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Cyriel Dessers

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Cyriel Dessers

Cyriel Kolawole Dessers (born 8 December 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek Super League club Panathinaikos. Born in Belgium, he plays for the Nigeria national team. Dessers has spent the majority of his club career playing in Belgian and Dutch football. He was the top scorer in the Eredivisie in the 2019–20 season, while playing for Heracles Almelo. He was the top scorer in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League and was named in the competition's Team of the Season, while playing for Feyenoord. Dessers qualified to play for Nigeria at international level because of his Nigerian mother. He made his senior international debut in October 2020.

Infobox

2014
OH Leuven
Full name
Cyriel Kolawole Dessers
Date of birth
(1994-12-08) 8 December 1994 (age 31)
Place of birth
Tongeren, Belgium
Height
1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position
Forward
Current team
Panathinaikos
Number
33
2001–2005
FC De Zwaluw Vechmaal
2005–2006
Union FC Rutten
2006–2007
Tongeren
2007–2009
Sint-Truiden
2009–2011
Tongeren
2011–2014
OH Leuven
Years
Team
2014–2016
Lokeren
2016–2017
NAC Breda
2017–2019
FC Utrecht
2019–2020
Heracles Almelo
2020–2022
Genk
2021–2022
→ Feyenoord (loan)
2022–2023
Cremonese
2023–2025
Rangers
2025–
Panathinaikos
2020–
Nigeria

