Cyriel Dessers

Nigerian footballer (born 1994)

Cyriel Dessers

Dessers with Utrecht in 2017

Personal information
Full name|  Cyriel Kolawole Dessers[1]
Date of birth|  (1994-12-08) 8 December 1994 (age 29)
Place of birth|  Tongeren, Belgium
Height|  1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)|  Forward
Team information

Current team

|  Rangers
Number|  9
Youth career
|  FC De Zwaluw Vechmaal
|  Union FC Rutten
|  K.S.K. Tongeren
|  Sint-Truiden
0000–2011|  K.S.K. Tongeren
2011–2014|  OH Leuven
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
2014|  OH Leuven|  1|  (0)
2014–2016|  Lokeren|  32|  (4)
2016–2017|  NAC Breda|  36|  (22)
2017–2019|  FC Utrecht|  40|  (12)
2019–2020|  Heracles Almelo|  26|  (15)
2020–2022|  Genk|  38|  (10)
2021–2022|  → Feyenoord (loan)|  27|  (9)
2022–2023|  Cremonese|  26|  (6)
2023–|  Rangers|  38|  (19)
International career‡
2020–|  Nigeria|  6|  (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:02, 25 August 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:31, 26 March 2024 (UTC)

Cyriel Kolawole Dessers (born 8 December 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Scottish Premiership club Rangers. Born in Belgium, he plays for the Nigeria national team.

Dessers has spent the majority of his club career playing in Belgian and Dutch football. He was the top scorer in the Eredivisie in the 2019–20 season, while playing for Heracles Almelo. He was the top scorer in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League and was named in the competition's Team of the Season, while playing for Feyenoord.

Dessers qualified to play for Nigeria at international level because of his Nigerian mother. He made his senior international debut in October 2020.

## Club career

[edit]

### OH Leuven

[edit]

Dessers joined OH Leuven's youth system from K.S.K. Tongeren at the age of 16 in 2011.[2] He had previously played youth football for FC De Zwaluw Vechmaal, Union FC Rutten and Sint-Truiden.[3] He began studying law at university (KU Leuven) while playing for OH Leuven's youth teams.[2] During the 2013–14 season, Dessers stood out for OH Leuven's under-19 and reserve teams, scoring 21 goals in 21 reserve games by March.[4] With OHL in danger of relegation and several first-team strikers either out of shape, injured or suspended, he was given his first minutes in the first-team in a 3–2 away loss against Mons.[5]

### Lokeren

[edit]

In April 2014, Dessers signed a two-year deal with Lokeren.[6]

### NAC Breda

[edit]

In July 2016, he signed for Eerste Divisie club NAC Breda on a contract until the summer of 2019.[7] On 28 May 2017, they were promoted to the Eredivisie after a 4–1 victory over NEC, in which Dessers scored three goals.[8] He finished the season with 29 goals in 40 matches.[9]

Dessers with Lokeren in 2014

### FC Utrecht

[edit]

In July 2017, Dessers moved to FC Utrecht, agreeing a contract for three years with an option for an additional year.[10]

### Heracles Almelo

[edit]

Dessers joined Heracles Almelo in July 2019.[11] After the 2019–20 Eredivisie season was abandoned, he was jointly awarded the top goalscorer award alongside Steven Berghuis, with 15 goals each.[12]

### Genk and loan to Feyenoord

[edit]

On 30 June 2020, Dessers moved to Genk on a four-year deal.[13]

On 31 August 2021, Dessers returned to the Netherlands to join Feyenoord on loan with an option to buy.[14] He scored his first goal for the club on 19 September, scoring Feyenoord's fourth goal in a 4–0 away win against PSV.[15] Dessers finished the season as UEFA Europa Conference League Top scorer with ten goals in 12 matches and was also selected for the UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season. Overall Dessers scored 20 goals for Feyenoord in 41 matches during season 2021-22.

On 1 June 2022, Feyenoord announced that they had opted not to exercise the option to purchase Dessers' contract.[16]

### Cremonese

[edit]

On 10 August 2022, Dessers signed for Italian club Cremonese.[17] Dessers scored seven goals for Cremonese in 29 matches. Cremonese finished 19th in the Serie A table and were relegated to Serie B.

### Rangers

[edit]

#### Season 2023–24

[edit]

On 6 July 2023, Dessers joined Scottish Premiership club Rangers for an undisclosed fee.[18][19] He made his debut for the club on 5 August 2023, starting in a 1–0 defeat away to Kilmarnock.[20] Four days later, Dessers scored his first goal for Rangers, against Swiss club Servette in a Champions League qualifying tie.[21]

In August 2023 Dessers scored his first League Cup goal for Rangers against Greenock Morton.

