# Joeri Heerkens
**Joeri Jesse Heerkens** (born 2006 in Broumov, Czechia) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for [Eredivisie](https://www.edgepedia.org/eredivisie) club Ajax, where he is under contract until 30 June 2030[1](https://english.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/joeri-heerkens/) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.pl/joeri-heerkens/profil/spieler/923667). Born and raised in the Czech Republic to Dutch parents, he came through the Sparta Prague academy, won the 2025 [UEFA European Under-19 Championship](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-european-under-19-championship) with the Netherlands, and joined Ajax in July 2025 without yet having made a senior league debut[1](https://english.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/joeri-heerkens/) • [3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens) • [4](https://theanalyst.com/players/9628/joeri-heerkens).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 2006, Broumov, Czechia; Dutch nationality[1](https://english.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/joeri-heerkens/) |
| Position | Goalkeeper, 1.93 m, right-footed[2](https://www.transfermarkt.pl/joeri-heerkens/profil/spieler/923667) |
| Youth clubs | TJ Slovan Broumov (2013–2018), FK Náchod (2018–2019), FC Hradec Králové (2019–2021), AC Sparta Praha (2021–2023)[2](https://www.transfermarkt.pl/joeri-heerkens/profil/spieler/923667) |
| Senior experience | 15 second-league matches for Sparta Prague B; no first-team league appearance[3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens) • [4](https://theanalyst.com/players/9628/joeri-heerkens) |
| International | UEFA U19 Championship winner (2025, Romania) with Netherlands U19; 12 U19 caps[3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens) • [2](https://www.transfermarkt.pl/joeri-heerkens/profil/spieler/923667) |
| Ajax deal | Joined 28 July 2025, five-year contract to 30 June 2030, shirt number 12[5](https://www.ajaxlife.nl/articles/2025/juli-2025/heerkens-vastberaden-doel-is-dit-jaar-debuteren-voor-ajax-1) |
| Market value | €1.0 million[6](https://www.soccerway.com/player/heerkens-joeri/WWYkW51n/) |
## Early life and youth career
Heerkens's parents are both Dutch; a year before his birth they moved to the Czech Republic to start their own campsite, and he grew up in a tiny hamlet in the Czech countryside[7](https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/283629/keeperstalent-joeri-heerkens-toen-nederland-mij-benaderde-was-de-keuze-snel-gemaakt) • [1](https://english.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/joeri-heerkens/). He began playing football with Dutch boys at the campsite, on a gravel pitch with two iron goals, and has said that playing against older boys in those conditions made him tough[8](https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/hoofdnieuws/heerkens-mijn-doel-is-om-dit-jaar-mijn-debuut-in-ajax-1-te-maken).
At twelve he left his parents' campsite for the strict life of a boarding school at a professional club, a transition he has described as painful: he suffered homesickness, spent sleepless nights, and clung to his father in tears when dropped off[1](https://english.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/joeri-heerkens/). His mother has said the real drive and focus came when he was twelve, when he concluded he could only become a professional by setting everything else aside[9](https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/bijzaken-en-geruchten/ouders-heerkens-zien-droom-van-zoon-uitkomen-voor-joeri-is-er-op-de-hele-wereld-maar-een-club).
His youth path ran from TJ Slovan Broumov (2013–2018) to FK Náchod (2018–2019), then to the junior ranks of FC Hradec Králové (2019–2021) and the AC Sparta Praha academy (2021–2023)[2](https://www.transfermarkt.pl/joeri-heerkens/profil/spieler/923667). Originally a left winger, he moved into goal and, in his mother's words, "went like a comet" once he stood between the posts[9](https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/bijzaken-en-geruchten/ouders-heerkens-zien-droom-van-zoon-uitkomen-voor-joeri-is-er-op-de-hele-wereld-maar-een-club).
## International switch
Heerkens made 12 youth internationals for Czechia before switching to the Netherlands, joining the Dutch under-18 side in late 2023[7](https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/283629/keeperstalent-joeri-heerkens-toen-nederland-mij-benaderde-was-de-keuze-snel-gemaakt). He has said the choice was quick once the Netherlands approached him, and that his dream is to play for the Dutch national team[7](https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/283629/keeperstalent-joeri-heerkens-toen-nederland-mij-benaderde-was-de-keuze-snel-gemaakt).
## 2025 Under-19 European Championship
In June 2025 Heerkens won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in Romania with the Netherlands as the team's first-choice goalkeeper[3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens). He did not miss a minute of the tournament, and in the final he helped the Netherlands defeat Spain 1–0; after the tournament he was named to the team of the tournament[3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens) • [11](https://www.rtve.es/deportes/20250626/espana-paises-bajos-final-europeo-sub-19-resumen-resultado/16642114.shtml). His Netherlands U19 tally stands at 12 caps[2](https://www.transfermarkt.pl/joeri-heerkens/profil/spieler/923667).
