Ruben Kluivert

Ruben Caine Kluivert (born 21 May 2001) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or left-back for Ligue 1 club Lyon.

Career

Early years Born in Amsterdam, Kluivert began playing as a youth for local club AFC before moving to Utrecht, where he made his senior debut with the reserve team in the Eerste Divisie. In December 2019, at the age of 18, Kluivert signed his first professional contract with Utrecht, initially running until 2022. On 16 March 2022, he extended his contract until 2024 with an option for an additional season. He made his first-team debut on 11 May 2022 in the Eredivisie as an added-time substitute for Willem Janssen in a 2–2 home draw with AZ.

In September 2023, after five seasons at Utrecht, he left the club due to limited first-team prospects as judged by the technical management.

Dordrecht (2023-2024) On 1 September 2023, Kluivert signed a two-year contract with Dordrecht.

Casa Pia (2024-2025) In late June 2024, he joined Primeira Liga side Casa Pia. During the 2024–2025 season, he played 24 matches (21 in the league and 3 in cup competitions) and scored his first professional goal on 25 October 2024 in a 1–0 victory over Nacional.

Lyon (since 2025) On 25 July 2025, Kluivert joined Ligue 1 side Lyon for a fee of €3.78 million and signed a contract until June 2030.

2025-2026 season His early months in France were marked by adaptation difficulties. Initially deployed as a right-back, he faced criticism for his inexperience and committed several defensive errors. On 2 October 2025, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 win over RB Salzburg in the Europa League. His situation shifted in January 2026. Taking advantage of the absences of Moussa Niakhaté and Clinton Mata (both away at the AFCON), he was repositioned to his natural role as a centre-back. He became a fixture in Paulo Fonseca's starting eleven, contributing to a streak of eight consecutive victories, notably against Monaco, Lille, and Young Boys in European competition. However, his performances remained marked by lapses in concentration. On 25 January 2026, during a 5–2 win against Metz, he scored his first Ligue 1 goal but also committed a direct turnover error that led to an opposition goal. On 2 February 2026, he was named for the first time in the L'Équipe Team of the Day following a 1–0 victory over Lille. In early February 2026, he suffered an injury that sidelined him for several matches.

Style of play Kluivert is a versatile defender capable of playing as a centre-back or lateral. His older brother Justin is also a professional footballer for AFC Bournemouth and the Netherlands. He has two younger brothers, Quincy and Shane, who play for Zeeburgia and Barcelona U18 respectively.

Career statistics