Cyriel Dessers

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Cyriel Dessers
Cyriel Dessers 2017 (cropped).jpg
Dessers with Utrecht in 2017
Personal information
Full name Cyriel Kolawole Dessers [1]
Date of birth (1994-12-08) 8 December 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Tongeren, Belgium
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Rangers
Number 9
Youth career
FC De Zwaluw Vechmaal
Union FC Rutten
K.S.K. Tongeren
Sint-Truiden
–2011 K.S.K. Tongeren
2011–2014 OH Leuven
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2014 OH Leuven 1 (0)
2014–2016 Lokeren 32 (4)
2016–2017 NAC Breda 36 (22)
2017–2019 FC Utrecht 40 (12)
2019–2020 Heracles Almelo 26 (15)
2020–2022 Genk 38 (10)
2021–2022 → Feyenoord (loan) 27 (9)
2022–2023 Cremonese 26 (6)
2023– Rangers 61 (27)
International career‡
2020– Nigeria 6 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 05:09, 2 March 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:31, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Cyriel Kolawole Dessers (born 8 December 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership club Rangers. Born in Belgium, he plays for the Nigeria national team.

Contents

Dessers has spent the majority of his club career playing in Belgian and Dutch football. He was the top scorer in the Eredivisie in the 2019–20 season, while playing for Heracles Almelo. He was the top scorer in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League and was named in the competition's Team of the Season, while playing for Feyenoord.

Dessers qualified to play for Nigeria at international level because of his Nigerian mother. He made his senior international debut in October 2020.

Club career

OH Leuven

Dessers joined OH Leuven's youth system from K.S.K. Tongeren at the age of 16 in 2011. [2] He had previously played youth football for FC De Zwaluw Vechmaal, Union FC Rutten and Sint-Truiden. [3] He began studying law at university (KU Leuven) while playing for OH Leuven's youth teams. [2] During the 2013–14 season, Dessers stood out for OH Leuven's under-19 and reserve teams, scoring 21 goals in 21 reserve games by March. [4] With OHL in danger of relegation and several first-team strikers either out of shape, injured or suspended, he was given his first minutes in the first-team in a 3–2 away loss against Mons. [5]

Lokeren

In April 2014, Dessers signed a two-year deal with Lokeren. [6]

NAC Breda

In July 2016, he signed for Eerste Divisie club NAC Breda on a contract until the summer of 2019. [7] On 28 May 2017, they were promoted to the Eredivisie after a 4–1 victory over NEC, in which Dessers scored three goals. [8] He finished the season with 29 goals in 40 matches. [9]

Dessers with Lokeren in 2014 Metall-Lokeren (6).jpg
Dessers with Lokeren in 2014

FC Utrecht

In July 2017, Dessers moved to FC Utrecht, agreeing a contract for three years with an option for an additional year. [10]

Heracles Almelo

Dessers joined Heracles Almelo in July 2019. [11] After the 2019–20 Eredivisie season was abandoned, he was jointly awarded the top goalscorer award alongside Steven Berghuis, with 15 goals each. [12]

Genk and loan to Feyenoord

On 30 June 2020, Dessers moved to Genk on a four-year deal. [13]

On 31 August 2021, Dessers returned to the Netherlands to join Feyenoord on loan with an option to buy. [14] He scored his first goal for the club on 19 September, scoring Feyenoord's fourth goal in a 4–0 away win against PSV. [15] Dessers finished the season as UEFA Europa Conference League Top scorer with ten goals in 12 matches and was also selected for the UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season. Overall Dessers scored 20 goals for Feyenoord in 41 matches during season 2021-22.

On 1 June 2022, Feyenoord announced that they had opted not to exercise the option to purchase Dessers' contract. [16]

Cremonese

On 10 August 2022, Dessers signed for Italian club Cremonese. [17] Dessers scored seven goals for Cremonese in 29 matches. Cremonese finished 19th in the Serie A table and were relegated to Serie B.

