Ryan Donk

Ryan Donk

Donk in 2012
Personal information
Full name	Ryan Henk Donk [1]
Date of birth	(1986-03-30) 30 March 1986 (age 37)
Place of birth	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height	1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back
Youth career
1992–1999	Neerlandia
1999–2005	Zeeburgia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2006	RKC	9	(0)
2006–2009	AZ	44	(1)
2008–2009	→ West Bromwich Albion (loan)	16	(0)
2009–2013	Club Brugge	130	(10)
2013–2016	Kasımpaşa	75	(11)
2016–2021	Galatasaray	111	(7)
2016–2017	→ Betis (loan)	16	(0)
2021–2023	Kasımpaşa	48	(3)
International career‡
2006–2008	Netherlands U21	16	(0)
2021–	Suriname	12	(1)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Netherlands UEFA European Under-21 Championship Winner 2007
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 June 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15:51, 6 December 2022 (UTC)

Ryan Henk Donk (born 30 March 1986) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Suriname national team.

Club career

RKC and AZ

Donk impressed in the 2005–06 season at RKC Waalwijk and with an expiring contract, he wanted to make a step up to a higher level. AZ first approached him, but other clubs including Ajax, PSV and Barcelona showed serious interest in him. Donk chose to go to AZ as a replacement for Joris Mathijsen who had been sold to German club Hamburger SV, thinking it to be the best for his development. Initially, AZ intended to loan Donk to Waalwijk, but he stated his intent to stay at the club in an attempt to push into the first team. He earned himself a place in the starting lineup and impressed with his performances.

Loan to West Brom

On 31 August 2008, Donk signed for West Bromwich Albion for one year on loan. ^[2] He made his debut in a 1–0 win away at Middlesbrough on 28 September 2008. ^[3]

Club Brugge

On 26 June 2009, Donk moved from AZ in his home country of the Netherlands, to Belgium to play for Club Brugge. ^[4]

Kasımpaşa

At the start of the 2013–14 season, Donk transferred to Turkish side Kasımpaşa for an undisclosed fee. He played as a central defender for the team in his first two years, however during the first half of the 2015–16 season before transferring to Galatasaray, he played mainly as defensive midfielder.

Galatasaray

On 5 January 2016, Galatasaray announced that they had signed Donk. ^[5] On 9 January 2016, Donk made his debut for Galatasaray and scored his first goal in penalty box against Karşıyaka in the 2015–16 Turkish Cup. ^[6] He also made an assist for his teammate Bilal Kısa in same match.

On 31 August 2016, after being rarely used by Galatasaray during his first season at the club, Donk joined La Liga club Real Betis in a season-long loan deal, with a buyout clause. ^[7]

Return to Kasımpaşa

In August 2021 Donk joined fellow Turkish club Kasımpaşa on a one year deal, with an option for a further year. ^[8]

International career

In 2007 Donk was called up by Jong Oranje coach Foppe de Haan to be part of his squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship held in the Netherlands. Donk participated in both of their first round group matches against Israel (1–0 win) and Portugal (2–1 win) to secure a semi final spot and to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics. During the tournament his sister was involved in a car accident. ^[9] Donk left the Dutch squad for a day and returned into the tournament after it was known her health was improving. After the Dutch qualified for the semi-final and Olympics Donk took off his football jersey to reveal another shirt having the text "Dit toernooi is voor jou, ik hou van je." (This tournament is dedicated to you, I love you.) on it to support his sister. In the semi-finals against England (1–1, 13–12 after 32 penalty kicks) Donk assisted Maceo Rigters to score his 90th-minute equaliser with a bicycle kick which took the game into extra time. Donk was the only Dutch player on the field at the end of the game not to shoot a penalty after one England player (Nedum Onuoha) was unable to shoot due to an injury while England had no substitutes left. The Dutch went on to retain their 2006 title by beating Serbia 4–1 in the final. After his display at the tournament, Donk made the pre-selection of the Dutch national team on 6 August.

Born in the Netherlands and of Surinamese descent, Donk was called up for a friendly match with the Suriname national football team in 2014, but was not given permission to join the squad. ^[10]

In 2015, Donk expressed an interest in representing the Turkey national football team, being eligible through residence in the country. ^[11] He has not received a formal callup to the team.