In September 2023 Dessers scored what proved to be the winning goal against Motherwell.

In October 2023 Dessers scored against Hibernian.

In November 2023 Dessers scored against Dundee and Livingston.

Dessers scored another goal against Dundee and St Johnstone in the league in December and he also scored a goal against Real Betis in the Europa League.

In December 2023 Dessers was part of the Rangers team that won the Scottish League Cup.

In January 2024 Dessers scored goals against Dunbarton, Hibernian and St Mirren, the latter which proved to be the winning goal.

Dessers followed this up with doubles against Ross County and Hearts in February 2024.

Dessers scored another goal against Hibernian in March 2024.

On 21 April 2024 Dessers scored twice against Hearts to send Rangers to the final of the Scottish Cup.[22] Following this Dessers scored another winning goal against St Mirren.[23] Dessers performances were praised by his manager Philippe Clement.[24] Following this game Dessers scored his 21st goal of the season in an away match against Celtic.[25] Dessers 22nd goal of the season came from a header against Dundee at Ibrox stadium with the assist for the goal from team mate Todd Cantwell.[26]

#### Season 2024–25

[edit]

Dessers scored his first goal in season 2024-25 in a Champions League qualification tie against Dynamo Kiev. The goal came in the last minute of stoppage time to gain a 1-1 draw. After the match Rangers manager Clement praised Dessers performance.[27]

Dessers scored his second goal of the season in a home league match against Motherwell with the assist coming from team mate Mohamed Diomande.[28]

Dessers third goal of the season came against St Johnstone in the Scottish League Cup. In the same match Dessers also provided an assist for a goal scored by team mate Ross McCausland.[29]

A double in the league followed for Dessers against Ross County in a home match in August. The first of the two goals came from an assist by team mate Tom Lawrence. The second came from an assist by Rabbi Matondo for Dessers to score his fifth goal in six games. After the match Rangers manager Clement praised Dessers performance stating that Dessers is "becoming more and more important. He's growing as a player, that’s what we want".[30]

## International career

[edit]

Born in Belgium to a Belgian father and Nigerian mother, Dessers chose to represent Nigeria at international level in December 2019.[31] Earlier in his career, he was called up to the Belgium under-21 national team for a game against Moldova, but he was an unused substitute.[3][32]

On 4 March 2020, he was called up by Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr as part of the team players invited for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Sierra Leone.[33] Dessers debuted in a friendly 1–1 draw with Tunisia on 13 October 2020.[34]

In March 2024 Dessers was called up to the Nigeria team for matches against Ghana and Mali, with Dessers scoring in the Ghana match.[35]

## Career statistics

[edit]

### Club

[edit]

As of match played 24 August 2024[36][37]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition  Club  | Season  | League  | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental  | Other  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
OH Leuven | 2013–14 | Belgian Pro League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 2 | 0
Lokeren | 2014–15 | Belgian Pro League  | 21 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 29 | 7
2015–16 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0
Total  | 32 | 4 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 7
NAC Breda | 2016–17 | Eerste Divisie | 36 | 22 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4[f] | 7 | 40 | 29
Utrecht | 2017–18 | Eredivisie | 29 | 9 | 2 | 2 | — | 5[d] | 1 | 3[g] | 0 | 39 | 12
2018–19 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 4[g] | 2 | 17 | 7
Total  | 40 | 12 | 4 | 4 | — | 5 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 56 | 19
Heracles Almelo | 2019–20 | Eredivisie  | 26 | 15 | 3 | 3 | — | — | — | 29 | 18
Genk | 2020–21 | Belgian Pro League  | 32 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 34 | 7
2021–22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2[h] | 1 | 1[i] | 0 | 6 | 1
2022–23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 3
Total  | 38 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 11
Feyenoord (loan)  | 2021–22 | Eredivisie  | 27 | 9 | 1 | 1 | — | 13[j] | 10 | — | 41 | 20
Cremonese | 2022–23 | Serie A | 26 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 29 | 7
Rangers | 2023–24 | Scottish Premiership | 35 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 11[k] | 2 | — | 54 | 22
2024–25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2[h] | 1 | — | 6 | 5
Total  | 38 | 19 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 3 | — | 60 | 27
Career total  | 264 | 97 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 2 | 36 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 340 | 138

