Jason Denayer

Early career

Denayer started playing football at age six, where he started out at FC Ganshoren and then Anderlecht. At the age of 13, he joined the JMG Academy in Lier. It was there he was converted from playing as a striker to becoming a defender. Denayer credits his time at JMG for honing his football technique. Youths at the academy do not play normal competition football, instead taking part in small-sided games among each other, focusing on technique and education in a private school. They trained in bare feet to improve their touch; "It helps to develop your technical skills. Once you've reached a certain level, you're allowed to put on shoes. From then on the training is focused on technique and playing in small spaces" explained Denayer. He described the regime as "tough", adding "Your day started at 7 am and ended at 10:30 pm. In between you had 90 minutes – just before bedtime – to call your friends or family. It was playing football, studying, eat, sleep". In 2013, Lierse, who are in partnership with the JMG Academy, attempted to sign Denayer. However, he rejected their offer and instead moved abroad to England to try and find a club. He had a trial at Liverpool, but club and player failed to reach an agreement. He then went for a trial at Manchester City.

Manchester City

In July 2013 Denayer joined the Manchester City academy. In the summer transfer window, Denayer signed his first professional contract at Manchester City after a successful…

From 2013 on, Denayer represented Belgium at different levels, such as Belgium U19 and Belgium U21. On 2 October 2014, national team manager Marc Wilmots called him for the first time to the Belgium national team for their Euro 2016 qualification match against Andorra. Denayer was included in further international squads for Euro qualifier matches against Bosnia and Wales and for a friendly against Iceland. However, he was an unused substitute in each of these four games. Denayer made his senior international debut for Belgium on 31 March 2015 in a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifier away to Israel at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. He replaced Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke in the 67th minute of a 1–0 win which put Belgium at the top of the group. Denayer made his first start for the senior side on 7 June 2015, in a friendly match against France in Paris which Belgium won 4–3. Manager Marc Wilmots substituted Denayer late on in the match for a minor knock sustained, and pointed out that it was after this that France scored twice to pull the game back to 4–3. He was named in Belgium's 23-man squad for the 2016 European Championships. Denayer only played once, coming in to an injury depleted Belgian defence for their quarter-final tie against Wales. Belgium, and Denayer in particular, were run ragged by Wales and lost 3–1. On 17 May 2021, Denayer was included in the final 26-man squad for the re-arranged UEFA Euro 2020.

Club

As of match played 22 January 2025

International

As of match played 29 March 2022

Belgium score listed first, score column indicates score after each Denayer goal.

Denayer was born in Jette, Brussels, Belgium, to a Congolese mother and Belgian father.