William Baeten

William Guido R Baeten (born 7 February 1997) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or a winger.

William Baeten

Personal information
Full name	William Guido R Baeten
Date of birth	(1997-02-07) 7 February 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	Houthalen-Helchteren, Belgium
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder, winger
Youth career
	Genk
0000–2016	Sint-Truiden
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	Dessel	64	(6)
2019–2020	Patro Eisden	21	(1)
2020–2024	FC U Craiova	120	(19)
2024–2025	FCSB	9	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 15 December 2024

Career

Early career

Baeten began his senior career at Dessel, making his debut in a 6–0 Belgian Cup thrashing of Patro Eisden on 27 August 2016. He came on as a 60th-minute substitute for Leo Njengo and scored the last goal of the match.

Baeten spent three years at the Belgian National Division 1 club, before joining fellow league team Patro Eisden in 2019.^[1]

FC U Craiova

Baeten moved abroad for the first time in the summer of 2020, signing a one-year contract with the option of another two years with Romanian club FC U Craiova.^[1] He scored his first goal on 25 October, in a 1–0 away Liga II victory over Petrolul Ploiești.^[2]

Baeten amassed 23 league appearances and two goals during his first season in Oltenia, as FC U Craiova achieved Liga I promotion from first place. On 16 July 2021, he netted a goal in a 2–3 away loss to defending champions CFR Cluj in the campaign's opener.

FCSB

On 13 July 2024, amid interest from CFR Cluj and Rapid București, Baeten was transferred to FCSB for €300,000, with FC U Craiova retaining 50% participation rights in a co-ownership deal.^[3][4]

He made his club and European debut on 23 July, in a 1–1 home draw with Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round,^[5] and eight days later scored the only goal of the second leg at the Bozsik Aréna in Budapest.^[6]

Style of play

Baeten possesses versatility across various midfield positions, including defensive, central, and offensive roles,^[2] and he also demonstrates proficiency as a right winger.^[4]

Career statistics

As of match played 15 December 2024^[7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Dessel	2016–17	Belgian National Division 1	27	2	2	1	—		—		29	3
	2017–18	Belgian National Division 1	23	4	—		—		—		23	4
	2018–19	Belgian National Division 1	14	0	2	0	—		—		16	0
	Total		64	6	4	1	—		—		68	7
Patro Eisden	2019–20	Belgian National Division 1	21	1	—		—		—		21	1
FC U Craiova	2020–21	Liga II	23	2	1	0	—		—		24	2
	2021–22	Liga I	32	7	1	0	—		—		33	7
	2022–23	Liga I	31	4	3	0	—		2[b]	1	36	5
	2023–24	Liga I	34	6	1	0	—		—		35	6
	Total		120	19	6	0	—		2	1	128	20
FCSB	2024–25	Liga I	9	0	2	0	7[c]	1	—		18	1
Career total			214	26	12	1	7	1	2	1	235	29

1. Includes Belgian Cup, Cupa României
2. Appearances in Liga I European play-offs
3. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

FC U Craiova^[7]

• Liga II: 2020–21

FCSB

• Liga I: 2024–25