New Zealand U-20 striker Kian Donkers has signed for NEC Nijmegen who play in the Eredivisie, the top tier of Dutch football.
Donkers (18), who was born in the Netherlands, joins the club after a successful trial in February 2023, and is expected to play for their youth team.
He shared the Golden Boot with fellow striker Oliver Colloty when helping New Zealand win the OFC U-19 Championship in 2022, with each player scoring nine goals at the tournament in Papeete, Tahiti.
Main photo: Kian Donkers (left) and Oliver Colloty shared the honours for top scoring at the OFC U-19 Championship. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Phototek.
The success in Tahiti qualified New Zealand for the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup to be held in Indonesia in May/June.
Donkers scored 11 goals for Cashmere Technical in last year’s Southern League, and added three more in the Men’s National League.
Meanwhile, his New Zealand teammate Colloty has also been chasing a pro contract in Europe, trialling with Sheffield Wednesday and Fleetwood Town, and reportedly attracting interest from Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers.
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