Joep Kluskens

Last updated

Joep Kluskens
Joep Kluskens (2023).jpg
Kluskens in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-11-09) 9 November 2002 (age 23)
Place of birth Nederweert, Netherlands [1]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
VVV-Venlo
Number 6
Youth career
2008–2011 RKSV Merefeldia
2011–2014 Fortuna Sittard
2014–2019 PSV
2019–2020 Fortuna Sittard
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020– VVV-Venlo 57 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 19:23, 30 December 2025 (UTC)

Joep Kluskens (born 9 November 2002) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Eerste Divisie club VVV-Venlo.

Contents

Career

Kluskens began playing football with amateur club RSKV Merefeldia before joining the Fortuna Sittard academy in 2011. He later moved to PSV, where he spent five years in the club's youth system. In 2019, he returned to Fortuna Sittard, and a year later joined VVV-Venlo. [2]

He made his league debut for VVV on 25 April 2022 in a 6–1 away defeat to Jong Ajax, coming on shortly before full time for Ian Hussein Ngobi following an introduction by head coach Jos Luhukay. [3] One week later, he made his first start, featuring in a 2–2 draw against Excelsior. [4]

During the 2023 season, Kluskens established himself as VVV's first-choice midfielder, becoming a regular in the starting lineup and contributing consistently both defensively and in possession. [5]

On 14 May 2024, he signed a new contract with the club, extending his stay until 2026. [6] Later that summer, in August 2024, Kluskens sustained a serious knee injury that ruled him out for an extended period. [7]

After an absence of more than nine months, Kluskens returned to competitive action on 2 May 2025, coming on at half-time for Gabin Blancquart in a 2–1 Eerste Divisie defeat to Emmen. [8] One week later, in the final match of the season, he scored his first senior competitive goal in a 7–2 home defeat to ADO Den Haag. [9]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 December 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague KNVB Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
VVV-Venlo 2021–22 Eerste Divisie 300030
2022–23 Eerste Divisie160201 [a] 0190
2023–24 Eerste Divisie29010270
2024–25 Eerste Divisie210021
2025–26 Eerste Divisie701080
Career total5714010621
  1. Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs

References

  1. "Joep Kluskens uit Nederweert tekent eerste profcontract bij VVV-Venlo". Nederweert24 (in Dutch). 14 October 2022. Archived from the original on 21 October 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  2. "Merefeldiaan Joep Kluskens maakt debuut voor VVV". De Limburger (in Dutch). 29 April 2022. Archived from the original on 25 August 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. "VVV-Venlo niet opgewassen tegen Ihattaren en co". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  4. Jongen, Guy (29 April 2022). "VVV-Venlo laat drie punten in slotfase alsnog uit handen glippen". Venlonaren (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 28 August 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  5. Hakim, Qasim (15 September 2023). "Op het middenveld van VVV houdt Joep Kluskens gevestigde namen uit de basis: 'Ik ben op alle vlakken gevormd bij PSV'". De Limburger (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  6. "VVV-Venlo bindt Kluskens tot medio 2026 met nieuw contract" [VVV-Venlo extend Kluskens' contract to mid-2026]. VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 14 May 2024. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  7. "Zware knieblessure voor Jan Klaasens Award-winnaar Kluskens". VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 2 August 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  8. Schreurs, Joost (3 May 2025). "Na maanden revalideren is VVV'er Kluskens terug: 'Volgend seizoen wordt mijn seizoen'" [After months of rehabilitation, VVV's Kluskens returns: 'Next season will be my season']. L1 Nieuws (in Dutch). Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  9. "VVV-Venlo hard onderuit tegen ADO Den Haag in laatste competitiewedstrijd" [VVV-Venlo suffer heavy defeat to ADO Den Haag in final league match]. VVV-Venlo (in Dutch). 9 May 2025. Retrieved 30 December 2025.