Leroy Fer

Youth career

Fer started his youth career at the local Zoetermeer club DWO. In his first full season, his team won friendly matches against youth teams from professional sides, like Sparta Rotterdam and Feyenoord. However, he stayed at DWO until age nine. Together with youth friend Kaj Ramsteijn, Fer accepted the invitation to join the Feyenoord's youth academy. He later progressed through the academy and later Jong Feyenoord.

Feyenoord

Breakthrough (2007–2009)

Fer had his breakthrough in Feyenoord's first team in the season 2007–08 and was first called up to the first team ahead of the match against FC Groningen on 25 November 2007 but did not play. He made his official debut for the club under the management of Bert van Marwijk and Fer replaced Nuri Şahin in the 84th minute in the Eredivisie home at age 17, in a 6–0 win match against Heracles Almelo on 2 December 2007. Four days later, on 6 December 2007, Fer signed his first professional contract with Feyenoord, keeping him at De Kuip until summer 2012. This led manager van Marwijk comment on his potential, saying: "Leroy is a footballer with a lot of potential, but you have to be careful with a boy like that. He is still a freshman A-junior and I don't want to destroy him immediately. I think he could handle it but that has yet to become apparent in practice. Leroy makes a stable, calm impression and adapts easily. He does not say much, but he is not introverted either. Leroy is well…

Eligibility

Despite playing for the Netherlands on various youth levels, Fer was in doubt which country to represent, as he was eligible to play for both the Netherlands and Netherlands Antilles. In October 2008, Fer claimed he had not made a decision yet: "Personally I want to mean something for my island. That's why I'm still in doubt. My brain says it's better to choose for the Netherlands. Then you're assured of a big tournament every two years. But my heart is thinking of Curaçao. It would be fantastic to play a World Cup with Netherlands Antilles, it would give the islands an enormous boost. My roots are stronger than my urge to a career, I'm striving for a higher cause. I don't know yet, but my feelings to play for Netherlands Antilles are very strong." However, on 26 August 2009, Fer announced he made the final decision and chose to represent the Netherlands at international level.

Early Youth teams

Fer went through all the Netherlands youth teams and first started out with Netherlands U16 when he made his debut for the U16 national team, starting the whole game, in a 2–2 draw against Ukraine U16 on 19 October 2005. Fer scored his first goal for Netherlands U16, in a 1–0 win against Norway U16 on 28 January 2006. He later went on to make seven appearances and scoring once for the U16 national team. After being called up to the Netherlands under-17 team, Fer made his U17 national team debut, starting the whole game, in a 2–0 win against Germany U17…

Fer was born and raised in Zoetermeer, South Holland. He is the first child of parents from Curaçao. His paternal grandfather was of Surinamese descent. Fer's maternal grandfather was a football player in Curaçao, while his father, Lesley Fer, was a baseball player. Fer has one younger brother, Leegreg, who played for the Feyenoord under-17 team, a sister and his cousin Patrick van Aanholt is a footballer for Sparta Rotterdam.

Fer was raised Catholic: "In Zoetermeer we went to church every day. God gave me my football talent. I thank Him for that every day." On his right lower arm, he has a tattoo of the Christian cross with the text "In God I trust". Outside of football, Fer is a fan of rap music. He got separated in 2018 after four years of marriage. He began a new relationship with Angela, where she gave birth to a baby daughter, Castle Fleurella. Throughout his football career, Fer campaigned against racism. In March 2015, three people were fined for racially abusing Fer on social media.