Rangers

Season 2023–24

On 6 July 2023, Dessers joined Scottish Premiership club Rangers for an undisclosed fee. [18] [19] He made his debut for the club on 5 August 2023, starting in a 1–0 defeat away to Kilmarnock. [20] Four days later, Dessers scored his first goal for Rangers, against Swiss club Servette in a Champions League qualifying tie. [21]

On 21 April 2024 Dessers scored twice against Heart of Midlothian to send Rangers to the final of the Scottish Cup. [22]

Following this Dessers scored another winning goal against St Mirren. [23] Dessers performances were praised by his manager Philippe Clement. [24] Following this game Dessers scored his 21st goal of the season in an away match against Celtic. [25] Dessers 22nd goal of the season came from a header against Dundee at Ibrox stadium with the assist for the goal from team mate Todd Cantwell. [26]

Season 2024–25

After scoring a double in the league against Ross County, Rangers manager Philippe Clement praised Dessers performance stating, "It's clear [Dessers] is taking the right steps and becoming more and more important. He's growing as a player, that’s what we want". [27]

In January 2025, Dessers scored a hat-trick in Rangers fourth round Scottish Cup tie against Fraserburgh and finished the match as team captain in the absence of James Tavernier and Jack Butland. [28] 4 days later, in a Europa League match against Manchester United, he scored Rangers equaliser in a 2–1 defeat. [29] In March 2025 in the first game under Barry Ferguson in Europe, Rangers beat Fenerbahçe 3-1 away from home, Dessers earned plaudits after scoring and assisting, whilst also having two goals ruled narrowly offside. [30]

International career

Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, Dessers chose to represent Nigeria at international level in December 2019. [31] Earlier in his career, he was called up to the Belgium under-21 national team for a game against Moldova, but he was an unused substitute. [3] [32]

On 4 March 2020, he was called up by Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr as part of the team players invited for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Sierra Leone. [33] Dessers debuted in a friendly 1–1 draw with Tunisia on 13 October 2020. [34]

In March 2024 Dessers was called up to the Nigeria team for matches against Ghana and Mali, with Dessers scoring in the Ghana match. [35]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 6 March 2025 [36] [37]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
OH Leuven 2013–14 Belgian Pro League 1000——1 [c] 020
Lokeren 2014–15 Belgian Pro League21433—3 [d] 02 [e] 0297
2015–16 11000———110
Total32433—3020407
NAC Breda 2016–17 Eerste Divisie 362200——4 [f] 74029
Utrecht 2017–18 Eredivisie 29922—5 [d] 13 [g] 03912
2018–19 11322——4 [g] 2177
Total401244—51725619
Heracles Almelo 2019–20 Eredivisie261533———2918
Genk 2020–21 Belgian Pro League32720———347
2021–22 3000—2 [h] 11 [i] 061
2022–23 3300———33
Total381020—21104311
Feyenoord (loan) 2021–22 Eredivisie27911—13 [j] 10—4120
Cremonese 2022–23 Serie A 26631———297
Rangers 2023–24 Scottish Premiership 3516434111 [k] 2—5422
2024–25 2611234411 [l] 4—4322
Total61276685226—9744
Career total2871052218854518159377155
  1. ↑ Includes Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup, Coppa Italia, Scottish Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Scottish League Cup
  3. ↑ Appearance in Belgian Pro League relegation play-offs
  4. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ↑ Appearances in Belgian Pro League Europa League play-offs
  6. ↑ Appearances in Eredivisie promotion play-offs
  7. 1 2 Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
  8. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  9. ↑ Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  10. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  11. ↑ Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  12. ↑ Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, nine appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 26 March 2024 [38]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Nigeria 202010
202231
202421
Total62
As of match played 26 March 2024
Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dessers goal. [38]
List of international goals scored by Cyriel Dessers
No.DateVenueCapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
128 May 2022 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1–11–2 Friendly
222 March 2024 Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco5Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 1–02–1 Friendly