Tables

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition · Career statistics › Club
Division
Division
Club
Division
Season
Apps
League
Goals
League
Apps
League
Goals
National cup
Apps
National cup
Goals
League cup
Apps
League cup
Goals
Continental
Apps
Continental
Goals
Other
Apps
Other
Goals
OH Leuven
OH Leuven
Club
OH Leuven
Season
2013–14
League
Belgian Pro League
League
1
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
—
League cup
—
Continental
1
Continental
0
Other
2
Other
0
Lokeren
Lokeren
Club
Lokeren
Season
2014–15
League
Belgian Pro League
League
21
League
4
National cup
3
National cup
3
League cup
—
League cup
3
Continental
0
Continental
2
Other
0
Other
29
Total
7
2015–16
2015–16
Club
2015–16
Season
11
League
0
League
0
League
0
National cup
—
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
11
Continental
0
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
32
League
4
League
3
League
3
National cup
—
National cup
3
League cup
0
League cup
2
Continental
0
Continental
40
Other
7
NAC Breda
NAC Breda
Club
NAC Breda
Season
2016–17
League
Eerste Divisie
League
36
League
22
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
—
League cup
—
Continental
4
Continental
7
Other
40
Other
29
Utrecht
Utrecht
Club
Utrecht
Season
2017–18
League
Eredivisie
League
29
League
9
National cup
2
National cup
2
League cup
—
League cup
5
Continental
1
Continental
3
Other
0
Other
39
Total
12
2018–19
2018–19
Club
2018–19
Season
11
League
3
League
2
League
2
National cup
—
National cup
—
League cup
4
League cup
2
Continental
17
Continental
7
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
40
League
12
League
4
League
4
National cup
—
National cup
5
League cup
1
League cup
7
Continental
2
Continental
56
Other
19
Heracles Almelo
Heracles Almelo
Club
Heracles Almelo
Season
2019–20
League
Eredivisie
League
26
League
15
National cup
3
National cup
3
League cup
—
League cup
—
Continental
—
Continental
29
Other
18
Genk
Genk
Club
Genk
Season
2020–21
League
Belgian Pro League
League
32
League
7
National cup
2
National cup
0
League cup
—
League cup
—
Continental
—
Continental
34
Other
7
2021–22
2021–22
Club
2021–22
Season
3
League
0
League
0
League
0
National cup
—
National cup
2
League cup
1
League cup
1
Continental
0
Continental
6
Other
1
2022–23
2022–23
Club
2022–23
Season
3
League
3
League
0
League
0
National cup
—
National cup
—
League cup
—
League cup
3
Continental
3
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
38
League
10
League
2
League
0
National cup
—
National cup
2
League cup
1
League cup
1
Continental
0
Continental
43
Other
11
Feyenoord (loan)
Feyenoord (loan)
Club
Feyenoord (loan)
Season
2021–22
League
Eredivisie
League
27
League
9
National cup
1
National cup
1
League cup
—
League cup
13
Continental
10
Continental
—
Other
41
Other
20
Cremonese
Cremonese
Club
Cremonese
Season
2022–23
League
Serie A
League
26
League
6
National cup
3
National cup
1
League cup
—
League cup
—
Continental
—
Continental
29
Other
7
Rangers
Rangers
Club
Rangers
Season
2023–24
League
Scottish Premiership
League
35
League
16
National cup
4
National cup
3
League cup
4
League cup
1
Continental
11
Continental
2
Other
—
Other
54
Total
22
2024–25
2024–25
Club
2024–25
Season
35
League
18
League
2
League
3
National cup
4
National cup
4
League cup
14
League cup
4
Continental
—
Continental
55
Other
29
2025–26
2025–26
Club
2025–26
Season
3
League
0
League
0
League
0
National cup
0
National cup
0
League cup
4
League cup
1
Continental
—
Continental
7
Other
1
Total
Total
Club
Total
Season
73
League
34
League
6
League
6
National cup
8
National cup
5
League cup
29
League cup
7
Continental
—
Continental
116
Other
52
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
Club
Panathinaikos
Season
2025–26
League
Super League Greece
League
2
League
1
National cup
1
National cup
1
League cup
—
League cup
1
Continental
0
Continental
—
Other
4
Other
2
Career total
Career total
Club
Career total
Season
301
League
113
League
23
League
19
National cup
8
National cup
5
League cup
53
League cup
19
Continental
15
Continental
9
Other
400
Other
165
Club
Season
League
National cup
League cup
Continental
Other
Total
Division
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
Apps
Goals
OH Leuven
2013–14
Belgian Pro League
1
0
0
0
—
—
1
0
2
0
Lokeren
2014–15
Belgian Pro League
21
4
3
3
—
3
0
2
0
29
7
2015–16
11
0
0
0
—
—
—
11
0
Total
32
4
3
3
—
3
0
2
0
40
7
NAC Breda
2016–17
Eerste Divisie
36
22
0
0
—
—
4
7
40
29
Utrecht
2017–18
Eredivisie
29
9
2
2
—
5
1
3
0
39
12
2018–19
11
3
2
2
—
—
4
2
17
7
Total
40
12
4
4
—
5
1
7
2
56
19
Heracles Almelo
2019–20
Eredivisie
26
15
3
3
—
—
—
29
18
Genk
2020–21
Belgian Pro League
32
7
2
0
—
—
—
34
7
2021–22
3
0
0
0
—
2
1
1
0
6
1
2022–23
3
3
0
0
—
—
—
3
3
Total
38
10
2
0
—
2
1
1
0
43
11
Feyenoord (loan)
2021–22
Eredivisie
27
9
1
1
—
13
10
—
41
20
Cremonese
2022–23
Serie A
26
6
3
1
—
—
—
29
7
Rangers
2023–24
Scottish Premiership
35
16
4
3
4
1
11
2
—
54
22
2024–25
35
18
2
3
4
4
14
4
—
55
29
2025–26
3
0
0
0
0
0
4
1
—
7
1
Total
73
34
6
6
8
5
29
7
—
116
52
Panathinaikos
2025–26
Super League Greece
2
1
1
1
—
1
0
—
4
2
Career total
301
113
23
19
8
5
53
19
15
9
400
165
Appearances and goals by national team and year · Career statistics › International
Nigeria
Nigeria
National team
Nigeria
Year
2020
Apps
1
Goals
0
2022
2022
National team
2022
Year
3
Apps
1
2024
2024
National team
2024
Year
2
Apps
1
2025
2025
National team
2025
Year
4
Apps
1
Total
Total
National team
Total
Year
10
Apps
3
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
Nigeria
2020
1
0
2022
3
1
2024
2
1
2025
4
1
Total
10
3
List of international goals scored by Cyriel Dessers · Career statistics › International
1
1
No.
1
Date
28 May 2022
Venue
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
Cap
2
Opponent
Mexico
Score
1–1
Result
1–2
Competition
Friendly
2
2
No.
2
Date
22 March 2024
Venue
Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Cap
5
Opponent
Ghana
Score
1–0
Result
2–1
Competition
Friendly
3
3
No.
3
Date
28 May 2025
Venue
Brentford Community Stadium, London
Cap
7
Opponent
Ghana
Score
1–0
Result
2–1
Competition
Friendly
No.
Date
Venue
Cap
Opponent
Score
Result
Competition
1
28 May 2022
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, United States
2
Mexico
1–1
1–2
Friendly
2
22 March 2024
Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
5
Ghana
1–0
2–1
Friendly
3
28 May 2025
Brentford Community Stadium, London
7
Ghana
1–0
2–1
Friendly

