Veerle Buurman

Veerle Tooske Janna Roos Buurman (; born 21 April 2006) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Chelsea and the Netherlands national team. She previously played for PSV Eindhoven in the Vrouwen Eredivisie.

Early life Veerle Tooske Janna Roos Buurman was born on 21 April 2006 in Bemmel, the Netherlands. She has an older brother and younger brother who both play football. Buurman began playing football at the age of five.

Youth career Buurman played football with the boys team at her local club up to under-17 level.

In 2023, Buurman joined the youth academy of Dutch side Philips Sport Vereniging Vrouwen (commonly known as PSV Eindhoven). Around six months after joining PSV's academy, she began progressing into the senior side.

Chelsea, 2024– On 13 September 2024, Buurman was signed by Women's Super League club Chelsea. Her signing earned a record fee for PSV. At the end of the season, Buurman was named Eredivisie Talent of the Year.

Return to Chelsea, 2025–

2025–26 Buurman made her debut for Chelsea in September 2025 during a 1–0 win against Leicester City. In March 2026, Buurman's Champions League quarter-final equaliser against Arsenal was controversially ruled out by VAR, with manager Sonia Bompastor describing the standard of refereeing as ‘‘not good enough.’’ Buurman scored her first goal for the club in April 2026 in the form of a late winner against Tottenham to send Chelsea into the FA Cup semi-finals. The goal was named Chelsea's Goal of the Month for April. Described as an ‘‘absolute rock at the back’’ by Chelsea and England goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, Buurman's performance across the season—in which she was called into the starting lineup as both a left back and centre back due to injuries throughout the squad—led her to be named Barclay's WSL Rising Star. She was shortlisted for PFA Women’s Young Player of the Year at the 2026 PFA Awards alongside Chelsea teammate Alyssa Thompson.

International career Buurman played for the Netherlands national under-20 team at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.

On 29 October 2024, she made her debut for the senior Netherlands national team in a 2–1 friendly win over Denmark. Buurman's first senior goal came in December 2024 against the United States; she scored an own goal in the same half.

Buurman was called up for the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 in Switzerland. She made two appearances at the tournament — the Netherlands were knocked out at the group stage.

Personal life Buurman has described fellow Dutch center-back Virgil van Dijk as her idol. Individual Eredivisie Talent of the Year: 2024–25 Barclays WSL Rising Star: 2025–26