Zinho Vanheusden

Zinho Vanheusden (born 29 July 1999) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Italian Serie A club Inter Milan and the Belgium national team.

Zinho Vanheusden

Personal information
Date of birth	(1999-07-29) 29 July 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Hasselt, Belgium
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Inter Milan
Number	13
Youth career
2008–2015	Standard Liège
2015–2018	Inter Milan
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	Inter Milan	0	(0)
2018–2019	→ Standard Liège (loan)	27	(2)
2019–2021	Standard Liège	28	(1)
2021–	Inter Milan	0	(0)
2021–2022	→ Genoa (loan)	14	(0)
2022–2023	→ AZ (loan)	7	(0)
2023–2024	→ Standard Liège (loan)	21	(0)
2024–2025	→ KV Mechelen (loan)	2	(0)
International career‡
2014–2015	Belgium U16	11	(1)
2015–2016	Belgium U17	14	(6)
2016–2017	Belgium U18	2	(0)
2017	Belgium U19	2	(0)
2017–2020	Belgium U21	11	(2)
2020–	Belgium	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:39, 13 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Inter Milan

In mid-2015, Vanheusden joined Inter Milan's youth academy^[1] after seven seasons in the Standard Liège youth system. He was promoted to the first team in the last few matches of 2016–17 Serie A;^[2] he also appeared as an unused bench for a few matches at the start of 2017–18 Serie A.^[3][4][5][6] He also played for the under-19 team as the starting defender, winning 2016–17 Campionato Nazionale Primavera.^[7] On 27 September 2017, Vanheusden injured his cruciate ligament in a UEFA Youth League match against Dynamo Kyiv,^[8] which kept him out of action for four months.^[9] On 26 January 2018, Vanheusden extended his contract with Inter until June 2022.^[10]

Loan to Standard Liège

On 30 January 2018, Vanheusden joined Standard Liège until 30 June 2018, with an option to extend for one more year.^[11] Vanheusden made his professional debut in a 1–0 Belgian First Division A playoff win over Gent on 14 April 2018.^[12]

Standard Liège

On 28 June 2019, Standard Liège signed Vanheusden in a permanent deal for a reported €12.5 million fee, which surpassed Nicolae Stanciu's record as the most expensive purchase by a Belgium club.^[13][14]

Return to Inter Milan

On 13 July 2021, he returned to Inter Milan.^[15]

Loan to Genoa

On 20 July, he was sent on loan to Genoa.^[16] He made his Serie A debut on 21 August against Inter away, at the Giuseppe Meazza in a 4–0 loss to his team.^[17]

Loan to AZ

On 25 July 2022, Vanheusden was loaned by AZ in the Netherlands, with an option to buy.^[18]

Loan to Standard Liège

On 8 July 2023, he returned to Standard Liège for the upcoming season.^[19]

Loan to KV Mechelen

On 25 July 2024, he joined KV Mechelen for a season-long loan, with an option to buy.^[20]

International career

Vanheusden debuted with the Belgium national team in a 1–1 friendly draw with Ivory Coast on 8 October 2020.^[21]

Personal life

Vanheusden is named after the Brazilian footballer, Zinho after his performance at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.^[22]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 November 2024^[23]

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
Standard Liège (loan)	2017–18	Belgian Pro League	1	0	0	0	0	0	–		1	0
	2018–19		26	2	0	0	4[a]	0	–		30	2
Standard Liège	2019–20		20	1	3	0	5[a]	1	–		28	2
	2020–21		8	0	0	0	5[a]	0	4[b]	0	17	0
	Total		55	3	3	0	14	1	4	0	76	4
Genoa (loan)	2021–22	Serie A	14	0	2	0	–		–		16	0
AZ (loan)	2022–23	Eredivisie	7	0	0	0	1[c]	0	–		8	0
Standard Liège (loan)	2023–24	Belgian Pro League	21	0	2	0	–		1[b]	0	24	0
KV Mechelen (loan)	2024–25	Belgian Pro League	2	0	1	0	–		–		3	0
Career total			99	3	8	0	15	1	5	0	127	4

1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearances in Belgian Pro League European play-offs
3. Appearance in UEFA Europa Conference League