References

  1. Includes Belgian Cup, KNVB Cup, Coppa Italia, Scottish Cup, Greek Football Cup
  2. Includes Scottish League Cup
  3. Appearance in Belgian Pro League relegation play-offs
  4. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. Appearances in Belgian Pro League Europa League play-offs
  6. Appearances in Eredivisie promotion play-offs
  7. Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs
  8. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  9. Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  10. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  11. Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  12. Two appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, twelve appearances and three goals in UEFA Europa League
  13. WorldFootball.net
    https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe349817/cyriel-dessers/club-matches/
  14. ad.nl
    https://www.ad.nl/buitenlands-voetbal/dessers-maakt-in-oostenrijk-debuut-voor-nationale-ploeg-nigeria~ae9530b9/
  15. rbfa.be
    https://static.rbfa.be/project/publiek/jrinteren/speler_PH_6568.htm#itop
  16. nieuwsblad.be
    https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20140312_01022357
  17. "Jupiler Pro League - 30e speeldag: RAEC Mons - Oud-Heverlee Leuven 3 - 2"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20140407063910/http://ohl.be/heren/seizoen/wedstrijden/verslag/6361
  18. "Lokeren signs young striker from OHL"
    http://www.sporza.be/permalink/1.1928716
  19. omroepbrabant.nl
    https://www.omroepbrabant.nl/nieuws/2328567/sporting-lokeren-spits-cyriel-dessers-21-tekent-voor-3-jaar-bij-nac
  20. nos.nl
    https://nos.nl/artikel/2175441-nec-degradeert-na-forse-nederlaag-tegen-nac
  21. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/62493695
  22. 1 June 2018
    https://www.foxsports.nl/nieuws/artikel/1873634/utrecht-hengelt-dessers-binnen
  23. telegraaf.nl
    https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/41117930/dessers-verruilt-utrecht-voor-heracles
  24. elfvoetbal.nl
    https://www.elfvoetbal.nl/Binnenland/279439/interview-cyriel-dessers-of-ik-jaloers-ben-op-steven-berghuis-ja
  25. krcgenk.be
    https://www.krcgenk.be/nl/nieuws/3939/cyriel-dessers-nu-ben-ik-waar-ik-wil-zijn
  26. krcgenk.be
    https://www.krcgenk.be/nl/nieuws/4371/cyriel-dessers-verhuurd-aan-feyenoord
  27. vi.nl
    https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/feyenoord-vernedert-onmachtig-psv-in-eindhoven
  28. feyenoord.com
    https://www.feyenoord.com/news/overview/feyenoord-decide-against-taking-up-dessers-option
  29. "DESSERS NUOVO CALCIATORE DELLA CREMONESE"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20220810174725/https://www.uscremonese.it/dessers-nuovo-calciatore-della-cremonese/
  30. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66095219
  31. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66066832
  32. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66194509
  33. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66441834
  34. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68790408
  35. Sky Sports
    https://www.skysports.com/football/st-mirren-vs-rangers/report/504747
  36. Yahoo Sport
    https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/philippe-clement-lauds-rangers-duo-140030069.html
  37. Score Nigeria
    https://web.archive.org/web/20240513092252/https://scorenigeria.com.ng/dessers-scores-again-but-rangers-lose-old-firm-derby/
  38. Sky Sports
    https://www.skysports.com/football/rangers-vs-dundee/report/504760
  39. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cgedr7qjej0t
  40. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c3w8qwlv498t
  41. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c1m5nggvdv0t
  42. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cpv40823newo
  43. Rangers FC
    https://www.rangers.co.uk/article/cyriel-dessers-signs-for-panathinaikos/7jWqXgeABh6RIktvN1usZU
  44. BBC Sport
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/50672668
  45. hln.be
    https://www.hln.be/voetbal/cyriel-dessers-debuteert-voor-nigeria-hoogtepunt-in-mijn-carriere~a4802586d/
  46. Goal.com
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200613155035/https://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/dessers-ehizibue-earn-nigeria-call-ups-as-leicester-citys/lkki45ajc3vv1wd6zchkmypqh
  47. Soccerway
    https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2020/10/13/world/friendlies/nigeria/tunisia/3365308/
  48. ESPN
    https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/700491/ghana-nigeria
  49. Punch NG
    https://www.punchng.com/unity-cup-dessers-scores-as-seagles-lead-ghana-2-0-at-halftime-in-london/
  50. WorldFootball.net
    https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe349817/cyriel-dessers/international-matches/
  51. Goal
    https://www.goal.com/en/news/onuachu-with-an-assist-as-genk-clinch-belgian-cup-title/1jp81i8ofssju1k0yrdb9b6nu8
  52. UEFA
    https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/0275-153b4c3b58ce-9dd2bc95bfd0-1000/
  53. BBC
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67684521
  54. eredivisie.nl
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200530141232/https://eredivisie.nl/en-us/highlighted/cyriel-dessers-named-as-player-of-the-month
  55. NOS
    https://nos.nl/sport/voetbal/uitslagen/eredivisie/statistieken/
  56. UEFA
    https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/026d-13428968c331-cd56591ddfcf-1000--top-scorer-dessers/
  57. UEFA
    https://www.uefa.com/uefaconferenceleague/news/0275-153e65400aef-d187391175f1-1000--team-of-the-season/
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