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Gjivai Zechiël

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Gjivai Zechiël
Zechiël playing for Feyenoord in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2004-06-01) 1 June 2004 (age 20)
Place of birth Rotterdam, Netherlands[1]
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Sparta Rotterdam
(on loan from Feyenoord)
Youth career
Swift Boys
XerxesDZB
2012–2018 Sparta Rotterdam
2018–2023 Feyenoord
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Feyenoord 10 (0)
2025–Sparta Rotterdam (loan) 8 (1)
International career
2024– Netherlands U21 6 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12 April 2025
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 March 2025

Gjivai Zechiël (born 1 June 2004) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on loan from Feyenoord.

Club career

[edit]

Zechiël is a youth product of the Dutch clubs Swift Boys, XerxesDZB and Sparta Rotterdam, before moving to the youth academy of Feyenoord in 2018. On 5 April 2022, he signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord until 2025.[2] On 27 August 2023, Zechiël made his professional debut for Feyenoord, coming in a substitute in a 6–1 league win over Sparta Rotterdam.[3] He made his debut for the club in the UEFA Champions League appearing as a second half substitute in a 3-1 home defeat to Red Bull Salzburg on 6 November 2024.[4]

On 4 February 2025, Zechiël returned to Sparta Rotterdam on loan until the end of the season, the club he had previously been at between 2012 and 2018.[5] He made his debut for the club on 8 February 2025, as a second half substitute in a 3-0 away loss to Feyenoord.[6] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3-0 away win on 29 March 2025 against Fortuna Sittard.[7]

International career

[edit]

Zechiël was called up to the Netherlands U19s for a set of 2022 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification matches in September 2022.[8]

He featured for the Netherlands national under-21 football team in a 3-3 draw against Slovakia U21 in friendly match on 21 November 2024, scoring the third Dutch goal on the day as they came from 3-1 down.[9]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of match played 12 April 2025
Appearances by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Feyenoord 2023–24 Eredivisie 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2024–25 Eredivisie 8 0 2 0 2[a] 0 1[b] 0 13 0
Total 10 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 15 0
Sparta Rotterdam 2024–25 Eredivisie 8 1 8 1
Career total 18 1 2 0 2 0 1 0 23 1
  1. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance in Johan Cruijff Shield

Personal life

[edit]

Born in the Netherlands, Zechiël is of Surinamese descent.[10] His father, Rowan Zechiël, was a semi-professional footballer who played for his youth club XerxesDZB.[11]

Honours

[edit]

Feyenoord

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Gjivai Zechiël". Soccerway. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  2. ^ Keemink, Mischa (5 April 2022). "Gjivai Zechiël tekent eerste profcontract". WaterwegSport.nl. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Feyenoord-debutant Zechiël na afloop overmand door emoties" [Feyenoord debutant Zechiël overwhelmed by emotions after match]. 27 August 2023. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
  4. ^ "FEYENOORD VS. SALZBURG 1 - 3". Soccerway. 6 November 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Zechiël keert op huurbasis terug bij Sparta" [Zechiël returns to Sparta on loan] (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  6. ^ "FEYENOORD VS. SPARTA ROTTERDAM 3 - 0". Soccerway. 8 February 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  7. ^ "FORTUNA SITTARD VS. SPARTA ROTTERDAM 0 - 3". Soccerway. 29 March 2025. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  8. ^ "34-koppige voorselectie Onder 19 voor kwalificatieduels bekend". www.onsoranje.nl. 2 September 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  9. ^ "SLOVAKIA U21 VS. NETHERLANDS U21 3 - 3". Soccerway. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Tranen van geluk bij Feyenoord-talent Zechiël na debuut: `Heel erg dankbaar`". drimble.nl. 28 August 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Voormalig XerxesDZB talent Gjivai Zechiel maakt debuut voor Feyenoord!". 28 August 2023. Retrieved 27 April 2025.