Ryan Donk

Ryan Henk Donk (born 30 March 1986) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Turkish club Galatasaray. He can also play as a centre back.

Ryan Donk
Personal information
Full name Ryan Henk Donk[1]
Date of birth (1986-03-30) 30 March 1986
Place of birth Amsterdam, Netherlands
Height 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Defender, defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Galatasaray
Number 15
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– Galatasaray 95 (6)
2016–2017 → Betis (loan) 16 (0)
National team
2006–2008 Netherlands U21 16 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 January 2021

Club career

Netherlands

Ryan 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 defender 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 RKC Waalwijk, but the player 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 line-up and impressed with his performances at AZ.

Loan to West Bromwich

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 dealing with 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]

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.[8] 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.[9]

In 2015, Donk expressed an interest in representing the Turkey national football team, being eligible through residence in the country.[10] 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.

Style of play

A tall and commanding defender, Donk has drawn comparisons to many former footballers – one being former Dutch defender Jaap Stam.[11]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 23 January 2021[12]
Club Season League League Cup Europe Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Waalwijk 2005–06 Eredivisie 70———70
2006–07 Eredivisie 20———20
Total 9000000090
AZ 2006–07 Eredivisie 2001040—250
2007–08 Eredivisie 2410030—271
Total 441107000521
West Bromwich Albion (loan) 2008–09 Premier League 16030——190
Club Brugge 2009–10 Belgian First Division 2324080—352
2010–11 Belgian First Division 3602071—451
2011–12 Belgian Pro League 39421113—528
2012–13 Belgian Pro League 3241070—404
Total 13010913340017215
Kasımpaşa 2013–14 Süper Lig 27510——285
2014–15 Süper Lig 32400——324
2015–16 Süper Lig 16200——162
Total 75111000007611
Galatasaray 2015–16 Süper Lig 1406120—221
2017–18 Süper Lig 1707000—240
2018–19 Süper Lig 222707010372
2019–20 Süper Lig 263506010373
2020–21 Süper Lig 1610010–171
Total 956251160201377
Real Betis (loan) 2016–17 La Liga 16020——180
Career total 385284125642048334

Honours

Galatasaray

References
  1. "Ryan Henk Donk". Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  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. Beurse schouders van alle gelukwensen – BN De Stem (in Dutch)
  9. "Introducing The Best Team The World Never Had - Suriname". 1 February 2017.
  10. sitesi, milliyet.com.tr Türkiye'nin lider haber. "Donk: Türk Milli Takımı'nda oynamak istiyorum".
  11. Nederlander Ryan Donk voor vier jaar naar Club Brugge 'Hij heeft meer talent dan Jaap Stam' – Nieuwsblad (in Dutch)
  12. "Ryan Donk".
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