## Sparta Prague senior years
Heerkens worked his way up to Sparta's reserve team, but before a reserve debut he left in February 2024 on a half-year loan to Loko Praha[3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens). His debut for the B team came six months later against Jihlava, where he kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 win[3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens). Across the season he made 15 second-league appearances, with a strong spring in which he conceded only one goal in six matches, and he ended the season sitting on the A-team bench and joining its pre-season preparation[3](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens).
## Ajax
Ajax signed Heerkens on 28 July 2025 on a five-year contract running to 30 June 2030, giving him shirt number 12[5](https://www.ajaxlife.nl/articles/2025/juli-2025/heerkens-vastberaden-doel-is-dit-jaar-debuteren-voor-ajax-1). He has described the move as a childhood dream: he grew up as an Ajax fan in Czechia, wore the shirt as often as he could, and followed nearly every match as a child[8](https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/hoofdnieuws/heerkens-mijn-doel-is-om-dit-jaar-mijn-debuut-in-ajax-1-te-maken).
At signing he stated goals of making his Ajax 1 debut that season, playing as many matches as possible for [Jong Ajax](https://www.edgepedia.org/jong-ajax), and becoming Ajax's first-choice goalkeeper the following year[8](https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/hoofdnieuws/heerkens-mijn-doel-is-om-dit-jaar-mijn-debuut-in-ajax-1-te-maken). He has yet to make an Eredivisie appearance for the club[4](https://theanalyst.com/players/9628/joeri-heerkens). In September 2025, after a home match for Jong Ajax against [ADO Den Haag](https://www.edgepedia.org/ado-den-haag), he said the development step was meant to challenge him and that it would not be a good step if everything already ran flawlessly[10](https://www.ajaxlife.nl/articles/heerkens-het-is-een-goed-teken-dat-nog-niet-alles-perfect-gaat-2025-2026).
**Injury.** Heerkens sustained an ankle injury on a Monday evening during Ajax U23's away match against Vitesse. The nineteen-year-old goalkeeper was set to undergo surgery and did not feature again that season[1](https://english.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/joeri-heerkens/).
## References
1. [Joeri Heerkens, Ajax 1, official AFC Ajax website](https://english.ajax.nl/teams/ajax-1/joeri-heerkens/)
2. [Joeri Heerkens, player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.pl/joeri-heerkens/profil/spieler/923667)
3. [Odchází Joeri Heerkens, sparta.cz](https://sparta.cz/cs/novinky/44009-odchazi-joeri-heerkens)
4. [Joeri Heerkens, Opta Analyst](https://theanalyst.com/players/9628/joeri-heerkens)
5. [Heerkens vastberaden: 'Doel is dit jaar debuteren voor Ajax 1', Ajax Life](https://www.ajaxlife.nl/articles/2025/juli-2025/heerkens-vastberaden-doel-is-dit-jaar-debuteren-voor-ajax-1)
6. [Joeri Heerkens Stats, Soccerway](https://www.soccerway.com/player/heerkens-joeri/WWYkW51n/)
7. [Keeperstalent Joeri Heerkens: 'Toen Nederland mij benaderde, was de keuze snel gemaakt', ELF Voetbal](https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/binnenland/283629/keeperstalent-joeri-heerkens-toen-nederland-mij-benaderde-was-de-keuze-snel-gemaakt)
8. [Heerkens: 'Mijn doel is om dit jaar mijn debuut in Ajax 1 te maken', Ajax Showtime](https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/hoofdnieuws/heerkens-mijn-doel-is-om-dit-jaar-mijn-debuut-in-ajax-1-te-maken)
9. [Ouders Heerkens zien droom van zoon uitkomen, Ajax Showtime](https://www.ajaxshowtime.com/bijzaken-en-geruchten/ouders-heerkens-zien-droom-van-zoon-uitkomen-voor-joeri-is-er-op-de-hele-wereld-maar-een-club)
10. [Heerkens: 'Het is een goed teken dat nog niet alles perfect gaat', Ajax Life](https://www.ajaxlife.nl/articles/heerkens-het-is-een-goed-teken-dat-nog-niet-alles-perfect-gaat-2025-2026)
11. [Países Bajos destrona a España con un autogol y alza su primer título Europeo sub-19 masculino](https://www.rtve.es/deportes/20250626/espana-paises-bajos-final-europeo-sub-19-resumen-resultado/16642114.shtml)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of continental Europe › Dutch footballers › Dutch footballers born since 1985*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license