Joshua Smits

Early career

Smits started in the youth department of Astrantia SV in Middelaar as a five-year-old, first as an outfielder and from the age of 10 as a goalkeeper. He had already received goalkeeping practice at De Treffers, before he made the definitive move to the club's youth department at age 11. In the 2010–11 season, he played for the U17 team and was also the third goalkeeper for the first team. Due to an accident by the starting goalkeeper of De Treffers, Smits was on the bench in the Topklasse for a few matches.

NEC

In the summer of 2011, Smits was signed by NEC and was added to the first team as the third goalkeeper in September of that year after the departure of Jasper Cillessen. He initially played for the reserve team of Jong NEC/FC Oss. In April 2012, he sat on the bench of FC Oss for the home game against MVV behind Vincent van Trier. In January 2013, NEC signed Kalle Johnsson actively demoting Smits to fourth goalkeeper on the depth chart. He finished the season on loan at cooperation club FC Oss, where starter Luuk Koopmans had become injured. Smits, however, did not play and was reserve behind Richard Arends. He made his professional debut on 10 August 2014 against FC Eindhoven, in which NEC booked a 3–1 win. He was the starting goalkeeper of NEC in the 2014–15 season and was part of the team winning the league title. Three games before the end of the competition, it turned out that Smits had suffered a broken wrist and walked around with…

Club

As of match played 28 February 2025

NEC

Eerste Divisie: 2014–15 Bodø/Glimt

Eliteserien: 2020, 2021