Honours

Genk

Feyenoord

Rangers

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Player profile".
  2. 1 2 "Dessers maakt in Oostenrijk debuut voor nationale ploeg Nigeria". ad.nl. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Cyriel Dessers". rbfa.be. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  4. ↑ "'Ik leer in ijltempo bij'". nieuwsblad.be. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Jupiler Pro League - 30e speeldag: RAEC Mons - Oud-Heverlee Leuven 3 - 2" (in Dutch). ohl.be. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  6. ↑ "Lokeren signs young striker from OHL" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2 April 2014.
  7. ↑ "Sporting Lokeren-spits Cyriel Dessers (21) tekent voor 3 jaar bij NAC". omroepbrabant.nl. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "NEC degradeert na forse nederlaag tegen NAC". nos.nl. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "Cyriel Dessers: Cremonese sign Nigeria forward from Genk". BBC Sport. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "FC Utrecht hengelt Dessers binnen". 1 June 2018 (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 July 2018.
  11. ↑ "Dessers verruilt Utrecht voor Heracles". telegraaf.nl. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  12. ↑ "INTERVIEW CYRIEL DESSERS: "OF IK JALOERS BEN OP STEVEN BERGHUIS? JA"". elfvoetbal.nl. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. ↑ Projects, Sanmax (30 June 2020). "Cyriel Dessers: "Nu ben ik waar ik wil zijn." | KRC Genk". krcgenk.be. K.R.C. Genk.
  14. ↑ "Cyriel Dessers verhuurd aan Feyenoord". krcgenk.be (in Dutch). K.R.C. Genk. 31 August 2021.
  15. ↑ "Feyenoord vernedert onmachtig PSV in Eindhoven". vi.nl (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 19 September 2021.
  16. ↑ "Feyenoord decide against taking up Dessers option". feyenoord.com. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  17. ↑ "DESSERS NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLA CREMONESE" (in Italian). Cremonese. 10 August 2022. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "Scottish Gossip: Dessers, Bassey, Abada, Danilo, Matondo, Siegrist, Doig, Doidge, Levitt, Silvera". BBC Sport. 4 July 2023.
  19. ↑ "Cyriel Dessers: Rangers sign Nigeria striker from Cremonese for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 6 July 2023.
  20. ↑ "Kilmarnock 1-0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 5 August 2023.
  21. ↑ "Rangers 2–1 Servette". BBC Sport. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Rangers beat Hearts to set up final with Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  23. ↑ "St Mirren vs Rangers Match Report". Sky Sports.
  24. ↑ "St Mirren vs Rangers Match Report". Yahoo Sport.
  25. ↑ "Dessers Scores Again". Score Nigeria. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024.
  26. ↑ "Rangers Dundee Review". Sky Sports.
  27. ↑ "Rangers vs Ross County: Scottish Premiership". BBC Sport. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  28. ↑ "Rangers vs Fraserburgh: Scottish Cup". BBC Sport. 19 January 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2025.
  29. ↑ "Manchester United vs Rangers: UEFA Europa League". BBC Sport. 23 January 2025. Retrieved 29 January 2025.
  30. ↑ "Fenerbahce 1-3 Rangers: 'Cyriel Dessers leads way for weirdest Ibrox team ever'". BBC Sport. 6 March 2025. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  31. ↑ "Cyriel Dessers: Dutch league's leading scorer opts for Nigeria". BBC Sport. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  32. ↑ "Cyriel Dessers debuteert voor Nigeria: "Hoogtepunt in mijn carrière"". hln.be. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  33. ↑ Oludare, Shina. "Dessers & Ehizibue earn Nigeria call-ups as Leicester City's Iheanacho returns". Goal.com.
  34. ↑ "Nigeria vs. Tunisia". Soccerway. 13 October 2020.
  35. ↑ "Nigeria vs. Ghana". ESPN.
  36. ↑ Cyriel Dessers at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  37. ↑ "Cyriel Dessers » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  38. 1 2 "Cyriel Dessers Internationals". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  39. ↑ "Onuachu with an assist as Genk clinch Belgian Cup title after Standard Liege win". Goal. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  40. ↑ Honeyman, Sam (25 May 2022). "Roma 1–0 Feyenoord: Zaniolo strike wins the first Europa Conference League final". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  41. ↑ "Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen". BBC. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  42. ↑ "Cyriel Dessers named as player of the month". eredivisie.nl. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  43. ↑ "Dutch Eredivisie Top Scorers". NOS (in Dutch). 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  44. ↑ "2021/22 Europa Conference League top scorers: Cyriel Dessers finishes ahead of Tammy Abraham". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
  45. ↑ "2021/22 Europa Conference League Team of the Season". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
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