# Patrick van Aanholt
**Patrick van Aanholt** (Patrick John Miguel van Aanholt; born 1990 in Den Bosch, Netherlands) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a left-back. He is best known for long Premier League spells with [Sunderland](https://www.edgepedia.org/sunderland) and Crystal Palace, a later career at Galatasaray and [PSV Eindhoven](https://www.edgepedia.org/psv-eindhoven), and 19 caps for the Netherlands national team.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/patrick-van-aanholt/profil/spieler/52119) • [2](https://www.onsoranje.nl/toernooien/334/selectie/185184/speler/1246)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name, born | Patrick John Miguel van Aanholt, 1990, Den Bosch ('s-Hertogenbosch), Netherlands[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/patrick-van-aanholt/profil/spieler/52119) |
| Position | Left-back (also listed at left midfield and defensive midfield); left-footed; 1.76 m[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/patrick-van-aanholt/profil/spieler/52119) |
| Citizenship | Netherlands and Curaçao[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/patrick-van-aanholt/profil/spieler/52119) |
| Netherlands record | 19 caps, 0 goals; debut 19 November 2013, 0-0 against Colombia[2](https://www.onsoranje.nl/toernooien/334/selectie/185184/speler/1246) |
| Main transfer fees | PSV to Chelsea €0.3M (2007); Chelsea to Sunderland €1.9M (2014); Sunderland to Crystal Palace €10.5M (2017); total career fees €14.2M[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/patrick-van-aanholt/transfer-history) |
| Senior clubs | Chelsea, Coventry City (loan), Newcastle United (loan), Leicester City (loan), Wigan Athletic (loan), Vitesse (loan), Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, PSV Eindhoven (loan), Sparta Rotterdam[4](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/player-profile/441/patrick-van-aanholt) |
| Honors | Premier League title as a Chelsea player; KNVB Beker, Johan Cruijff Schaal, and Eredivisie with PSV[5](https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/sparta-trekt-aanholt-aan/) |
## Youth career and move to Chelsea
Van Aanholt came through the youth systems of SV OSC '45 Orthen, FC Den Bosch (2003-2005), and PSV Eindhoven (2005-2007) before joining Chelsea in 2007 for a reported €0.3 million.[1](https://www.transfermarkt.us/patrick-van-aanholt/profil/spieler/52119) • [3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/patrick-van-aanholt/transfer-history) He moved from [Eindhoven](https://www.edgepedia.org/eindhoven) to London at 16 as one of the most highly regarded young defenders in Europe, and Chelsea's then-reserve team boss [Brendan Rodgers](https://www.edgepedia.org/brendan-rodgers) repositioned him from central defender to left-back.[6](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/breakthrough-blues--how-academy-graduates-have-debuted-often-dur)
His path to the Chelsea first team was blocked by [Ashley Cole](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashley-cole), whom van Aanholt later described as a real mentor who took him to dinner and gave him the advice to be himself.[6](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/breakthrough-blues--how-academy-graduates-have-debuted-often-dur) He debuted for Chelsea in a Premier League game at [Fratton Park](https://www.edgepedia.org/fratton-park) in March 2010, in a match [Didier Drogba](https://www.edgepedia.org/didier-drogba) and Frank Lampard's goals helped Carlo Ancelotti's side win on its way toward a league and cup double.[6](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/breakthrough-blues--how-academy-graduates-have-debuted-often-dur)
## Loans and the move to Sunderland
Chelsea loaned van Aanholt repeatedly to give him senior experience: Coventry City (August 2009), Newcastle United (January 2010), Leicester City (January 2011), Wigan Athletic (August 2011 to January 2012), and Vitesse, the most productive spell, from January 2012 to 2014.[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/patrick-van-aanholt/transfer-history) • [6](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/breakthrough-blues--how-academy-graduates-have-debuted-often-dur) His Wigan loan covered four first-team appearances in 2011-12, three in the league and one in the League Cup.[4](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/player-profile/441/patrick-van-aanholt)