1. ^ Includes Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup, Coppa Italia, Scottish Cup
2. ^ Includes Scottish League Cup
3. ^ Appearance in Belgian Pro League relegation play-offs
4. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Europa League
5. ^ Appearances in Belgian Pro League Europa League play-offs
6. ^ Appearances in Eredivisie promotion play-offs
7. ^ a b Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
8. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
9. ^ Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
10. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
11. ^ Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

### International

[edit]

As of match played 26 March 2024[38]
Appearances and goals by national team and year  National team | Year | Apps | Goals

|
|
|

Nigeria | 2020 | 1 | 0
2022 | 3 | 1
2024 | 2 | 1
Total | 6 | 2

As of match played 26 March 2024
Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dessers goal.[38]
List of international goals scored by Cyriel Dessers  No.  | Date  | Venue  | Cap  | Opponent  | Score  | Result  | Competition

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | 28 May 2022 | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States | 2 |  Mexico | 1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly
2  | 22 March 2024 | Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco | 5 |  Ghana | 1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly

## Honours

[edit]

Genk

* Belgian Cup: 2020–21[39]

Feyenoord

* UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2021–22[40]

Rangers

* Scottish League Cup: 2023–24[41]

Individual

* Eredivisie Player of the Month: November 2019[42]
* Eredivisie Top scorer: 2019–20[43]
* UEFA Europa Conference League Top scorer: 2021–22[44]
* UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2021–22[45]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Player profile".
2. ^ a b "Dessers maakt in Oostenrijk debuut voor nationale ploeg Nigeria". ad.nl. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
3. ^ a b "Cyriel Dessers". rbfa.be. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
4. ^ "'Ik leer in ijltempo bij'". nieuwsblad.be. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
5. ^ "Jupiler Pro League - 30e speeldag: RAEC Mons - Oud-Heverlee Leuven 3 - 2" (in Dutch). ohl.be. 16 March 2014. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
6. ^ "Lokeren signs young striker from OHL" (in Dutch). sporza.be. 2 April 2014.
7. ^ "Sporting Lokeren-spits Cyriel Dessers (21) tekent voor 3 jaar bij NAC". omroepbrabant.nl. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
8. ^ "NEC degradeert na forse nederlaag tegen NAC". nos.nl. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
9. ^ "Cyriel Dessers: Cremonese sign Nigeria forward from Genk". BBC Sport. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
10. ^ "FC Utrecht hengelt Dessers binnen". 1 June 2018 (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 July 2018.
11. ^ "Dessers verruilt Utrecht voor Heracles". telegraaf.nl. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
12. ^ "INTERVIEW CYRIEL DESSERS: "OF IK JALOERS BEN OP STEVEN BERGHUIS? JA"". elfvoetbal.nl. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
13. ^ Projects, Sanmax (30 June 2020). "Cyriel Dessers: "Nu ben ik waar ik wil zijn." | KRC Genk". krcgenk.be. K.R.C. Genk.
14. ^ "Cyriel Dessers verhuurd aan Feyenoord". krcgenk.be (in Dutch). K.R.C. Genk. 31 August 2021.
15. ^ "Feyenoord vernedert onmachtig PSV in Eindhoven". vi.nl (in Dutch). Voetbal International. 19 September 2021.
16. ^ "Feyenoord decide against taking up Dessers option". feyenoord.com. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
17. ^ "DESSERS NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLA CREMONESE" (in Italian). Cremonese. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.[permanent dead link]
18. ^ "Scottish Gossip: Dessers, Bassey, Abada, Danilo, Matondo, Siegrist, Doig, Doidge, Levitt, Silvera". BBC Sport. 4 July 2023.
19. ^ "Cyriel Dessers: Rangers sign Nigeria striker from Cremonese for undisclosed fee". BBC Sport. 6 July 2023.
20. ^ "Kilmarnock 1-0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 5 August 2023.
21. ^ "Rangers 2–1 Servette". BBC Sport. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
22. ^ "Rangers beat Hearts to set up final with Celtic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
23. ^ "St Mirren vs Rangers Match Report". Sky Sports.
24. ^ "St Mirren vs Rangers Match Report". Yahoo Sport.
25. ^ "Dessers Scores Again". Score Nigeria.
26. ^ "Rangers Dundee Review". Sky Sports.
27. ^ "Cyriel Dessers' dramatic 94th-minute equaliser". BBC.
28. ^ "Cyriel Dessers strikes again as Rangers begin to make Hampden home". STV News.
29. ^ "Rangers vs St Johnstone". BBC News.
30. ^ "Rangers 6 Ross County 0". BBC News.
31. ^ "Cyriel Dessers: Dutch league's leading scorer opts for Nigeria". BBC Sport. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
32. ^ "Cyriel Dessers debuteert voor Nigeria: "Hoogtepunt in mijn carrière"". hln.be. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
33. ^ Oludare, Shina. "Dessers & Ehizibue earn Nigeria call-ups as Leicester City's Iheanacho returns". Goal.com.
34. ^ "Nigeria vs. Tunisia". Soccerway. 13 October 2020.
35. ^ "Nigeria vs. Ghana". ESPN.
36. ^ Cyriel Dessers at Soccerway. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
37. ^ "Cyriel Dessers » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
38. ^ a b "Cyriel Dessers Internationals". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
39. ^ "Onuachu with an assist as Genk clinch Belgian Cup title after Standard Liege win". Goal. 26 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
40. ^ Honeyman, Sam (25 May 2022). "Roma 1–0 Feyenoord: Zaniolo strike wins the first Europa Conference League final". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
41. ^ "Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen". BBC. 17 December 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
42. ^ "Cyriel Dessers named as player of the month". eredivisie.nl. 4 December 2019. Archived from the original on 30 May 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
43. ^ "Dutch Eredivisie Top Scorers". NOS (in Dutch). 8 March 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
44. ^ "2021/22 Europa Conference League top scorers: Cyriel Dessers finishes ahead of Tammy Abraham". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 25 May 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2022.
45. ^ "2021/22 Europa Conference League Team of the Season". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 27 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Profile at the Rangers F.C. website
* Cyriel Dessers at the Royal Belgian Football Association

