Emma Pijnenburg

Last updated

Emma Pijnenburg
Personal information
Full name Emma Sheela Pijnenburg [1]
Date of birth (2004-09-13) 13 September 2004 (age 21) [1]
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Position
Team information
Current team
Wellington Phoenix [2]
Number 32
Youth career
–2023 Western Springs AFC
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023–2025 Feyenoord [3] 30 (1)
2025– Wellington Phoenix [2] 2 (0)
International career
2022–2024 New Zealand U-20 [4] 3 (0)
2025– New Zealand [5] 7 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 January 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 2 December 2025

Emma Sheela Pijnenburg (born 13 September 2004) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or full-back for A-League club Wellington Phoenix and the New Zealand national team.

Contents

Youth career

Pijnenburg played for local Auckland club Western Springs, starting from the age of six. [6] As well as playing for Western Springs, in her youth Pijnenburg was also selected for the Auckland Football Federation women's team, [6] and the Football Ferns training squad. [6]

Club career

Feyenoord

In the European winter break of 2023, Pijnenburg was signed by Dutch club Feyenoord. [7] The midfielder was signed on a two year contract, and made her debut for the club on 17 February 2024. [8]

Wellington Phoenix

On 29 December 2025, it was announced that Pijnenburg would be joining the Wellington Phoenix with immediate effect. She was signed on a contract that would see her stay with the club for the remainder of the 2025–26 A-League Women season. As she does for the Football Ferns, Pijnenburg wears the number 32 shirt. [9] Pijnenburg was immediately added into the wider squad ahead of the Phoenix's next match against Western Sydney Wanderers on 30 December 2025. [10] In that match, Pijnenburg made her debut for new club, coming on as a substitute for CJ Bott in the 53rd minute. The match ended in a 3–0 victory for the Phoenix. [11]

International career

Pijnenburg was selected for the New Zealand U-20 side in 2024 as part of the side that would play at the 2024 FIFA Women's U-20 Women's World Cup held in Colombia. [4]

On 3 February 2025, Pijnenburg was selected in the Football Ferns squad for the first time in her career ahead of a two match series against Costa Rica. [5] Pijnenburg made her debut in the second match of the series played on the 25th of February, coming on as a substitite for Grace Neville in the 80th minute. Pijnenburg wears the number 32 shirt for the Football Ferns. [12]

References

  1. 1 2 "Emma Pijnenburg Player Profile". Soccerdonna. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Nix sign young Football Ferns midfielder". Wellington Phoenix. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  3. "Midfielder Emma Pijnenburg signs first pro contract with top Dutch club". Friends of Football. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Squad named for September's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2024 in Colombia". NZ Football. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Three debutants named in first Football Ferns squad of 2025". NZ Football. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 "Emma Pijnenburg selected for NZ U20 World Cup". Western Springs AFC. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  7. "Midfielder Emma Pinenburg signs first pro contract with top Dutch club". Friends of Football. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  8. "Emma Pijnenburg makes move to Wellington Phoenix FC". Feyenoord. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  9. "Wellington Phoenix sign White Ferns midfielder". amp.rnz.co.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  10. "Squads named for women's A-League match between Wanderers and Phoenix". Friends of Football. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  11. "Western Sydney Wanderers FC vs Wellington Phoenix". Fotmob. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  12. "Costa Rica vs New Zealand". Sofascore. Retrieved 30 December 2025.