Thomas Buitink

Thomas Buitink

Buitink with Vitesse in February 2018
Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-06-14) 14 June 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Nijkerk, Netherlands
Height	1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	PEC Zwolle
Number	29
Youth career
	Veensche Boys
2010–2015	Vitesse
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2020	Jong Vitesse	41	(15)
2018–2024	Vitesse	101	(11)
2021	→ PEC Zwolle (loan)	9	(2)
2023	→ Fortuna Sittard (loan)	13	(0)
2024–	PEC Zwolle	0	(0)
International career‡
2014–2015	Netherlands U15 [1]	7	(3)
2015–2016	Netherlands U16 [1]	14	(2)
2016–2017 [2]	Netherlands U17 [1]	15	(6)
2017–2018	Netherlands U18 [1]	2	(1)
2018	Netherlands U19 [1]	1	(0)
2019	Netherlands U20 [1]	6	(1)
2022	Netherlands U21 [1]	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:30, 14 June 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 29 March 2022

Thomas Buitink (born 14 June 2000) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a forward for Eredivisie club PEC Zwolle.

Club career

Vitesse

Buitink first joined Vitesse in 2010, from local side Veensche Boys. He made his first-team debut during Vitesse's 3–1 home victory against Feyenoord on 11 February 2018, replacing Luc Castaignos in the 80th minute. ^[3]

On 31 October 2018, Buitink scored his first goal in professional football. In the last minute of a KNVB Cup match against Heracles Almelo, he decided the 0–2 end result. ^[4] His first goal in the Eredivisie followed on 2 March 2019. On that day, manager Leonid Slutsky allowed him to come on for Mohammed Dauda against NAC Breda after thirty-three minutes, as NAC were leading 0–1 after a goal by Giovanni Korte. Buitink scored the equaliser nine minutes after the break and Vitesse ultimately won 4–1 thanks to goals from Maikel van der Werff, Alexander Büttner and Matúš Bero. ^[5] Buitink was allowed to start in for the first time in an Eredivisie match against ADO Den Haag on 30 March 2019. ADO managed to score three goals in total via Sheraldo Becker and Lex Immers twice, but Buitink saved a 3–3 draw with a hat-trick. ^[6]

PEC Zwolle (loan)

In January 2021, he sent on a six-month loan to PEC Zwolle. ^[7] Four days after his move, he was allowed to start against Heracles Almelo. That team went into halftime with a lead thanks to goals from Lucas Schoofs and Delano Burgzorg. Five minutes after the break, Buitink assisted Virgil Misidjan's goal. Coach John Stegeman substituted Buitink in favour of Reza Ghoochannejhad, who would eventually take care of the 2–2, which also turned out to be the final score. ^[8]

Fortuna Sittard (loan)

For the second half of the 2022–23 season, Buitink was sent on loan to Fortuna Sittard. ^[9] He made his Fortuna debut on 7 January 2023, coming on as a half-time substitute for Umaro Embaló in a 2–0 home loss to Go Ahead Eagles. ^{[10] [11]}

Return to PEC Zwolle

On 5 July 2024, Buitink returned to PEC Zwolle on a three-year contract. ^[12]

Career statistics

As of match played 19 May 2024 ^[2]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			KNVB Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Jong Vitesse	2016–17	Tweede Divisie	7	2	—		—		—		7	2
	2017–18	Derde Divisie	16	6	—		—		—		16	6
	2018–19	Tweede Divisie	9	3	—		—		—		9	3
	2019–20	Beloften Eredivisie	9	4	—		—		—		9	4
	Total		41	15	—		—		—		41	15
Vitesse	2017–18	Eredivisie	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
	2018–19	Eredivisie	17	7	2	1	0	0	4 [a]	0	23	8
	2019–20	Eredivisie	17	0	3	1	—		—		20	1
	2020–21	Eredivisie	14	1	2	1	—		—		16	2
	2021–22	Eredivisie	28	2	3	0	9 [b]	2	4 [a]	1	44	5
	2022–23	Eredivisie	8	0	0	0	—		—		8	0
	2023–24	Eredivisie	13	1	1	0	—		—		14	1
	Total		101	11	11	3	9	2	8	1	129	17
PEC Zwolle (loan)	2020–21	Eredivisie	9	2	—		—		—		9	2
Fortuna Sittard (loan)	2022–23	Eredivisie	13	0	—		—		—		13	0
Career total			164	28	11	3	9	2	8	1	192	34

1. Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
2. Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League

Honours

Jong Vitesse

• Derde Divisie – Sunday: 2017–18 ^[13]

References

1. "Thomas Buitink". football-wonderkids.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
2. Thomas Buitink at Soccerway
3. "Vitesse vs. Feyenoord". Soccerway. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
4. "Odegaard en 18-jarige invaller gidsen Vitesse naar volgende ronde KNVB Beker". Voetbalprimeur (in Dutch). 31 October 2018.
5. "Vitesse na sterke tweede helft toch nog ruim langs hekkensluiter NAC". Omroep Gelderland (in Dutch). 2 March 2019.
6. "Hattrick Buitink niet genoeg voor winst Vitesse in Den Haag". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 30 March 2019.
7. "Vitesse-aanvaller Buitink maakt seizoen af op huurbasis bij PEC Zwolle". NOS (in Dutch). 22 January 2021.
8. "Invaller Ghoochannejhad weer goud waard voor PEC, Groningen verslaat ADO". NU.nl (in Dutch). 26 January 2021.
9. "Thomas Buitink op huurbasis naar Fortuna". Fortuna Sittard (Press release) (in Dutch). 27 December 2022. Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
10. "Go Ahead Eagles zet knappe reeks door: tien duels op rij ongeslagen na zege bij Fortuna Sittard". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 7 January 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
11. "Fortuna Sittard vs. Go Ahead Eagles – 7 January 2023". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
12. "PEC Zwolle trekt Thomas Buitink aan" [PEC Zwolle signs Thomas Buitink] (in Dutch). PEC Zwolle. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
13. Radstaat, Edwin (20 May 2018). "Jong Vitesse kampioen na ruime zege op Blauw Geel'38, UNA te sterk voor Westlandia". Voetbal247.nl (in Dutch).