* Profile at Soccerbase

* v
* t
* e

Rangers F.C. - current squad

* 1 Butland
* 2 Tavernier (c)
* 3 Yılmaz
* 4 Pröpper
* 5 Souttar
* 7 Cortés
* 8 Barron
* 9 Dessers
* 10 Diomande
* 11 Lawrence
* 14 Bajrami
* 17 Matondo
* 18 Černý
* 19 Nsiala
* 20 Dowell
* 21 Sterling
* 22 Jefté
* 24 Kasanwirjo
* 27 Balogun
* 29 Igamane
* 30 Hagi
* 31 Kelly
* 38 King
* 43 Raskin
* 45 McCausland
* 47 Fraser
* 48 McKinnon
* 49 Rice
* 99 Danilo
* Manager: Clement

Awards

* v
* t
* e

UEFA Conference League top scorers

* 2022: Dessers
* 2023: Amdouni & Cabral
* 2024: El Kaabi

* v
* t
* e

Eredivisie top scorers

* 1957: Dillen
* 1958: Canjels
* 1959: Canjels
* 1960: Groot
* 1961: Groot
* 1962: Tol
* 1963: Kerkhoffs
* 1964: Geurtsen
* 1965: Geurtsen
* 1966: Kruiver & Van der Kuijlen
* 1967: Cruijff
* 1968: Kindvall
* 1969: Kindvall & Van Dijk
* 1970: Van der Kuijlen
* 1971: Kindvall
* 1972: Cruijff
* 1973: Brokamp & Janssens
* 1974: Van der Kuijlen
* 1975: Geels
* 1976: Geels
* 1977: Geels
* 1978: Geels
* 1979: Kist
* 1980: Kist
* 1981: Geels
* 1982: Kieft
* 1983: Houtman
* 1984: Van Basten
* 1985: Van Basten
* 1986: Van Basten
* 1987: Van Basten
* 1988: Kieft
* 1989: Romário
* 1990: Romário
* 1991: Bergkamp & Romário
* 1992: Bergkamp
* 1993: Bergkamp
* 1994: Litmanen
* 1995: Ronaldo
* 1996: Nilis
* 1997: Nilis
* 1998: Machlas
* 1999: Van Nistelrooy
* 2000: Van Nistelrooy
* 2001: Kežman
* 2002: Van Hooijdonk
* 2003: Kežman
* 2004: Kežman
* 2005: Kuyt
* 2006: Huntelaar
* 2007: Alves
* 2008: Huntelaar
* 2009: El Hamdaoui
* 2010: Suárez
* 2011: Vleminckx
* 2012: Dost
* 2013: Bony
* 2014: Finnbogason
* 2015: Depay
* 2016: Janssen
* 2017: Jørgensen
* 2018: Jahanbakhsh
* 2019: De Jong & Tadić
* 2020: Berghuis & Dessers
* 2021: Giakoumakis
* 2022: Haller
* 2023: Douvikas & Simons
* 2024: De Jong & Pavlidis

*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template