In July 2014 Chelsea sold him to Sunderland for €1.9 million, and he became a Premier League regular there.[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/patrick-van-aanholt/transfer-history) • [6](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/breakthrough-blues--how-academy-graduates-have-debuted-often-dur) Across three league seasons at Sunderland he made 95 appearances with 8 goals.[7](https://www.fotmob.com/players/180330/patrick-van-aanholt) His attacking output from full-back drew attention: a winning goal against Watford in the 2016-17 season topped the Fantasy Premier League ICT Index for defenders, and he finished that period with the highest season tally of any FPL defender.[8](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/231902/van-aanholts-attacking-threat-delivers)
## Crystal Palace
On 30 January 2017 Crystal Palace signed van Aanholt from Sunderland for €10.5 million.[9](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/club/van-aanholt-signs-for-palace/) • [10](https://www.sofascore.com/nl/football/player/patrick-van-aanholt/74577) He became the club's first-choice left-back for more than four years, making 134 appearances with 14 goals in all competitions.[7](https://www.fotmob.com/players/180330/patrick-van-aanholt) In league play alone he totaled 126 appearances over five seasons.[11](https://fbref.com/en/players/5f09991f/Patrick-van-Aanholt)
His goals carried unusual weight for a defender. A Premier League analysis in 2019 noted that eight of his previous nine league goals had coincided with Palace victories, and described his presence in [Roy Hodgson](https://www.edgepedia.org/roy-hodgson)'s side as having an uplifting effect even though he was not the most defensively solid full-back in the competition.[12](https://www.premierleague.com/es/news/1625995) After he left in the summer of 2021, Tyrick Mitchell was essentially the only dedicated left-back in the Palace squad for years afterward.[13](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y4n19y545o)
## Galatasaray and return to PSV
Van Aanholt joined Galatasaray on a free transfer on 30 June 2021 after his Palace contract expired.[3](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/patrick-van-aanholt/transfer-history) He made 62 appearances with 3 goals for the Turkish club.[7](https://www.fotmob.com/players/180330/patrick-van-aanholt)
On the final day of the January 2023 winter window, PSV Eindhoven loaned him from Galatasaray for the rest of the season, filling the vacancy created by Philipp Max's move to [Eintracht Frankfurt](https://www.edgepedia.org/eintracht-frankfurt).[14](https://www.psv.nl/en/media/article/transfer-psv-brings-van-aanholt-in-on-loan-basis) It was a homecoming: van Aanholt had been in the PSV Academy from 2007 to 2009, and PSV general manager Marcel Brands noted the club had tried to sign the left-back before.[14](https://www.psv.nl/en/media/article/transfer-psv-brings-van-aanholt-in-on-loan-basis) At the time of the move he had played 426 professional games, scoring 35 goals with 34 assists.[14](https://www.psv.nl/en/media/article/transfer-psv-brings-van-aanholt-in-on-loan-basis) He played in every game after his arrival, and in March 2023 PSV extended the loan for the 2023-24 season, with director of football Earnest Stewart praising his offensive impetus, defensive qualities, and experience.[15](https://www.psv.nl/en/media/article/news-psv-signs-patrick-van-aanholt-for-an-longer-year) In 52 PSV appearances across the two spells he won the KNVB Beker, the Johan Cruijff Schaal, and the [Eredivisie](https://www.edgepedia.org/eredivisie) title.[5](https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/sparta-trekt-aanholt-aan/)
## Netherlands international
Van Aanholt made his Netherlands debut on 19 November 2013 in a 0-0 friendly against Colombia and went on to 19 caps without scoring, 9 of them as a starter and 10 as a substitute.[2](https://www.onsoranje.nl/toernooien/334/selectie/185184/speler/1246) He was in the Dutch squad for [UEFA Euro 2020](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-euro-2020), played at the final tournament in June and July 2021, and started the round-of-16 match against the Czech Republic.[16](https://www.11v11.com/competitions/uefa-european-championship/2020/squads/netherlands/) • [2](https://www.onsoranje.nl/toernooien/334/selectie/185184/speler/1246) His last listed international matches were the Euro 2020 fixtures, including the 0-2 defeat to the Czech Republic on 27 June 2021.[2](https://www.onsoranje.nl/toernooien/334/selectie/185184/speler/1246)
## Sparta Rotterdam
[Sparta Rotterdam](https://www.edgepedia.org/sparta-rotterdam) signed van Aanholt as a free agent on 12 November 2024, about four months after his Galatasaray contract expired, on a deal to the end of the season with an option for an extra year. Sporting director Gerard Nijkamp framed the signing as adding quality and experience to the squad.[5](https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/sparta-trekt-aanholt-aan/) He became a regular starter, and in the 2025-26 Eredivisie season he made 13 league appearances with 1 goal and 3 assists.[17](https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetballers/patrick-van-aanholt/carriere)
