisie	27	6	3	0	—		—		30	6
	2013–14	Eredivisie	31	1	3	1	—		—		34	2
	2014–15	Eredivisie	32	7	2	0	—		—		34	7
	2015–16	Eredivisie	33	5	2	0	—		4[a]	2	39	7
	2016–17	Eredivisie	32	4	1	0	2[b]	0	—		35	4
	Total		175	24	16	2	2	0	4	2	197	28
Vitesse	2017–18	Eredivisie	29	3	1	0	5[b]	1	4[c]	0	39	4
	2018–19	Eredivisie	8	0	1	0	3[b]	0	—		12	0
	Total		37	3	2	0	8	1	4	0	51	4
Groningen (loan)	2018–19	Eredivisie	15	2	0	0	—		2[a]	0	17	2
PEC Zwolle (loan)	2019–20	Eredivisie	8	1	0	0	—		–		8	1
VVV-Venlo (loan)	2019–20	Eredivisie	6	0	0	0	—		–		6	0
Career total			241	30	18	2	10	1	10	2	279	35

1. Appearance(s) in Eredivisie European play-offs
2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
3. One appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield, three in Eredivisie European play-offs