*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:31, 5 February 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:31, 26 March 2024 (UTC)
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]
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]
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 would score a hat-trick in Rangers fourth round Scottish Cup tie against Fraserburgh and would finish 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 would score scored Rangers equaliser in a 2–1 defeat.[29]
International career
Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, Dessers chose to represent Nigeria at international level in December 2019.[30] 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][31]
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