Olivier Aertssen

Olivier Aertssen came through a string of youth clubs — Oirschot Vooruit, VV Wolphaartsdijk, VV Kloetinge and Sparta Rotterdam — before Ajax picked him up in 2019. At international level, Aertssen has represented the Netherlands at youth level. He debuted for the under-18s in a 5–1 win over Germany, then stepped up to the under-19s the same year for a goalless draw with Northern Ireland. The following spring he was named in a preliminary under-20 squad, a sign that his performances at Ajax's academy had not gone unnoticed by national coaches, even if it did not lead to further caps. Comfortable with either foot, the defender built his early reputation in the Ajax system rather than through a single standout moment, and his move to PEC Zwolle marked the first time his career shifted outside the club that had developed him since his teens.