In November 2019, Donk got an official call up by Dean Gorré to represent Suriname. He made his debut, as a team captain, on 24 March 2021 in a World Cup qualifier against the Cayman Islands and scored the second goal in a 3–0 victory. ^[12] In June 2021 Donk was named to the 23-man Suriname squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. ^[13]

Style of play

A tall and commanding defender, Donk has drawn comparisons to many former footballers – one being former Dutch defender Jaap Stam. ^[14]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 November 2022 ^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup [lower-alpha 1]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Waalwijk	2005–06	Eredivisie	7	0	—		—		—		7	0
	2006–07	Eredivisie	2	0	—		—		—		2	0
	Total		9	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	0
AZ	2006–07	Eredivisie	20	0	1	0	4	0	—		25	0
	2007–08	Eredivisie	24	1	0	0	3	0	—		27	1
	Total		44	1	1	0	7	0	0	0	52	1
West Bromwich Albion (loan)	2008–09	Premier League	16	0	3	0	—		—		19	0
Club Brugge	2009–10	Belgian First Division	23	2	4	0	8	0	—		35	2
	2010–11	Belgian First Division	36	0	2	0	7	1	—		45	1
	2011–12	Belgian Pro League	39	4	2	1	11	3	—		52	8
	2012–13	Belgian Pro League	32	4	1	0	7	0	—		40	4
	Total		130	10	9	1	33	4	0	0	172	15
Kasımpaşa	2013–14	Süper Lig	27	5	1	0	—		—		28	5
	2014–15	Süper Lig	32	4	0	0	—		—		32	4
	2015–16	Süper Lig	16	2	0	0	—		—		16	2
	Total		75	11	1	0	0	0	0	0	76	11
Galatasaray	2015–16	Süper Lig	14	0	6	1	2	0	—		22	1
	2017–18	Süper Lig	17	0	7	0	0	0	—		24	0
	2018–19	Süper Lig	22	2	7	0	7	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	37	2
	2019–20	Süper Lig	26	3	5	0	6	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	37	3
	2020–21	Süper Lig	16	1	0	0	1	0	–		17	1
	Total		95	6	25	1	16	0	2	0	137	7
Real Betis (loan)	2016–17	La Liga	16	0	2	0	—		—		18	0
Kasımpaşa	2021–22	Süper Lig	28	2	2	0	—		—		30	2
	2022–23	Süper Lig	20	1	3	0	—		—		23	1
	Total		48	3	5	0	—		—		53	3
Career total			433	31	46	2	56	4	2	0	537	37

1. Includes KNVB Cup, FA Cup, Belgian Cup, Turkish Cup, Copa del Rey
2. Appearance in Turkish Super Cup

International

As of match played 12 June 2022

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Suriname	2021	6	1
	2022	6	0
Total		12	1

Scores and results list Suriname's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Donk goal.

List of international goals scored by Ryan Donk

No.	Date	Venue	Cap	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	24 March 2021	Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadion, Paramaribo, Suriname	1	Cayman Islands	2–0	3–0	2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Galatasaray

• Süper Lig: 2017–18, 2018–19
• Turkish Cup: 2015–16, 2018–19
• Turkish Super Cup: 2016, 2019

References

1. Ryan Donk at the Turkish Football Federation
2. "AZ en WBA eens over verhuur Donk". AZ online!. 31 August 2008. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 31 August 2008.
3. "Middlesbrough vs WBA". West Bromwich Albion F.C. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 28 September 2008.
4. "Ryan Donk (23) van AZ tekent voor vier jaar bij Club !". Archived from the original on 17 September 2009.
5. "Ryan Donk joins Galatasaray from Kasımpaşa for €2.5 million". Pa Sports. ESPNFC.com. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
6. Donk beleeft droomdebuut voor Galatasaray – Voetbal International (in Dutch)
7. "Real Betis signs Ryan Donk". Real Betis. 31 August 2016. Archived from the original on 5 September 2016. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
8. "Kasımpaşa Ryan Donk'u transfer etti". 24 August 2021.
9. Beurse schouders van alle gelukwensen – BN De Stem (in Dutch)
10. "Introducing The Best Team The World Never Had - Suriname". 1 February 2017.
11. sitesi, milliyet.com.tr Türkiye'nin lider haber. "Donk: Türk Milli Takımı'nda oynamak istiyorum".
12. "Suriname v Cayman Islands game report". FIFA. 24 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 April 2021.
13. Surinamese Football Federation [@OfficialSVB1920] (25 June 2021). "The 23 That Will Represent Us At The CONCACAF Gold Cup" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 July 2021– via Twitter.
14. Nederlander Ryan Donk voor vier jaar naar Club Brugge 'Hij heeft meer talent dan Jaap Stam' – Nieuwsblad (in Dutch)
15. Ryan Donk at Soccerway

External links

• Ryan Donk player profile Archived 28 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine at wba.co.uk
• Ryan Donk – UEFA competition record ( archive ) 
• Ryan Donk at Soccerbase