Stef Nijland

Groningen

Born in Hoogezand, Nijland began his professional career during the 2007–08 season with Groningen and signed a contract with the club until 2009. Nijland made his Groningen debut, where he set up one of the goals, in a 3–0 win against NAC Breda in the opening game of the season on 18 August 2007. He also made his European debut, where he played the whole game, in a 1–1 draw against Fiorentina on 20 September 2007. He continued to make a handful of first team appearances and then scored his first goals for the club, in an 8–1 win over IJsselmeervogels in the second round of KNVB Cup on 26 September 2007. However, he suffered an injury, which he sustained in training and was sidelined for months. After two months on the sidelines, he made his first team return on 9 December 2007, coming on as a substitute in the second half, in a 4–2 loss against Heerenveen. Two weeks later on 22 December 2007, he scored his first Groningen league goal and set up one of the goals, in a 2–1 win over Heracles Almelo. Seven days later on 29 December 2007, Nijland scored a brace, in a 3–1 win over Sparta Rotterdam, followed up by setting up two goals, in a 3–2 win over Excelsior in the next game. For his performance, Nijland signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2012 and revealed that he turned down a move to join Ajax in the January transfer window, where he could have joined alongside Bruno Silva and Rasmus Lindgren. Nijland then scored again on 24…

In May 2008, Nijland was called up by the B Team.

As of match played on 28 February 2020

He is the son of Hans Nijland, the former managing director of FC Groningen. In addition to playing football, Nijland said he has been taking Spanish classes in an interview with Goal.com. Stef also revealed that he's often being called Stefan than Stef.