His role then faded. In January 2026 coach Maurice Steijn said van Aanholt had become his third-choice left-back behind Teo Quintero and Mike Kleijn, and the 35-year-old was left out of the matchday squad against [Heracles Almelo](https://www.edgepedia.org/heracles-almelo).[18](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/van-aanholt-valt-buiten-de-boot-bij-sparta-hij-is-mijn-derde-linksback) On 30 March 2026 Sparta formally terminated the contracts of five players, including van Aanholt, whose deals were expiring; formal notice did not rule out later talks over an extension.[19](https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/2072435/sparta-rotterdam-neemt-afscheid-van-van-aanholt-de-g-zman-en-anderen.html)
## Playing style
Van Aanholt is an attacking left-back whose main contribution has been goals and assists from deep positions rather than defensive solidity. Palace-era commentary described him as a raiding full-back who could be excellent going forward but who left space behind him when he advanced.[12](https://www.premierleague.com/es/news/1625995) His career scoring record reflects that profile: 8 league goals in three Sunderland seasons and 13 in five Palace league seasons, figures high for a defender.[11](https://fbref.com/en/players/5f09991f/Patrick-van-Aanholt) PSV's director of football described him as a wing defender offering offensive impetus with defensive qualities, and valued the experience he added to a young squad.[15](https://www.psv.nl/en/media/article/news-psv-signs-patrick-van-aanholt-for-an-longer-year)
## References
1. [Patrick van Aanholt - Player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.us/patrick-van-aanholt/profil/spieler/52119)
2. [Patrick van Aanholt - OnsOranje, KNVB](https://www.onsoranje.nl/toernooien/334/selectie/185184/speler/1246)
3. [Patrick van Aanholt Transfer History, FootballTransfers.com](https://www.footballtransfers.com/us/players/patrick-van-aanholt/transfer-history)
4. [Patrick van Aanholt - Player Profile, Wigan Athletic Heritage Project](https://www.wiganathleticheritage.co.uk/player-profile/441/patrick-van-aanholt)
5. [Sparta trekt Van Aanholt aan, Sparta Rotterdam](https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/sparta-trekt-aanholt-aan/)
6. [Breakthrough Blues: Patrick van Aanholt, Chelsea FC](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/breakthrough-blues--how-academy-graduates-have-debuted-often-dur)
7. [Patrick van Aanholt - stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/players/180330/patrick-van-aanholt)
8. [Van Aanholt's attacking threat delivers, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/en/news/231902/van-aanholts-attacking-threat-delivers)
9. [Van Aanholt Signs For Palace, Crystal Palace F.C.](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/club/van-aanholt-signs-for-palace/)
10. [Patrick van Aanholt - statistieken en ratings, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/nl/football/player/patrick-van-aanholt/74577)
11. [Patrick van Aanholt Stats, FBref.com](https://fbref.com/en/players/5f09991f/Patrick-van-Aanholt)
12. [Van Aanholt key to positive Palace approach, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/es/news/1625995)
13. [Crystal Palace news: Fan on Tyrick Mitchell, BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5y4n19y545o)
14. [PSV brings in Van Aanholt on a rental basis, PSV](https://www.psv.nl/en/media/article/transfer-psv-brings-van-aanholt-in-on-loan-basis)
15. [PSV commits Patrick van Aanholt year longer, PSV](https://www.psv.nl/en/media/article/news-psv-signs-patrick-van-aanholt-for-an-longer-year)
16. [UEFA European Championship 2020 - Netherlands squad, 11v11](https://www.11v11.com/competitions/uefa-european-championship/2020/squads/netherlands/)
17. [Patrick van Aanholt - Carrière statistieken, FCUpdate](https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetballers/patrick-van-aanholt/carriere)
18. [Van Aanholt valt buiten de boot bij Sparta, VI](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/van-aanholt-valt-buiten-de-boot-bij-sparta-hij-is-mijn-derde-linksback)
19. [Sparta Rotterdam neemt afscheid van Van Aanholt en anderen, VoetbalPrimeur](https://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/nieuws/2072435/sparta-rotterdam-neemt-afscheid-van-van-aanholt-de-g-zman-en-anderen.html)
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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: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license